Podcasts · How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
Bill Bailey - ‘Rejection Made Me A Better Performer’
· 49 min · S20 E191 · Explicit
Episode Bill Bailey - ‘Rejection Made Me A Better Performer’
Bill Bailey is a comedian, musician, writer, actor, director and presenter, known for his brilliant live tours and panel appearances on shows including Never Mind the Buzzcocks and QI.
In this episode, Bill discusses being rejected from drama school, an Edinburgh Fringe show which flopped and the death of his best friend Sean Lock. Plus: the moment he decided to cut off his legendary hair (after it got stuck in some train doors).
Now, Bill is back on the road with his new UK arena tour, Bill Bailey: Vaudevillian, culminating in a two-month residency at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket.
IN THIS EPISODE
00:00 Introduction
03:05 Live Shows vs Screens
06:30 Love Letters and Marriage
10:24 Drama School Rejection
15:30 Music Teacher and Confidence
19:49 Haircut and Next Failure
22:51 Comeback Rocker Concept
23:20 Bill Best Backstory
24:28 Props Songs and Craft
25:16 Great Reviews No Crowd
25:46 One Person Audience Night
28:06 Friendship and Grief
34:22 Leaving Academia Behind
41:51 Animals Curiosity and Wallace
💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Being on stage in front of an audience - there's nothing quite like it. There isn't really anything that replicates that experience.
You have to cherish every moment. Cherish those friendships that you have. Cultivate them. Cultivate relationships with everyone that you feel a bond with, because you never know when they're not gonna be around.
🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS:
Get tickets for Bill’s tour, Vaudevillean, here: www.billbailey.co.uk/live
Join the How To Fail community: www.howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content
Elizabeth’s Substack: www.theelizabethday.substack.com
📚 WANT MORE?
Stephen Merchant - swap.fm/l/Lta5mlFbVnPHyFb8R1n2
Miranda Hart - swap.fm/l/oTScN30b80GflJtO4rgu
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Podcast Instagram: @howtofailpod
Website: www.elizabethday.org
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Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan
Engineer: Matias Torres
Assistant Producer: Shania Manderson
Senior Producer: Hannah Talbot
Executive Producer: Alex Lawless
How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production.
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