February 2005

THIS MONTH – the summary for those who only want the bare bones.
(1) Who is Christopher Brookmyre? Buy the book.
(2) Thanks Rory
(3) This month’s gigs: private parties in Penicuik and Linlithgow. Pitlochry. Orient Express. Glasgow Moathouse. Inteviewed by The Herald newspaper. Aberdeen Treetop Hilton. London, Mayfair. Film work in Liverpool. Inchyra Grange.
(4) Fun in the Silver Cross with Ian Rowland, James T Cheung and Romany.
(5) A coincidence

RECOMMENDED READING:
In a recent e-mail from Donald at Diagnostic Instruments, he suggested that the next time I was in a bookshop I should pick up a copy of "By My Enemy" by Christopher Brookmyre. He says "It had me in stitches for 9 hours on route to the USA." Oddly, at the same time I was actually reading "One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night" by the same author, as lent to me by my brother, Brian, and it really is very, very funny - particularly if you’re a Scot. My suggestion? Stick one of his books on your recommended reading list!

RORY RAVEN:
My thanks to Rory for his work. (I have a book coming out and he kindly checked that the idiom and expressions were suited to the American market. Apparently, the phrase "cock-a-hoop" is a new one on them. It gave him something to think about, though! Thanks, Rory.

THIS MONTH’S GIGS:
... and what a month it was! I had a couple of private parties, one in Penicuik, and one in Linlithgow. Then I took a couple of days out at a fantastic country house hotel in Pitlochry. It was one of those places which had been completely renovated but still has the original brass and oak fixtures and fittings. The staff was great. The food was exquisite, too. Expensive? It certainly was not – it was remarkably fairly priced. As you can imagine, I want to keep this little treasure to myself...(romantic snowy days away from the hustle and bustle by a roaring log fire) but if you’re thinking of taking a short break and you want splendour, comfort and great food for not very much money, drop me a private e-mail and I will reveal all.

I also had a wee gig on The Orient Express. No great shakes, though, it only went from Edinburgh to Glasgow and back again!

I performed my cabaret act at The Glasgow Moathouse for a charity dinner (I had been told it was for 100, but when I arrived it turned out there was an audience of 350 – a black tie affair, too. Surrr-prrriiiise!)

I left early one morning and headed to the offices of The Herald in Glasgow for an interview and photo shoot. I do hope some of you caught the finished piece. (Published Monday February 28 – that’s right, yesterday. I got the front cover of the magazine and a double-page spread – with fabby photo’s. What a hoot!). Anyway, I was to work with some members of the public, brought in by writer Joan McFadden. There was Jim, a professional poker player. Gaynor, a jeweller and actress. Jean, a reporter, and Jane, a female funeral director. There’s more, similar stuff, to come, including with Woman’s Own magazine.

From there, it was a quick drive up to Aberdeen....

Aberdeen – the Hilton Treetop Hotel. Next day, I had an early start, "doing my thing" for visitors to an event organisation. What a lot of creative thought went into the event. There was a Winter Wonderland area, a Moroccan Room, and a Scottish room. A great deal of exceptional skill and talent had gone into the creative design and layout; not mentioning a fair amount of artistic flair. Every room was more exquisite and appealing than the one before. Much of this was down to Prime Promotions, who pulled everything together in spectacular fashion. However, the best was kept for last. A massive marquee had been kitted out as the Moulin Rouge, all ringmaster, dancing girls, costumes, purple and red velvet, and towering columns of fresh roses with spectacular table settings and light shows. I did a 30 minute spot, which was a real delight for me (and hopefully for the audience, too!) By the way, thanks to Allan, the sound and lights man for a job superbly done.

