Staandup at Cavendish Arms, listen.

Tonight Standup at Cavendish Arms, and I still did not find a "mate" or pal, to come with me.

It is a great idea for all comedians to bring someone along, but, at age 77 and new to London relatively, it is not so easy. Anyone could come?(Helen came!)

It is in London, it is free, it is fun! Cavendish Arms is near Stockwell underground station... and a wonderful audience! And here is how it was, listen!

Young looking! Both!

This was our youngest contestant, at merely 56, she did look younger! Very good comedian too.

The oldest was 80, and I was the second oldest, the 17th in Leicester.

Only a few between us were "on the circuit" for years, most of us begun after 60 or even, 80!

There is no age to learn and to do something new, and more you do it, more you live, a full life.

He was the oldest between us, and at age 80, it was his first standup in public!  Great humour, not much experience in speaking in public, in a few years he will be great at that too. One could feel the joy from his performance.

Reflexions: how many times?

There are so many view! So many reflections!

Which is true?

Sometimes, we do not know.

Sometimes, in our mind, the deformed reflection becomes the true one, and we do not even see the reality. Or, do not wish, or cannot acknowledge it.

We have spoken, reflections in the Afterclass group, and at that occasion I put in a set all my pictures showing some kind of reflection.

On a mirror. As the one above.

On a glass.

This is a picture taken from the glass of a car, showing reflections in the windows too.

On water.

Daytime.

or in town near a canal.

Night time.

Even in a puddle.

On a shiny surface.Here, a tiny one.

I was so surprised to see there were more then 700! 

Each time, there is something more to it, we begun to see something else, too. And also dream and imagine. "What if I entered suddenly in a doorknob?" What if there was more under the National Gallery then what meets the eye? What new angle will reveal yet something new fascinating?

I did know I was fascinated by people, I did not realise, I was also with reflections.

And now, that I have my lost bag back, I see again, what happened differently. Now, I can see some of the funny side of it too. There are always more ways to see something!

Closed

Sometimes, it is closed, so no one can enter.

What happens, when we can not enter to our own place any more in the middle of winter night?

It is not the best thing!

It is not the worst thing, either.

I did have very nice neighbours. After waiting for the car which speeded off with my bag, leaving me without my keys to enter, at midnight, finally I knocked.

Two wonderful women opened me, their apartment, let me use their computer then their phone, so I could contact my son who has my spare keys. He had to come from afar to bring them to me.

It was past one at then night, when finally I could enter!

What an adventure!

Some time, I will find a funny way to tell it, for the moment, I am still waiting to recuperate my things.

Yes, keeping out seems ok, if it is not you who want to enter.

Master storyteller Ben Dunlap on TED.com

Listen to it, more I do, more I discover in it, and more I learn. First, I published it two years ago. I put that post up here again to listen to it, learn from the Master Storyteller, that Ben is.

About how to construct a speech, how to tell a story, and also, understand that my thirst of learning comes "naturally" from my origine.

In fact, not only Teszler, about whom Ben Dunlop speaks, but I felt also my great great mother Paula, also was thirsty to learn and experience more, even after 90! And a bit, about me, we do remain alive, never stopping to learn.

About my intentions as Standup

Yes, my standup Comedy is about changing stereotypes! And of course, through it, surprising and making laugh.

Laugh comes first when I use their language, that I do not use other then on the stage, then also when recognize their experience in what I say, and then when I make unusual but funny comparaisons.

Learning to do it better, each time and communicating with those present, most of the time, young audience. I love to be able to connect with them. Before, during and after the gig.

But the material worked also with older people.

It works specially well also with women. Lately, I added a phrase here or there, to sweeten it for men, too. So, it reaches a larger audience, finaly.

Show what you do!

Those are my most viewed photos on Flickr, so much better then puting them in a drawer, or even in an album not often opened.

But those put as a slide show with often some music, are even more looked at! on Dailymotion, or Viméo or YouTube. Some of them, from my pictures, some even videos.

