Are male stand-up's funnier?

My little try at a column style piece.
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Tell me who your favourite comedian is. Is it Russell Brand? Jimmy Carr? Dara O'Briain? I think there seems to be a pattern here… Where are all the women? This is a question that often bemuses me. It strikes me as odd that we live in a society which appears to be overruled with male comics. Don’t get me wrong I love them! I can’t get enough of Michael McIntire’s mockery slash adoration of the middle classes, Lee Evan’s frantic explosions and even the scandalous verbal slips that leave Frankie Boyle’s Scottish tongue. Still when I type into Amazon ‘comedy DVD’ and I can officially tell you no females will be seen in their ‘relevant’ list.

Mock The Week

So why is it that these men get national sell out gigs and television appearances? Whilst the most I can find for someone like Catherine Tate was the odd tired half laugh Either way, surely in this day and age women can be just as funny as men?

Yet, I can honestly announce that I have friends both female and male who are equally funny yet there is some sort of a keys step missing between this level and that of stand-up comics. This thought first occurred to me when a friend of mine back in school announced ‘Men are always funnier than women – FACT!” I tried to defend our lady kind but unfortunately my lack of substantial evidence of comedians proved my argument to be lack somewhat in credibility. This annoyed me (I’d say a 50/50 split between my beliefs and my stubborn attitude which doesn’t like to be beaten) so perhaps I took this thinking a bit too far, or at least I knew my friend had stopped caring by the time I came up with my logical conclusion and here it is:

Women are not as successfully funny than men because it is a seen as unfeminine.

Jo Brand

It has been said that stand-up comedy needs a degree of machismo, clear self-assertion and even aggressiveness. All elements typically associated with men. Apparently there is also a rumour that woman have a higher ‘fear of failing’ – pft! I wouldn’t say that. But my point still remains that women have to choose between how they want to be seen by others and how much they are willing to put up with being seen as a bit ‘blokey’. For instance, probably one of the most successful British female stand up’s is Jo Brand (you may not agree but just bear with me a second). Can you honestly say that Jo Brand tries to appeal to men through her femininity – this may at first seem like a harsh thing to say but Jo herself has easily and often commented that she is not trying to represent what the western world calls beauty (whether that is ‘right’ is a completely different discussion). But this is exactly it. With self-deprecating humour she no longer becomes a target for hecklers but someone who is appreciated for the jokes she entertains us with.

Sarah Silverman

It appears that women have to adopt male attributes in order to become ‘funny’. Joan Rivers’ material can be pretty crude and as result gets that label – yet being a fan of some of Frankie Boyle’s work doesn’t make his female audience crude does it? I suppose my studies in sociology seem to have created a feminist argument – not one I have intentionally started! Trust me sociology is not a fun subject! But to summarise I guess what I am saying is that women can be funny look at Josie Long and Sarah Silverman. It just seems a shame that there is a trend for women to act more male to get a laugh. I’m waiting for those under the radar females to prove to us girls we're just as funny.

Head Banger

What a head banger!

After attempted crowd surfing, the 21 year old accounting and finance student, collides head first with the dance floor. Mike Juriansz has no recollection of Friday night, 26 Nov, and how he ended up unconscious on The Old Firestation floor, but friends Jack Aldridge and Ellie Keep remember the crash much clearer.

Ellie, 21, Roman Archaeology student, said “A group of guys, I didn’t know them, came over and picked him up over their heads, like crowd surfing.” Mike, from Fleet, Hampshire, believed the group to be “from back home but I’m not certain”. It was then at 2:45am that Mike landed head first onto the ground.

“He landed like flat on his head, and his neck bent, and he just laid there with his eyes open” said Jack, 20, Physiology student.

Mike Juriansz before bang.

“They all surrounded him and some of them tried picking him up but a bouncer came over and dragged Mike to the ticket booth room” said Ellie, from Reading.

Jack and Ellie watched as their best friend was laid down and put into the recover position. “He started to come round but was really confused and didn't know where he was or anything they told him to stay in the recovery position and asked me to call an ambulance” said Ellie. Jack said “he was still thinking he was in his hometown”.

When the ambulance arrived the paramedics took Mike inside to complete checks before heading to Poole Hospital. Ellie, waiting at The Old Firestation said “I dunno how long (the checks were) for but it felt like forever”

After spending 10 hours surveillance, Mike got a lift from Poole Hospital at 1:30pm the next day with a friend. “They kept shining a torch into my eyes, which was annoying, but they just told me to take it easy and if I felt dizzy or ill to go back.

