benniesposito.com

[Colin Ramone]

Been searching out some old emails and found this one from last November. Me and Benni had been chatting about doing a show at the festival.

To help you with a reference in it, "Mudfinger" is a newer comedian who can best be described as a permanent open spot. An odd young chap who was round the circuit about two years back, who's act consisted entirely of talking about non-existant mud (seriously).

From: benni esposito
To: Leighton Calvert
Subject: fringe
Sent: 18 November 2004 13:11:48

hi leighton

i've been giving some serious sober thought to our
chat the other day about next years fringe.

my biggest problem in terms of getting involved in
performing is that i have a solo painting show opening
in shetland on 3rd september 2005, which i'll have to
work my ass off to complete from now til then. that's
on top of my lecturing job here at art college. i'm
worried that i'd be taking too much on and not be able
to give any of it my full attention.
i'd have to give it more thought and see how the
paintings are coming along over the next month or so.

at this stage however, i'm definately up for getting
involved in helping write next years show. i can bang
out decent stuff fairly fast. have you had any more
thoughts about the angle or area you want to cover?

if you and simpfeld are having any discussions about
it i'd like to get involved.

i'm compering an 'art' event at the local artists
collective tomorrow night. so far the 'line-up' is;

a girl making 'reactive movement' (not dance) to
random sounds generated by her laptop.

a bloke making a 'live' painting on a wall of a
projection of a marlon brando movie (can you tell what
it is yet?) to the musical accompaniment of a guy
playing a guitar with, not a plectrum, but a hand-held
face cooling fan.

a some bloke reading poems in spanish.

Bring back Mudfinger - all is forgiven!!

talk soon

benni

[Colin Ramone]

Here's an earlier email

I've had to censor the swearing for the sake of this board, and censor a comedians name for the sake of the guilty.

To set it in context, I was somewhat peed off with certain comedy acts at the time (don't worry, nobody that frequents here) and told Benni so. I'd also just come out of a fringe run, which is never the highpoint of the year for comedians as far as mental stability goes.

Anyway, in response to my foaming at the mouth, this is the common sense and kind response Benni sent me.

From : benni esposito
To : Leighton Calvert
Subject : Re: Doing a show and things

Hi Leighton

I totally understand your fraustration at the comedy
scene. As I've said, the last coupla years I was
working I kinda felt I was going round in circles
repeating myself - I wasn't really getting anything
new out of doing the gigs. It's easy to get bitter,
but the last thing you wanna do is turn into <circuit comedian's
name censored> ("F***in f**k the comedy scene man
- and f***in f**k the f***in fringe!!!!"). The comedy circuit's
always gonna be clogged up with useless acts with way
more ambition than talent, all pissed off coz they
can't get gigs.

I think over the years you've developed into one of
the most bankable acts in Scotland, not only having a
strong central pillar of an act, but also an ability
to write new and varied shows. Don't let yourself get
pissed off coz you're surrounded by mediocre talent -
I'd take it as an affirmation of your ability.

I've been thinking for some time now of getting back
into comedy at some level. I'm basically on a
permanent contract at art college here in Dundee, but
it's not a full-time job, and the holidays are long.
So I've definately got time for writing. I'd really
like to get involved in writing the next Explained
show, should you decide to do one. As far as being a
member of the cast goes, it all really depends on how
far ahead I can get with my painting in the next
couple of months. I've got a solo exhibition that
opens on 3rd September in Shetland, so August could be
a vital month for me in terms of paintings, should I
fall behind. If, however, I can get ahead with it in
the next couple of months, and feel confident I can
get most of the work done before August, then
performing in the Fringe is a possibility.

I agree that the SNP room is s**t, but perhaps with a
little bit of work it could be made to seem more like
a proper small venue. The great thing about doing a
show there is that you can really develop it, then
take it to other, better, venues.

Apart from a couple of local compere slots, mostly
filling in or for charity, I haven't performed this
year, although I've written a bit of new stuff. I
want to start gigging a bit again though, so I've
taken a booking for Inverness Hootenannys at
Christmas. It's a bit of a trek for £100, but they put
you up and give you food and booze. Also, it'll give
me a chance to see if I can still cut it. And if I
can't I'd rather die in Inverness than somewhere that
I gave a **** about.

I'll have a think about the Explained ideas over the
next couple of days and get back to you. But I'm
definately up for working with you in some capacity,
be it writing or on stage.

benni

[GrahamP]

Strange reading Benni's emails, he always wrote a brilliant email. And quite spooky to hear him talking of dying, even if only in the comedic sense.

It's terrible to think there'll be no more of those irreverant, witty emails, full of fun and future plans.