The slide show 'Six jours au Maroc' of my week in Marocco, has become the most popular of all with, 100 000 visites and 5 stars, it is hard even to imagine!

My vidéos 'Orgue de Barbarie', and a Portugaise dance and, accordéon in Paris Métro have been looked at also more then 10 000 times. From this page, all have been seen by more then 1500!

Accordeon Paris métro par julie70
Here one of them, the shorter, only a few seconds of accordéon and underground mood.


Those from here, all have 5 stars Very divers!

I have put around 220 on Dailymotion, vidéos et diapos. Before they begun to refuse slideshows, I did not go elsewhere. Now, I am posting also or mostly on Vimeo and YouTube. More go to look on YouTube, not so many know about Dailymotion, in fact.

Yes, it is worth to show what we do!

Dave's Comedy, all around in Leicester

I did not know till know, oh, how much is still to learn! but Dave's Comedy Festival is one of the "renewed" one!

So being part of it was already great. Having won an award in it, even better.

David, my last comedy workshop teacher, writes me that I could use it as a reference in the future.

Even more important: I begun reading again books! Not only website or Kindle! I can read again. This was a difficult period for me, as my eyes went worse, then recovering, adapting after operation, that I looked with my heart sad and had to read the minimum.

What a joy, when something bad is a bit better!

Comedy Festival Seniors in Leicester Slide show

Emily did not have a good time, does not speak Standup language!

I will not publish today here what she wrote in the Independent, and appeared this morning, also she spend a whole afternoon and evening with us, Silver Comedians and then the public too, she did not seem to enjoy it.

There is more put down and even more disdain, in my opinion in her reportage of it.

She begins, with me, thank you, as thus:

"With her tightly curled grey hair, oversized cardie and sweet smile, Julie Kertesz looks like the sort of granny who fishes in her pockets and hands out fluff-covered humbugs. But then she opens her mouth: "I'm 77 years old; what the fack am I doing stand-up for?" Rather than antique sweets, she dishes out a profanity-filled comedy spiel that arcs from biting reflections on catching cheating lovers to the perils of shaving unwanted female facial hair.

She and 23 others are vying to be the first ever Silver Stand-Up of the Year, being held in a small hall in Leicester's community arts centre.

She is nicer with Bob, the older between us:

 "Bob Renshaw, 80, with white hair and white beard, looks like Central Casting's idea of a doddery pensioner. He has never done stand-up in front of a proper audience but – emboldened by a course last year – is taking the plunge. "I've always done a bit of writing and thought that some of it was quite amusing," he says. "The only older people you generally see doing stand-up are those who've been doing it since they were young." When he gets on stage he is laugh-out-loud funny." 


At least, Emily, appreciated someone's comedy Bob was indeed great but so where many of us!

Here, Jumbo with Charmain, with whom I become very good pal! Both on the circuit for 20 years.

Towards the end, Emily writes:

"The 24 have to endure an agonising wait to be whittled down to 10 for the evening's final and the chance to take home a prize. 

Don has not made it, and goes home early looking dejected. Bob, Charmain, Julie and Shelley are all through to the next round.

The final 10 battle again, this time in front of a paying public of 100 or so and a panel of five judges. Shelley's skit on being born a man raises the biggest laughs again and she takes home the prized golden microphone for Silver Stand-Up of the Year. 

Potty-mouthed Julie Kertesz bags Best Old Newcomer and is sporting a victory grin. "My pleasure is not to win but to make people laugh and to challenge stereotypes about age," she says.

What does it mean "potty-mouthed" ?

I would return to Emily, that she is "bitter poison" minded! No, in fact, she has yet to learn the language of Standup comedy! For me, it is my 5th language and I try to speak with all people the language they use.

Silver Comedy Best Newcomer 2012

And the Sliver Comedy 2012 Best Newcomer, winner, is... Julie Kertesz. I have the certificate to prove it, and yes, it went well yesterday, but with all that I hardly believe it yet.

Some photos tomorrow, I am tired tonight.

Even more important,

I made some good pals with the others present!