“I still consider the night a success - it was eventful and there’s no lasting damage” said Mike ironically after sustaining cuts, lumps and bruises to his head.

A special thank you goes out to the staff at The Old Firestation “They were extremely helpful and nice” said Ellie.

Mike, although, said “I honestly have no idea how I ended up crowd surfing”

BAD HAIR DAY? Hair Raising for the Teenage Cancer Trust

Bad Hair Day The Movie!

Bad hair?!? Don't talk crazy! Usually a teenage nightmare, so why intentionally come to university with hair looking awful enough to make strangers stare at your barnet?


The crazy thing is people actually jumped on it!


The event dubbed 'Hair Raising' headed mainly by third year BAMMJ student Laurence Ettridge, and 1st year Joseph Kent, started today with 30 plus people doing ridiculous things with their hair.


The choices tended to range from permanent bleaching (Mr Kent himself!), temporary colour (I myself fall into this category), Back combing, knotting things actually into their hair - girls you are much braver than many female I know!

My hair looking more ginger than red!

Of the least obvious yet in my opinion brilliant ones was by Skylar Shah's half and half look, shaving half his face and spiking the other half up! Pretty epic idea in my opinion, yet it was Vix Hutton who won chocolates as being voted for the best (or worst) hair.


Over £100 was raised, figures tally up to make that Media Law lecture cost 2.7p a second. Dan Hogan, News Journalism lecturer stated 'it is your generosity of spirit that made this such a great country'.
This has brought the overall total to bulldoze the £500 barrier and it is just the beginning of the fund raising... A 'Speak Easy' event combined with the 'Hair Raising' Band Night are to be held at The Winchester, Poole Hill, Bournemouth Thursday 9th December. 




So stay tuned for my gig review.

Pepe Jeans - Flash Mob!!!

In a plan to show my keen-ness to the Pepe Jeans rep's, I came along to this 'secret event' Pepe had invited BU students to.
It all started back in the hazy beginnings of freshers at the Fresher's Fair. Pepe Jeans had a stall as there were looking for a male and female from Bournemouth University to be a brand ambassador.... what does this entail you ask? Getting you mates to buy expensive jeans? Having to go to events and get other ambassadors for the brand? No... it was simply - yet brilliantly - as easy as getting 100% FREE DESIGNER JEANS!
Ambassadors are kitted out twice a year in Pepe's London store and just have to wear these fantastic jeans!
It just seems too good. Well whilst waiting for the competition panel to make their minds up on who is the lucky pair - I am waiting in anticipation (PICK ME!!!)

Either way! This is a Flash mob. We quite simply disturbed the peace of Bournemouth Town Centre by causing a stand still in the high street..... confused? Watch the video above and have a gander at our little experiment :) 

Old Person Interview

Thought this may as well go up - though it was the first piece of work I did here at Bournemouth and there are quite a few things I would of done differently if I interviewed him again :)
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During the War...

‘Terrifying’. David Saunders returns back to life during WW2.

As a toddler, being torn out of home and horded to the bottom of the garden is not something many people experience today.

David Saunders shed light on WW2 bunker

Now as a crisp day in October, gazing out over Bournemouth Garden’s it’s hard to imagine how much has changed since David’s childhood.

 ‘It was one of the most terrifying times of my life’

Dark. Damp. Cramped. Cold.

An uncomfortable situation at best but luckily David was not alone.

Protected by his parents and four sisters, David’s family also shared the restricted bunker with neighbours’ families.

The steel sheeted shelter often flooded and didn’t prove much comfort in these times of panic.

These air raids being common during the 1940’s, sometimes lasting for several hours. Not knowing when it is safe to leave or what you’ll return to when resurfacing.

‘We all just sat soberly, listening to the German planes flying overhead for hour at a time’

Wife, Marie, puts her hand on her husband’s knee. Married for fifty one years, last year celebrating their golden wedding anniversary the couple sit relaxed in each other’s company.

The Oxford based couple are Holidaying in Bournemouth and enjoying their stay in the Savoy Hotel.

 ‘We would really love some grandchildren’ said Marie.

My Porn Story :)

The Sun Article

Personality Piece - Telegraph Magazine style

MARK FORKGEN

Short-listed for the Royal Philharmonic Society awards, Mark Forkgen talks about guest conducting, duets with Deep Purple and working with young musicians.Charlotte Gay joins him at Bournemouth Arts College before his annual performance.

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It’s an animated scene. A group of seven musicians are all tuning their instruments independently, each one fiddling with reeds, tightening strings and even a drummer texting away on his mobile. People are joking around, teasing each other with jests only each other would understand. A dark haired man sits, taking his place upon the conductor’s chair. The noise dies down and people prepare their musical sheets for the rehearsal.

