Working with comics.
Back to School
Muse Bar showed me how hard it is to work on stage as a comedian. There were some great teachers – Sammy J, and Dave Thornton among them and they were starting out and at the top of their game.
Muse Bar was on the corner of Alma Road and Hotham Street and I was invited to co-host by Amy Jane Roberts, who’d blossomed after discovering Drag on the Early Show stage. Amy found the venue and the owner was eager and so Drag at Muse opened. The drag shows were a lot of fun, and the owner of the venue had the idea of mixing stand-up comedians with Drag Queens. At the swap over for the evening, I did a talk spot with the comedians closing their sets, and us opening ours. It was great training for Drags Aloud hosting as well and it ultimately led to my solo show – Mangina: Tales of an XY Woman.
What surprised me was that I could pretty much hold my own with the comics starting out and I received a few compliments which were thankfully received. I had always thought I was more of an announcer than the quick witted host like Jessica James who could hold her own on any comedy stage.
Amanda and Amy at Muse Bar