Here is a photo of some of our judges:

Real article and page but with a doctored picture

This is what appeared Wednesday in the Guardian supplement, and it is not. Instead of my picture, they added an advertisement, even if the byline is about me. But it is of course not me who changed 77 to 70 ! Someone, having read too fast what Brian Logan wrote, did this. I only put "back" my picture, while I was gigging at Canterbury.

You can find the original, here: Link to The Guardian Paper

Still from the Guardian and my observations

"Julie Kertesz's comedy is all about up-ending expectations and stereotypes. Besides the swearing, she jokes about her ex-husband's infidelities, and her own sexual appetites – much to her daughter's dismay. "I say standup is like making love," she says. "You have to look people in the eyes, you have to pace yourself, you have to practise, and you never give up – even after 70."

Kertesz thinks her age gives her an advantage. It buys her instant audience affection, and plenty of cliches to subvert."

I can not agree more.

Yessss!

Subvert stereotypes, yes!

But I also learned to begin with what the audience see. I do tell my age, That begins the cheering.

I do tell I stand not easy on my legs, and I do tell early that my mother language is Hungarian, too and that I have had.... experience.

Changing fast also the expectations about old age, old women, and "others", connecting to what each in audience can think inside or feel.That begins the laughter.

And tell a story about all that, rather then jokes. Or stories, somehow connected together.

Tomorrow, early I am of for Leicester.

StandUp after 55+ Silver Comedians

Preparing to Friday Leicester Festival, today G2 part of The Guardian, has a page on us!

link to Silver Comedy in the Guardian

Yes, Brian Logan, a brilliant young actor / reporter, speaks in it a lot about me, "Kertesz" also the first time he added Julie, too. I would have liked to be later on called Julie, not every time Kertesz...

I love what and how he writes about us, our difficulties and differences too.

Come, to Leicester festival to see us Friday, and if you cannot, we will have bits and pieces of what we have done on-line, too, after the event.

That is the picture, they did not publish with the paper but Jumbo is indeed very interesting looking on his picture!

Be happy, love and let know

And not only today, each day you can.
To those near you, or when possible, to those far away.

To your lover, partner, but also your to your pal.

We all bloom when we know, when we feel, when we know that we are loved.

Do not restrict it to one day! But begin today, if not yet do it day by day!

Photographer in Underground

He is a tourist in London, and of course, with a camera, so he can take his pals and wife (or sister) with London.

They just arrived two days ago from Paris's Disnayland, but they have been very cold there. Of course, February is not the best month to visit Disnayland in Paris!

Soon, they will go to Barcelona.

I spoke more with her then him, but she sit near me too near to take her in photo.

It is so great to have even a fleeting contact with "other" people!

2 cups, 2 memories, 2 children

I alternate, using cups that bring nearer me my children.

The cup with an apple, received from my daughter. It sais:

I will not get angry in the class, I will not hit someone in the class, I will not make a tantrum in the class room - I am the teacher.

She is a teacher.

Every time I take that cup to drink coffee or tea, I smile again and remember her kitchen and her warmth.

The other cup, is a new one, received recently from my familly living in London. My son and my daughter in love contributed both to it, so each time I take the cup, my heart warmth as I think of their attention.

I found it on this rack, in my kitchen, one day. Suddenly, it was there!

A joy to have such wonderful children, such great people caring about me.

It does not have to be St Valentine for it!

Snow in the courtyard and on the beds

I should have gone to Ivor's comedy show yesterday evening, but my ancle told me "no", not today.

Probably, it sensed the snow before me.

As some through out beds even in the winter, of course, here it is what I found more interesting, covered with snow.

This morning, snow all around me.


There is life after 70 and even after 77, but one to be more careful, of course.

1, More London Place, Training

Been there, seen that.

Many interesting news learned, lots of enthusiasm witnessed, but even more, met old pals! Toastmasters International officers training, for London's "Division B" Toastmasters.

Of course, big problem will come in July, if we split "London" what will be the new name, new identity, new areas!

Happy it is not my head ache, and that I agree with my VP Education: we should be part of it.