Mark Forkgen

This is Kokoro. The small contemporary ensemble is led by conductor 41-year-old Forkgen, and derives from the Japanese word for Heart of Feeling. Born in London, Forkgen has been shortlisted for 2006 Royal Philharmonic Society awards – the highest recognised award for live classical music-making in the United Kingdom. In 1994, he won Second Prize and the Kenneth Tyghe Audience Prize at the Leeds Conducting Competition. Forkgen has also worked with big names such as Mstislav Rostropovich - widely considered to be one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century, and with such ensembles as Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the English Northern Philharmonia.

Clearly a man well established in the orchestral world, it begs the question what is he doing settling with the small Bournemouth based group? “I prefer the more personalised and relaxed atmosphere. Everybody trusts each other and it allows me to have better responsibility for the group.” Forkgen started working at BSO (Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra) in 1992 as an assistant conductor, before moving onto Kokoro in 1999. 

Forkgen’s family brought him into a musical environment, and no doubt had their influence over his musical career. “It was actually a second generation thing, my mother’s parents were musical and my aunt used to play the organ.” It was as an Organ Scholar at Queen’s College, Cambridge that Forkgen began his lengthy résumé, soon winning a scholarship to study conducting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

“When I was younger I did a lot of choral work and played as an organist.” Forkgen says that learning with the Chapel choir gave a clear religious stimulus to the beginning of his conducting. Although now “Choirs and operas are not something I work with.” Forkgen also admits to no longer playing organ “I play a small amount of piano but it is impossible to keep up with everything.”

Now Forkgen decided that he no longer wished to specialise in operatic work, he describes the many different avenues for a conductor to specialise in “You just need to find your niche. I like variety.” Now a dedicated to the field of choral and contemporary music, Forkgen searched for his forte with years of guest conducting. Often travelling internationally, Forkgen has given performances of Handel’s Messiah in Siena, Handel’s Israel in Egypt at the Viterbo Early Music Festival in Italy and Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring in Denmark.

  “It’s always an experiment; you never know for sure how it’s going to turn out”     

His recordings have been highly celebrated by BBC Radio 3 and in both musical and national press. It would appear that classical music is moving closer from the periphery edges of main stream music attracting more younger audiences than ever before. Whilst sat in the Bournemouth University Forkgen says his audience following is “Quite Mixed – Tonight performance’s a complete sell out.” He continues to say “initially it’s always an experiment; you never know for sure how it’s going to turn out, but art students tend to enjoy the contemporary.” “I think the music is philosophically linked rather than an age thing”.

It seems Forkgen’s knowledge of classical music is extremely comprehensive. Nick Thorne, BSO Fundraising and Ensembles Department states “You definitely do not have to have the same knowledge as he does for music (to be able to work with him) Mark is very easy to get on with.” This seems to be a key aspect of Forkgen working environment. “I’m not usually into moving groups, I prefer working with smaller groups.” Forkgen rarely guest conducts as this would mean a lack of personal connection with the orchestra. When everyone is relaxed and gets on well with each other this creates “a better quality (of music).”

Rehearsals at ACBU

However what is most intriguing is the regular juxtaposition of rock and classical music that Forkgen brings together. July 2006 saw the compilation of Forkgen with the BSO alongside with Deep Purple at the Henley Festival and again with Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour at the Chelsea Festival. Both 70’s rock bands are recognised for pioneering different styles of rock with chart-soarers like Smoke on the Water and Another Brick in the Wall. It was a “slightly wacky project” said Forkgen. David Gilmour being a “Seventies rock God” it created a following that Forkgen was not expecting. “We arrived in the morning to see people queuing already - not exactly the norm for an orchestral performance.” Forkgen had nothing but praise for these rock bands, “They are fantastic musicians & instrumentalists, immediately earnt respect”.

Now as Head of Music at Tonbridge School Kent (boarding fees are £9,971 per term), Forkgen can now influence the young people he has always hoped to and gaining more interest in orchestral music from a younger audience. “Being a school teacher you have to be very adaptable to speaking to a wide range of people from those very keen on music to those not so, every project he takes on he does with great thought and assurance that there will be great success to his work” adds Nick.

Conducting requires a strong level of control, with poise in each flick of the arms and wrists whilst keeping the torso neatly held. Forkgen said “People are wowed, they wouldn’t normally think it, but to be fully appreciated orchestra needs to be live – It’s all part of the performance, it’s a visual experience as well”

New Radio Chat Show

I have just started my new radio show - wehey!


