CHAPTER 43

Mike Royce: Weeknights, you weren’t even sure if they were going to have a show. A few times we actually didn’t have a show, because there was no audience. And quite frequently I would have to start the show with, like, four people in the audience. And you know, it’s a showcase, so people come in and out during the night, but I mean, I would emcee and there were four people sitting there. I did do a little banter, you know, with the four people, and you see a couple stick their head in the door and then I’d be like, ‘Come in.’ And they’d come in and then they’d sort of realise there are only four people there and, shit, I’d have to pitch all of them into staying, ‘There’s more people in the show, we’re just starting, blah, blah, blah.’ And this happened night after night for a couple of years with not too many exceptions. And on more than one occasion I had to literally start the show with no audience and then I’m just on stage and there’s no one in the audience, but the reason is so that when people come through the door and the show has started, they think there’s a show going on, and from the stage I beg them to stay.