What have I done?

Is what I thought to myself as I sat waiting to go on stage for my first ever stand-up comedy gig. Worse still, I had invited friends to come and see me.

Crap. Big Crap. I am feeling very nervous but trying to act like it is all okay in front of my friends and the “proper” comedians who actually know what they are doing.

My name is called. I get up an I start speaking. Silence from audience. Shit. My internal cheerleader, kicks into gear with a backflip and gives me a wills me to keep going. I keep going. My legs and knees shaking like jelly. I hope no-one sees them shake.I hit a punchline. I get a laugh. I hit another punchline. I get bigger laughs. I mention sex. I get lots of laughs. Set over.

The MC, gets up and I get cheers and claps. Not just from my friends but from genuine strangers who don’t know me at all and have no need to stroke my ego. Yeah. I feel okay. I feel good. Feedback from the friendly crowd was that I was good, but I spoke to fast. Damn you nerves. I think I might do this again. Lucky I have already booked in another gig.