Harry Baker's Super Fun Monthly(ish) Update #11 - Onze-wards and Upwards
Episode 11 - Back in the spring of things !
Hey team. What a month. What a time. I hope you're well. I've been to Shanghai and back and started gigging again so it's a joy to be in touch, I'll try and make it fun and interesting and not just a sporadic list, but then who said sporadic lists can't be fun and interesting? Here's a screenshot of some Instagram drafts that never made it past the great Firewall of China...
Speaking of Instagram - I have been inspired by Austin Kleon's 'Show Your Work' and started sharing excerpts of poems I've been working on with the general public as well as my favourite mailing list-ees. Excitingly one of my new Brother-in-laws (Brothers-in-law?) informed me the one below was stolen and shared on a Reddit GetMotivated subthread which as well as getting Upvoted 7000 times involved a lot of people in the comments who couldn't 'Get motivated' to read it any way other than left to right. (Not that I read the comments, obviously) - Fortunately theres a DontDeadOpenInside Subreddit dedicated to things that don't make sense if you read them left to right but among 3000 upvotes there people seemed unhappy that it wasn't difficult enough to read. What an emotional rollercoaster.
Speaking of new poems...
Introducing HB'SGSNP! As well as sneaking them into existing sets and features, last week I put on a whole night dedicated to sharing some new work with the world and it was electrifying. I was so excited/nervous about what I would do that I didn't have time to write this in time to invite you along BUT It was so fun I've booked in another one in London on 14th June, this time specifically sharing Germany-based stuff that I've been sitting with these last few months. Over a third of tickets have gone already and I think/hope it's going to sell out but you can get yours here before it does and I'd love to see you there.
Here's one I made earlier.
My friend Jackson has a French accent,
My friend Chaz is French as,
My friend Shaun played my friend Chopin
on the French horn at the French Open.
My friend Jean does a good French ‘un’,
My friend June does a good French ‘une’,
My friend Joe does a good french ‘Au’,
My friend Shirley dropped French early.
My friend Jen has three French hens,
My friend Genevieve has a French inner vivre,
My friend Jemima is a French mimer
My friend Jerome has his own French aroma (eau d’jerome)
My friend Jannek dotes on those with French anecdotes
My friend “Seana Paul!” speaks French on the pull
My friend Jerry Springer speaks french ‘erry spring…
My friend Janet Jackson speaks french and it’s accent
My friends generally speak French in a really
impressive way that reflects well on them,
All this to say that it puts me to shame in
my French attempts to tell my friends ‘Je t’aime.'
In Other news:
Specifically the Isle Of Thanet News. I won the Kent Slam Championship Belt! As part of the Margate Bookie festival I dusted off my slam boots and after a tie leading to a sudden death final managed to get the most points. In case you're worried it might go to my head I did manage to then not place in the top three in a Disney-themed slam in Canterbury the following day but I don't think the Kent belt was on the line, I'm not entirely sure how these things work.
As if that wasn't enough !
I have a new website! Highlights include trying to sum up everything I've ever done and compartmentalise my life, as well as trying to hold a Deliveroo advert and some rap battles in the same space as my well-loved collection of poems which by the way is still on sale. I think it's fun to take a look around hopefully, but I'll let you decide that. It also has a list of all of my gigs that I'll constantly be updating but i'll try and remember to share them with you on here first because you're my faves.
We've not had a video yet...
Holding an extra poignancy now that that the new series won't be returning, Chris has subtitled this performance of The Ballad Of Sir Killalot up like a champ - from the comedy store where we got to perform to Dara O Briain !
Harry And Chris
We're back baby! By which I mean Chris is back from his travels and then I went away and then came back again so we are in the same country and gearing up for Edinburgh again. We've got a big London show coming up next week on May 25th and we're doing a TEDx Talk in Bristol on 2nd June that there are still a few tickets for. Other dates are available on our website including a Margate show on June 9th!
I Think That's it.
Bit of an epic one - thanks for bearing with. Check out my website for upcoming gigs but especially June 14th will be a fun one I think. Look after yourself !