My friend Stephen took a risk and started a comedy show. Putting on a comedy show is a different proposition to doing stand up itself.

In fact the trend I have observed is that the best promoters are the ones for whom a desire to be on the stage is completely absent. 

This wasn't the case for Stephen. He is a comedian who has been plugging away for a few years. To be totally honest I had my doubts about what the outcome would be. This comedy night wasn't going to happen at night, it was going to happen at three in the afternoon on the second floor of a coffee shop. Nothing wrong with these things in themselves but I have in the past experienced comedy shows which have been put on by comedians in unorthodox venues: student dormitories, Italian restaurants, Indian restaurants, old chimney stacks and oil rigs to name a few. These shows have always been fun...always been fun. However they haven't always been sustainable, not universally and there is something which makes them short term propositions. It might be the owner of the venue being uncomfortable with the unfamiliar format, it could be the comedian does not have the energy or interest to keep them going in a consistent fashion. 

For the working comic these gigs are great because in addition to sharpening your sword you are also able to have bragging rites; "Well you know this one time I did a show on the anus of a tank!". All good but it very rarely grows into anything more than a passing novelty. Certainly not an income generating landmark show. 

In the case of the three in the afternoon coffee shop show, it worked really well. To my mind it had the feel of a fantastic show which will attract a diverse and consistent audience. It felt right and he had tried something new!

Something new but not novel. The idea of trying an afternoon comedy show is something which is logical, appeals and makes sense but it still takes a bit of hutzpah to try. 

What Stephen did was do something original but not novel. That is the spirit of innovation. It is the ability to try things which work within the context of what you know works already. 

A teacher who teaches their lessons in a different location or with a different format or timing is shifting the goal posts of what they do  and allows space for creativity and innovation. Trying something totally left field with no root in commonly accepted norms might work as a novelty (A teacher conducting all of their lessons in the dark, or a leader having their meetings underwater. These would be fun to try but aren't going to contribute anything going forward) there needs to be a common sense application to innovation. The real challenge is getting people to change at all. Consistent cultural change works well. 

For us humble hacks at Stephen's comedy "afternoon" we were what seems now to be irrationally worried but after seeing how a little change can make something awesome:- 

"I have time to go trampolining or have dinner after the show, I can even still go out and get absolutely wasted if I want" Audience Member

For me I hope that much more of my comedy takes place in the afternoon. Its always awesome to get back to the kids before bed time. 

Thanks for reading. I love your awesomeness.