Category: The real me
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Two Quiet Weeks – With a Few Big Lessons
It’s been two weeks since I last did one of these, and it’s been a quiet one — but that’s okay. I’ve been in the shed creating wooden Christmas trees, and they’re actually looking pretty good. I’ve also been trying to build up my following on Facebook and Instagram, the same way I managed on…
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Another Week Gone – Hard but Fun
Well, the week has been and gone yet again, and let me tell you — it’s been a hard but fun one. On the 13th, I went and opened for George Coppin at a new material night. It was fun getting out, meeting new people, and catching up with old friends. I tried to stay…
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🌟 What a Week in Benny’s Life! 🌟
: 🌟 What a Week in Benny’s Life! 🌟 Well, it’s been another busy week — and what a week it’s been! We kicked things off on Friday with the Nottingham Comedy Festival and our Disabled Cants showcase. Everyone smashed it! I’m so proud of what they’ve achieved over the past year — every single…
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November: Mental Health Awareness Month
Well, it’s November — and it’s Mental Health Awareness Month.It’s good that we’re finally talking about it more openly. Back in the day, mental health wasn’t really spoken about. I think lockdown helped it become recognised more. For me, when I’m not busy, my mind gets violent — so I keep myself very busy.But then…
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Another Year of Being Self-Employed: What Have I Learnt?
Well, it’s been another year of being self-employed. What have I learnt? Quite a bit, actually. Let’s be honest — I haven’t made much money. I’ve struggled these last few years. But I’ve also had a fantastic two years of being off benefits, and in that time, I’ve helped so many people get into comedy…
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Believe in Yourself — Because You’re Doing Better Than You Think
Well, another week done — and what can I say? It started off quite quietly because my mental health hasn’t been great. That’s partly on me — I didn’t get out much over the weekend, and I messaged someone who I thought really mattered in my life. Turns out, I was wrong. Lesson learned, I…
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Respect, Hard Work, and Saying Yes
I haven’t done one of these for a while — I’ve been busy at the farm, working on my woodcraft, and gigging as much as I can with the money I’ve got. This week’s blog is all about comedy and what I’ve learned as a small promoter. It’s not just about being funny — it’s…
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🌍💚 Happy Cerebral Palsy Day! 💚🌍
Well, it’s the 6th of October — I’m late, but early again doing this one. I just wanted to come on and say Happy Cerebral Palsy Day. I’ve had cerebral palsy since I was born, and yes, I’ve got my challenges. There are days I want to give up. But do you know what? I’ve…
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From London Workshops to Kent Gigs
I didn’t manage to get a blog out on Friday, and that’s because I was busy gigging in Kent and London. It’s been a full-on week, so here’s the catch-up. Wednesday – Vision Express Workshop Last Wednesday, me and Denzel headed down to London to run a workshop for Vision Express. This one was a…
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Rebuilding the Real Ben
The shed has become this space where I’m starting to reconnect with Ben — not Benny Shakes the comedian, but Ben.Benjamin.The bloke underneath it all. A couple of weeks ago, my brother-in-law said something that really stuck with me: “You need to stop focusing on work and just be on your own. Focus on the…
Benny Shake 