More London Place yesterday

Going to Officer Training in Toastmasters, great lights near London Bridge.

It was like a tourism for me, but I froze. It was outside, walking and even more when waiting for bus, really cold!

Tonight, I will put a lot more on me!

Regrets of the dying - from The Guardian

she also lives the fullest she can!

Here are the top five regrets of the dying, (the Guardian) :

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. I try to realise the dreams I had, and even discover new ones.

2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard and had more time for family.  
As many women, I was close to children, and as close to husbands as they let me..

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. I express my feelings, even if too much sometimes.

Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness carried as a result.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. As much as possible, till their death part us.

Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier. The life did not give me much choice, but whenever possible I did go out of my 'confort zone' and still doing it, every month.

Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

What's your greatest regret so far, and what will you set out to achieve or change before you die?

None of above for me. 

I do work every day to « do » and « live it fully »! Perhaps, exactly so that all these do not come up, when my time will arrive. 

But I need a bit more time!

Reflections

This was taken in Canterbury, the house and its reflection, the winter trees and theirs.

Comedy is a bit like the reflection.

I take the real story, what has happened, and in some sort, a bit distorted way, I show its "reflection".

It has to be short and to the point, show truth and the same time surprise by its truth that come from it.

That canal has also come by surprise to me as I crossed the old prison gate in Canterbury.

It also gave me a fresh view of my comedy and of my life, of what I want to be the next step, too.

I do not make now huge dreams,I  take one step at a time. One more out of my confort zone or ordinary ways, is a huge enough path already for me. .

This morning, snow covered Canterbury

That is what I found this morning, stepping out of the bed and breackfast place.


Yesterday, good 13th gig, 9 minutes. This morning visite of the Cathedral, Cloister, main street in center and some small ones.

Here only a few of this morning pictures. I am off again, to sleep.

For the first time, outside London to go to a Comedy Club! For the first time I was given the ten minutes I asked for.

How to make laugh for ten minutes?

I hope, I will be able to do it and not fade between the other, more experimented comedians.

I will not be paid, but if I succeed, it will be payment enough.

"Stage time, stage time, stage time." as Darren Lecroix sais. New experiment, in one way or the other. New lessons, new discoveries. In all, I wish to Chris, my pal from the last Comedy Workshop good luck (merde!) for his new endeavour. Not only he organizes it but also compères it. For him, it will be even more important the outcome then to me.

And also, I will learn more about "out of London" audience.

Different Audience

Last month I was with audience of Silver haired retired citizens, this morning, I told a story and then we played it out, to 4 to 5 years old from a school.

28 in one class! Plus 8 mothers and the teacher! Small library, small room, sitting one near other on the carpet for the children, and some chairs around for the parents.

The story went well, even if I think they did not understand all. What is a barrel? What is a feather duvet? And so on.

Not only the age is important but the cultural differences too. For some things, having some pictures would have been better, but as soon as we started to act it out, they were delighted.

How you hide and were?
How you make chicken and collect feathers?
Do you like honey in your tea?
Tell all together "come back tommorow"
Play in two, one rises from the bed (floor) and the other, knocks, comes in then afraid runs away.

And so on.

Everyone left satisfied, after 40 minutes.

It took me almost two hours to come home, but I was happy to have had that experience.

Winter at Embarkment

Silver comedy and in general comedy.

For me, it is to show we, Silver haired women and man, are young in soul and heart. We are not so different from young people, as they do believe.

It is also to bring old, silver haired (or colored hair) people the comedy to them, those who do not go to pubs in the evening, and show how much laughing about life's frustrations can make them more easy to go through.

Coming home from my rdv, I bought my ticket for Cantenbury, for Friday, and even for Leichester, middle of the month.

It will be the first time to gig outside London, 10 minutes in Cantembury, Friday.

And hopefully at least as much in Leichester (where I begin with 3 minutes plus 2 for filming) and if I pass the heat then 5 more in the evening. Even more important, the next day, time to analyse all what happened. Draw conclusions, lessons. Learn from them.