However, as soon as the show was over, it was a quick dash back through the night. A few hours sleep, then a rush to the airport and a flight to London. There, I arrived at the Chesterfield Hotel, and had enough time to catch a cab with Ian Rowland to The Silver Cross in Whitehall (he calls it "his office"!) where he introduced me to the fantastic mentalist James T Cheung (if you haven’t heard of him, you will!) and the marvellous "Romany – Diva of Magic" What a wonderful time I had that afternoon. Good food, a great setting, and fan-tastic company. (Romany - we spoke by e-mail recently, but I’m looking forward to spending a lot more time in your company later this year. Dippy Drew and the Diva... it has a certain ring to it, don’t you think?)

Much as I would have liked to spend several days in the Silver Cross, it couldn’t go on forever. So, I had to shoot over to Mayfair where I had a show for Scottish Equitable, and the retiring CEO of that company, an energetic Scot called Mark Henderson. It was a truly fantastic night in the splendour of the Noble Rot. (And thanks, Elliot, for looking after my sound!)

On the flight back the following day, oddly, Mark Henderson was on the same flight. However, our takeoff was delayed for a few minutes by a "technical difficulty". Those who know me well know I love to fly and that I always grab a window seat... Well, I was treated to the spectacle of the engine, which had some liquid pouring from underneath it and forming a large pool. Have you any idea how quickly you can lose your appetite for flight when you are watching what looks suspiciously like a lake of aviation fuel forming right underneath you? It’s rapid, let me tell you!

I spent a couple of days in Liverpool this month. The venue was The Grand Central Halls, right in the city centre. It’s a sort of multi-spectacular nightclub place, on three levels, with open balconies of exquisite and complex wrought iron, the walls covered in gilt and bright coloured artistic murals. Why was I there? Well, Integral Productions was filming Medium Cabaret, hopefully destined for Channel 4, with a mix of entertainment, mediums and psychic readings... I was brought in as the spanner-in-the-works. The bulk of my day was spent being followed around by the camera crew while I read minds, stopped watches, bent spoons and all that malarkey. However, the highlight was my 20-minute spot – with the setting kinda’ like TFI Friday. Guest presenters and hosts included Margi Clarke, members of pop sensation Madness – Chas Smash also sings with the late Ian Dury’s band The Blockheads - and Liz McClarnon from Atomic Kitten (what a luverly lady she is!). Thanks to David Less for your help on this one.
Live, before a studio audience (as they say) I revealed a childhood memory to Margi Clarke (Queen of Liverpool) who was, of course, in Coronation Street, The Farm, Good Sex Guide and Letter to Brezhnev. In her childhood memory she came first in a race at her primary school sports day. I also reproduced a drawing (done in secret and at a distant location) by Vicky Gates, who plays SRO Marilyn Chambers in The Bill. The reactions of these two ladies were probably the best I’ve had in a loooong time. They were seriously spooked. Bless ‘em both! And it’s all caught on film.

What a brilliant day – and a long drive North the following day into snow drifts and Arctic conditions. I was no sooner back than I was one of the guest after dinner speakers for The Concrete Block Association at the Inchyra Grange hotel. They’re a fine bunch of blokes who offered me a great welcome and seemed to enjoy the after-dinner-astonishment.

BY COINCIDENCE...
This story is told, as related by my friend, Don Jack. Don was out-and-about and wanted to get in touch with me but didn’t have my mobile number with him. He then realised that my agent Douglas Gillespie would have it. He was in the process of phoning Douglas, when he rounded a corner and bumped into him. "I was just thinking about you!" said Don. "You must have been speaking to Drew," said Douglas. "Actually, you’re not going to believe this... but...."
Great stuff!

UPWARDS AND ONWARDS
Well, I’m gearing up for another hectic month, with a lot of work and a lot of driving. Hurrah for Red Bull – it really DOES give you wings! I’m going to be up in the Aberdeen and Aboyne area on at least four occasions, Peterhead and Edinburgh, too.
....
Bless you all – your feedback from these newsletters is always welcome and greatly enjoyed. Thanks to all those who write; and if you haven’t dropped me a note yet... what’s keeping you? I’d love to find out what you’re up to!
Best wishes,
Drew
www.drewmcadam.co.uk