Last night at the competition was difficult. I came away thinking I'd seriously underdelivered and completely exhausted by the whole experience. I have reviewed the tape recording of the gig and I conclude the following:

• They wanted 8 minutes without overrunning - I gave them exactly 8 minutes (provided you're generous about how you time it - from first to last word I was dead on). I thought I'd seriously underrun.


• The audience laughed throughout - giving me only one brief laughter break - towards the end of my routine. This is hardly surprising - I was the 11th act of 16 and I'd just mentioned that I'd be leaving the stage shortly - they were keen to move on with the evening.


• I used a variety of different joke types and different ways to work a laugh. I'm surprised at myself.


• I tried hard to work the crowd - a crowd that was tired. I think I made a connection.


• I'm happier now I've heard the tape.

Competitions are hard work. Apart from the vast number of acts to be seen in one go, there's also the fact that, as a performer, you feel like you're up there with every act... so if they die, you feel like you've died with them. Tough show!

I don't know how the judges will have taken my performance, but I'm happy that it's worth continuing at this game on the back of my last performance. I reckon you're only as good as your last show, and I'm not feeling too embarrassed to do monday's gig, now I've heard how I did yesterday.