The Price of Fame
One of the interesting things about fame and fortune is the difference between our dreams of the superstar high-life, and the reality. That's particularly pronounced when it comes to actually performing. Our visions invariably involve playing a packed out show at the 02, or perhaps somewhere a little more intimate, banging out a rock guitar riff or belting out a song, or indeed, letting rip with an absolute bring-the-house-down gag.
Achieve a certain level of success, though, and staying in often seems to be the main goal. Perhaps the sheer rigmarole of travelling, sound-checking, make-up - and maybe even a bit of adult dating - wears a bit thin after years of it, and you'd really rather stay in and watch Netflix, or read fan tweets.
The grass is always greener, of course - even if you're wearing those Pure Optical contact lenses, although the bench can seem more appealing for footballers: fans just can't understand how certain players seem happy to pick up a paycheque and sit on the sidelines, when that supporter would do anything for just five minutes in the famous shirt on the hallowed turf. But it happens a lot, particularly with goalkeepers, who'll sign for a big club knowing full well that they'll always be the back-up.
At least musicians can stay in and make an album instead, or move into other media. The singer-turned-author Tracey Thorn, for example, was on Desert Island Discs last year explaining how she used her young family as an excuse not to go on the road, but really, she couldn't be bothered. Which is fair enough, as she's increasingly in demand as a writer nowadays. Most musicians need to keep gigging though, as albums just don't sell anymore, now that you can stream them on Spotify almost immediately.
Comedians, though, are a different breed. Perhaps it's because the set-up process for live comedy is so much easier - well it is for straightforward stand-ups anyway; some of the absurdists have all sorts of bizarre gear to lug about - but they do tend to keep gigging, even when they don't need to, financially. And if they do stop, usually due to having moved into TV, they invariably regret it.
Nick Hancock was a guest on Danny Baker's 5Live radio show a few weeks back, and the subject of his unique career cropped up. He'd become a big TV face as the host of the sports panel show They Think It's All Over and Room 101, but gave up comedy altogether for a stab at mortgage brokering, and was now plugging his part in a new comedy play.
Any regrets, asked Baker? And the larky tone suddenly shifted as Hancock revealed rather sadly that, yes, he'd always regretted giving up stand-up, back in the TV days. He'd probably still be doing decent-sized venues now, if he'd kept it up. A few years back we interviewed one of his old TTIAO colleagues, who does just that, despite his main media outlet these days being a ranty Twitter account.
And if you're a really big star, and can't be doing with the traveling, you can always take the old
Peter Kay approach, and the Tour that Doesn't Tour Tour. Although he eventually took it out on tour, too. The sound of laughter never gets old.