November 2006

THIS MONTH....
There are VIDEOS to watch (kick back, put up your feet and enjoy... Seriously, you’ll like this.)
TAM MCADAM – that US cousin who knows more about the Scottish Press than I do!
STEVE HARLEY and COCKNEY REBEL news.
Congratulations to SUSIE TOWNSON
And congratulations to Perth-based ENTERTAINERS AGENCY
And congratulations to DAVE CAIRNS, just turned 50.
The Amazing X-sail. (Journalists, take note)
A story about WHITBURN
Somebody getting their own back on a tele-salesman.
BIG BILLY and the amazing flying paramotor.
This month’s gigs
Next month’s gig list.

XXX
STEVE HARLEY AND COCKNEY REBEL GIG - EDINBURGH
If you live in Scotland, put THIS in your diary - I meant it. Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel will be performing on Sunday December 3 – that’s THIS Sunday - at the Queen's Hall, Edinburgh. Catching Steve and the boys in action is something you just HAVE to do if you enjoy great music, consummate professionalism, and the thrill of a REAL rock concert. See him perform once: you’re a fan for life. I’d love to meet up with some of you there... I will certainly be in the venue somewhere!

CONGRATULATIONS ALL ROUND TO...
Big, big, big congratulations to SUSIE TOWNSON, TV Commissioning agent supremo, and JONNY who, they reliably inform me, are expecting a baby in April. Fantastic news.

And Congratulations to the fabby (no, NOT "flabby"!) ENTERTAINERS AGENCY. Nominated in 2005 (voted by their clients) for the prestigious "Vow Award", they were the outright winner this year. I’m proud to be associated with you!

Same goes for DAVE CAIRNS - 50 this month. By way of celebration 12 of us went for a curry... Loads of laughs and fun (and Buckfast?). A great night for all... except Dave, who would wake up the next morning with a hangover to realise this cutting-edge, rock-and-roll promoter and all-round born-to-be-wild growler now qualifies for deals from SAGA.

VIDEOS – TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND WATCH THESE, PLEASE...
Some of you have already seen a couple of these videos, but for those who haven’t....
(1) For those of you who missed my dismal performance on BBC2’s Ready Steady Cook, you can catch the highlights – and the lowlights – on the internet at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15SSGvG5aSo
(2) Drew McAdam Test Condition performance. Demonstrations that are just a little bit scary. (Thank you for all the wonderful e-mails- this has now been viewed around 600 times. Weird!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv1ty4_UE3w
(3) Uri Geller kindly sent me the promo trailer to his TV show that’s presently running in Israel. The programme has ben a huge success, with one paper reporting: "Reaching some 850,000 viewers (34% rating) at its peak on Saturday night in the 21.00 hour, the studio-based contest show is being hailed by commercial producer and broadcaster Keshet as ‘the most successful series launch in Israel in recent years.’."
I thought this was one of the best promo videos I’ve ever seen. And as one admirer said: "It has all the polish of an expensive car advert." I’ve posted it on YouTube, and you can see it here – make sure you have sound on so you can appreciate the music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK6NMXEDDSQ
(4) At an Inverness gig I was filmed by Steve Mackay’s Red Zebra film unit – with Derek in he editing suite. With a bit of luck I’ll be posting the highlights on YouTube later, but for the moment have a look at this fantastic music Video by Steve at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6ChmYwB9a0
There – you enjoyed that, didn’t you?

NEWS FROM ABROAD
Now, THIS, I really don’t understand. It was after midnight when I decided to check my emails, and there was a missive from Tam McAdam in the good ol’ US. (Tam is a wonderful guy with a razor-sharp wit and a fine line in patter.) He was telling everybody on his mailing list that "Cousin" Drew had a nice slice of PR in the Daily Record. (For those who don’t know, The Daily Record is the main newspaper in Scotland.) Now, here’s the thing... I had picked up the DR in a cafe that day, but only skimmed the first few pages... How come Tam, who is on the other side of the world, knew, and I didn’t? Weird.

(By the way, it was the full centre page, double page spread, with two MASSIVE photographs of my wrinkly coupon.) It’s one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen in my life! Seriously.

A LIFT TO WHITBURN...
At a recent gig for the Institute of Charted Accountants I had the pleasure of meeting one of Scotland’s top solicitors. He told me that he recently gave a lift to a young man who was stranded in Edinburgh; a trip that took him to Whitburn in West Lothian (Where some are born great, some have greatness thrust upon them, and some are still chucking spears at the buses.) On the way to Whitburn the solicitor told the young man that he had been to that very town before, at the beginning of his career, and had attended an interview at local Solicitors, SN*****S. On arriving at the destination, the young man clambered out of the car and asked: "Ye nivir did get that job ye went after, did ye?"
"No, I didn’t."
"Dae ye want me tae pit his windaes in?"
Eeeek!