It's currently fortnightly on Thursday evenings 5 -6pm - hopefully will become weekly! I will be playing the latest chart anthems, inviting in guest presenters to banter with and be asking for all listeners thoughts and musings!


You can listen and watch the webcam on nerveradio.com


Check out the show's Facebook page : The Charlotte Gay Show
Or Tweet me @charlottegay92
Or the Nerve Studio at @nerveradio

PORN FOR ALL

With any luck this piece will be published - When it is I'll either change this around or I'll add links etcetera to the final published article.

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Freshers’ from Bournemouth University have project hardcore pornography onto neighboring halls of residence.

Students staged an impromptu festival of pornography by projecting a porn film out of their block of flats. The side of Purbeck House was used a makeshift 70 foot high screen. The 8th November saw the action spread out over four floors of student’s rooms and audio booming across the courtyard.

Undergrad student Perri Robinson, 19 from Hillingdon, said “we were watching a film and thought – I wonder if we could get it on the other building. It wasn’t until after we realized we could that the guys had the idea to play porn”

The sex tape projected out at just before 11pm. Retail Management student, Richard Welsh from Staines said “I think everyone who saw it found it funny and weren’t offended although there were a few screams from girls walking between Block A and B”.

As the couple performed on the building, security guard’s prowling the scene drew the five-minute show to an early finish.

“As soon as we saw the security guard we stopped projecting it incase we were put on another warning”

In true student style “Anyone in block A think they can top that?” said Welsh.

The sex scene was then posted on testosterone-fueled site Truelad.com

Currently standing at 1220 likes the post reads:

“Just looked out of my window at my Halls of Residence in Bournemouth and some absolute LADs have projected hardcore porn onto the face of Block B. 30ftPornLADs”

With security oblivious to the event, the students are debating what their next what the next challenge will be.

http://www.truelad.com/story.php?id=166832

FAD -Facebook Addiction?

This piece here is subject to change - hopefully will be published in Nerve* Magazine.


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Do you have FAD?

Facebook Addition Disorder. Do you have it? Since the release of The Social Network, Facebook seems even more unstoppable. It starts with just checking your notifications, then a sneaky peek at what your friend’s new boyfriend or girlfriend looks like (admit it – we’ve all done it!

But has your problem escaladed? Do you find that hours have gone by and all you’ve done it repeatedly hit the refresh homepage button?

These symptoms of FAD include:

• Putting off important work to be trawling through random people’s photos.
• Access on your mobile phone – checking whenever you have a spare moment or two.
• If you fall out with your boyfriend /girlfriend and its official once he relationship status has changed.
• You get frustrated if you cannot find the person you are searching for
• You have hundreds perhaps nearing thousands of friends – but how many of them would you genuinely want to stay in touch with?
• You make a point of checking your Facebook just before going to bed – even if it is 4am and you can barely type in your password correct. 

Following the recent ‘Unplugged’ challenge where approximately 400 students were invited to take part in spending 24 hours without media. Facebook was one of the most missed aspects of the challenge. If that doesn’t grab your attention well maybe The Ohio Report will shock yourself with the fact that students who use Facebook have a “significantly” lower grade in US universities than those who did not use the site. For those of you who have come to terms with your problem here are my ‘self help tips’ for keeping you off Facebook and onto that assignment…. At least until the work is done!

Stage One:

Admitting you have a problem. For most of you reading this you probably already recognise that many hours spent social networking could have been spend either doing work, or maybe even socialising in real life? – Just a suggestion!

Stage Two:

Have a Facebook mission. Most of us log on to send someone a message, or check our notifications, but once you’ve done that STOP RIGHT THERE!

O.k. you’ve done what you came to do so this is your que to exit.

Stage Three:

I can’t get off Facebook. O.k. I’ll admit, saying and doing are two completely different tasks. I have personally found that when I get back from a lecture; don’t even turn on your computer. Or failing that don’t use the Internet at all. This may not be possible for all assignments but if you’re like me, you assure yourself that your just keeping it open in case someone needs to get hold of you. IF IT’S THERE YOU'LL LOOK AT IT!

Stage Four.

Make a schedule. We all know the certain times of the day when people are more likely to be online, or when you are more likely to knuckle down and get some work done. Here is your chance to have a bit of Facebook time and actually get some work done too. Happy faces all round.

Stage Five.

Quit Facebook. If you find you are at this stage, then you either have a serious medical addiction (I mean I am actually a tad worried for you) or you don’t really have an addiction, which make me think do you really need to follow these steps?

Hopefully this will help of you addicts there shaking back and forth till your next fix – or if not maybe Facebook group would grab your attention more?