In late 2022 I was invited to run workshops with sportswear company, New Balance.

I mentioned improv in the discovery meeting with the training coordinator, and having known and seen how effective it is from their time in the USA, they were up for it. I learned they are a very skill-focused company and were intrigued by my offering of comedy for presenting skills. Something a bit different.

The teams I worked with were highly motivated and many already did regular presenting in development and sales. What can a comedian, teach them?

I'm always ready for a little bit of resistance when I introduce improv into a workshop, it's understandable why highly focused people would question what presentation skills has to do with playing a game called 'I'm a tree'?

I really enjoyed this course although it pushed me out of my comfort zone…it has definitely benefited my confidence and skills.

- Jenny

As much as my ego makes me assume everyone has seen my TEDx, not everyone has. I put across the idea that like any muscle in the body, the brain needs regular exercise. Explained in running terms, it's similar to a couch to 5K. Exercising our leg muscles improves running skills, and exercising brain muscles develops our ability to think fast, and perform more confidently.

Improv builds mental resilience, it's also our way into using humour. To be ourselves and become the focus of the message we're delivering.

Some of the key takeaways during these sessions were;

• Giving yourself permission to use humour
• Putting a slide deck together that can be talked around not read from
• Presenting without a slide deck

Testimonials

It was very good!

- Alexander

Overall it was a real pleasure and I learned a lot.

- Manuel

I loved it!

- Katja

Links:

• New Balance
• My TEDx talk

TedX talk, Warrington

Massive. This has been on my bucket list for years. Talking about the benefits of improv, I worked hard to learn it and get it right. The best takeaway from it wasn’t just the standing on the red dot, but how it’s helped me look forward. The version of me on stage that is confident not only in being funny but also in sharing knowledge and experience.

Art Battle Manchester.

Another opportunity to actually say ‘I’m an artist’. I’ll admit I wasn’t totally comfortable doing it, and wasn’t happy with the final piece, but it was a great experience, and something I’d like to have another go at.

Edinburgh Festival, Comedysportz & Salfunny

Great to see the Edinburgh fringe back in full swing with covid restrictions eased. It looked the same and smelled the same, but it was different. Higher accommodation fees and new ticket systems changed the status quo for performers and producers. After the pandemic, refocusing my career path, I was able to enjoy performing, doing Comedysportz and compering the Salford University showcase. All without any ego fuelled self-analysis or giving too hoots about what other stand-up comics were doing. Joy.

More Live Drawing.

More of this in 2023, please. Drawing portraits for awards ceremonies at the Liverpool Hilton, Graphic recording for to big corporate clients in Manchester, and a dozen more events this year. If live drawing has replaced comedy and I’m invited to nice hotels around the world to create live art, I’ll be a very happy person. It’s niche and I’m good at it. More or this.

Pecha Kucha night Manchester

A talk with twenty slides, twenty seconds each slide. My talk was on my comedy career and how Distance came into being, but I also got to do a completely improvised talk too, where someone else had prepped slides that I didn’t get to see beforehand. Blimey that was fun.

New clients

I can’t wait to share more of the work I’ve completed in 2022. In July I started working with the NHS, writing and illustrating an animation to help autistic people. Also in November, I delivered my presentation skills and humour workshop to the sports company New Balance.

New home

The high point has to be January though, and my new flat. Moving to South Manchester near the city was no mean feat. Manchester is an incredible city and it’s growing at an exponential rate, with a skyline that has changed along with it. When I moved here eighteen years ago it was like a big Newcastle, now it’s a little London.

It resonates all the more as at the end of this year we lost my dad. He was an incredible person. Funny, kind and always cheering me on, and he got to see all this year's successes. I’ll miss him loads. A very reflective end to a very successful year.