THIS IS A BLATANT PLUG FOR A GREAT TOY....
The wonderful guys at X-sail have just delivered 7 to Angus Council, for taking out for deprived kids. AND they have told me Tom and Brendy, that is – not the kids – that YOU, as a reader of this newlsetter, can get MASSIVE discount on one!
One what? An X-Sail. "It's not what X-sail IS that's so special, but what X-sail DOES.
X-sail takes you into a world of speed, and high adrenaline, without the need for hours of practice, and in a safe and controlled way. It folds quickly out of its bag at your local car park, playing field or beach, and provides an instant buzz for all members of the family.
Witness 75 year old grannies shrieking gleefully as they overtake their grandkids, and watch as dads and mums go head to head - but most of all watch the enamel come off everyone's teeth as the grins grow ever wider.
STILL don’t know what the Hell it is? Check www.x-sail.com – and remember to forward the web site to Santa with a big hint.

GREAT PRANK
Listen, somebody sent me this and I forwarded it to several people... the response has been amazing. You know these really annoying telephone salespeople that call you at inappropriate moments? Well here’s a recording of some guy REALLY getting his own back! Just follow the link at: http://howtoprankatelemarketer.ytmnd.com

UP, UP AND AWAY...
Some of you may already know that one of my passions in life is flying in general, and paragliding in particular. Me and me ol’ mucker BIG BILLY would often take off into the mountains and leap from cliffs. However, due to pressure of work, and an increasing scardey-cat attitude, I haven’t pursued this particular activity in some time. However, Billy has never ceased or desisted. Indeed, he recently bought himself a paramotor.

So, we found ourselves on the cliffs just south of Dunbar. Billy started up the motor and took off... He just climbed towards the clouds and headed off along the cliff top, and into the distance. What fun. So, thanks to his persuasive abilities, I too am looking to get my hands on one. Lookout - Drew McAdam and his amazing performing propeller: coming to a tree / pylon / rooftop near you.

GIGS THIS MONTH
Had a fantastic little gig at The Prestonfield Hotel, EDINBURGH. I ended up in the kitchens, bending spoons for the staff – always a great place to be! The HARROGATE gig was a belter, with superb sound technicians working behind the scenes to make it all trouble-free for me. The performance took place in a gigantic wrought iron and glass conservatory; part of The Old Swan Inn. The hotel is famous as the retreat of Agatha Christie during her disappearance in 1926, and then as the location for the film 'Agatha' starring Dustin Hoffman and Vanessa Redgrave in 1977. How cool is THAT?

Another of the great gigs this month was at The GLASGOW SCIENCE CENTRE, quickly followed by a cabaret performance at ÒRAN MÓR in Glasgow. A couple of fabulous venues, enhanced by a superb sound and lights team.

Most unusual venue this month has to be LOSSIEMOUTH RAF AIR BASE It was a thoroughly enjoyable gig; which had my pass and permit overstamped "Psychic" Official recognition by the Royal Air Force as a psychic – even emblazoning it on their authorised documentation - has to be worth SOMETHING!

Had a second run up the A9, from Perth up to Inverness for a corporate gig at THE DRUMOSSIE HOTEL. And what a run! Heading over Drumochter, and through Perthshire, the mountains had the first covering of snow, while the trees in the glen were in all their golden autumn finery. Again, the sound and light teams did a fantastic job, and the whole performance was filmed from various points, then treated to Derek’s special skills in the editing suite. I’m looking forward to seeing the outcome. Hey, I may even post parts of it on YouTube if I can work out how to do it again.
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A few days down south, and a Press and photographer laden performance at a Primary School in KENT – kids LOVE this stuff! A rush back North for a performance at a TAGGARTS Car Showroom in Glasgow, and the unveiling of the brand new Land Rover, Volvo and Jaguar... complete with pyrotechnics. Then there was a truly enjoyable black-tie gig at the very posh WESTERN HOTEL in AYR for the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

As if all that were not enough, I had a wee job to do at the stately pile that is HOPETOUN HOUSE, and where I had the chance to watch The Red Hot Chili Pipers (bagpipes and drums) at work. I LOVE the name of that band! For those who like Irish Celtic music, perhaps we could start the Klu Klux Klannad?

All this was finished off with a gig at the "Fair" CITY OF PERTH Football ground.

Phew – and December is still to come...
Where I will be at, among others:
Cameron House Hotel, Loch Lomond.
BBC Studios, Glasgow,
Forres in Moray (4 gigs)
Cupar, Fife.
Aberdeen
Double-header corporate gig in Edinburgh.
Private function, also in Edinburgh,
And Dunkeld Hilton.

So, next time we speak, it will be next year! Can’t believe that it’s all come round so soon.. What a year it’s been! Faaaantastic!

So, may I take this opportunity to wish you all – each and every one of you – a relaxing, and very peaceful, Festive Season.
And remember: "The Christmas we get, we deserve."