The Learner Parent on going from Mick Jagger impersonations to twin tantrums

When Sam Avery and his wife found out they were having twins it led him to starting a blog documentating his life as a first time dad.
Sam AverySam Avery
Sam Avery

“Everything was new to us,” explains Sam aka The Learner Parent.

“I started to write things down as I thought it would be great material, and then when the twins were born I would keep notes and someone said why don’t you do a blog, but my idea of bloggers was just like Perez Hilton and I didn’t want that kind of thing, so I resisted but then I started to get so many notes that I decided to do it.

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“I just thought one day this could be great stand-up material but I was keen that the stand-up show wouldn’t have anything that has been in the book or on Facebook but would be exclusive new material.”

Sam AverySam Avery
Sam Avery

Sam has been a stand-up comedian since 2003, but doing a gig was something that for seven years would be his new year’s resolution, however, it would take a night out involving a Mick Jagger impersonation while at Liverpool university to give him the push he needed.

“I couldn’t sing but I could do a really bad impression and my friends convinced me to do it,” he reveals.

“I signed up and had a ridiculous outfit on everyone was taking it really seriously except for me.

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“The next day I woke up with a massive hangover and a message saying ‘are we still ok for tonight’, I didn’t know if it was a girl I had met or not. But then it was revealed that someone had seen me and booked me into a comedy night. In my hungover state I put together a ten minute stand-up show.

“I was in two minds whether to do it but kept thinking you have wanted to do this for seven years and was so glad I did it and they booked me.

“It must have got enough laughs as I got other bookings and it went from there really.”

Sam is bringing his latest tour to Brighton Komedia on January 16, the basis of which is a tantrum one of his kids threw in Starbucks.

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“When you are a parent you get to the point where you feel you have mastered something like the double buggy,” he says.

“I felt I had got to the point where I could put it down without losing my dignity and then they walk and you have to sell it.

“It is the same with the kids you feel you have got it and they start rolling or crawling or walking.

“I think you sometimes get a week where you feel comfortable and it all works out.”

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Although the material for his latest tour does focus on being a parent Sam admits he did a warm-up show in Chester where the audience was mainly 20 year olds and they all loved it.

“Having twins I feel like a prison warden,” he smiles.

“They kick off and one points to the other but then they don’t snitch which I am actually pretty proud of but it can be frustrating.

“They set each other off as well when they throw a wobbler. And you are dealing with two of them.

“People do say that having twins is hard but I think it is easier to have two the same age than like a one year old and a four year old who want and need different things at least their needs are the same.”

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The blog, book ‘Confessions of a Learner Parent: Parenting Like a Boss’, and the stand up show chart the different stages of parenting. The blog he explains is mainly about the first two years and the show is more about what his children do now.

“I am pretty happy with the show as it is and I think as stuff happens I will just post it on Facebook or the blog for people to read,” he explains.

“Or it can be material for another show. But I may tweak it as the show goes on but overall I am happy with it.”

Although he says that the blog has grown and grown he was initially surprised by the interest in the tour.

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“I just thought I could organise it myself and do about five 25-seater venues,” he reveals.

“I got in touch with a promotion company who said you can do more than that so I am doing bigger venues and started the tour in October and go until March.

“Over the years it has been about combatting my nerves as I get really nervous before a show, but I think I have got there now.”

Sam Avery plays the Komedia in Brighton on January 16, for tickets visit www.komedia.co.uk or call 01273 647100

For Sam’s blog, visit www.thelearnerparent.com

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