Arachnophobia - LIVE!

Having been on stage (literally) covered in spiders recently, I thought I would be a good time to record my antics. I started off on the 31st of May, 2012, at Bristol Bright Club #3 - the Nature of Things, Bristol Bright Club being a comedy night where researchers take to the stage and make science funny. Or at least, they make their job funny. I decided to do this by walking on stage with a spider on my crotch.

Which is clearly the correct way to go about making spiders funny. This gig was only the warm up of things to come, and I spent most of the time talking about funny things that children say, or inappropriate things that we accidentally say to them. "You can have a lot of fun with Uranus" (in the context of a planetarium show) was a particular highlight.

Next up was Science Showoff, on the 12th of July. This was much more spidery show and involved getting the show organiser and known arachnophobe, Suze Kundu, up on stage to hold a tarantula in front of around 100 people. What could go wrong? Actually, nothing as both Talulah (spider) and Suze (human) performed admirably. 

Finally, a few weekends past, I took to the stage for a full half hour at Green Man Festival in Crickhowell, Wales. This time Talulah had grown wise to my going-on-stage-with-her-on-my-body-antics and promptly ran onto my back.

And stayed there for the rest of the show. Luckily everyone found that hilarious and so I set about at the task at hand and talked about how spiders really are lovely and fascinating animals, and you should only be scard of ones that have nasty bites or are unfriendly. Ones like Xena, the goliath bird eating tarantula.

Who although not dangerous, has something of an attitude issue. She's also very fast, and getting faster with each and every moult. Up to 9 inches legspan so far...

But despite the horrible weather and the potentially terrifying animals, I still managed to draw a very respectable crowd, which probably numbered around 250 people by the end of my half hour. Everyone was full of further questions at the end, and although some hardened arachnophopics were decidedly unmoved by my plea to love rather than fear our eight-legged friends, I think Xena in particular has gained some new admirers. Talulah also eventually made her way onto my front so was recovered safely and they are all now resting at home in the bug house.

Deadly Days Out

Very exciting news to all of those keen to meet the bugs (and me) in the real world, I will be one of four animal encounter people working the Deadly Days Out tour this year. Events are held on Sundays, with last week's (my first) at Lydiard Park in Swindon. More details can be found on the BBC.

The Swindon day was great fun, with loads of live (and deadly) animals. Including this rather lovely Nile Crocodile that I am holding in my excellent bright yellow animal encounter hoodie. Wowing the crowds we had Xena (the Goliath Birdeater), Indiana (the Whip Scorpion), Marjorie (the Diapherodes gigantea stick insect) and a couple of hissing roaches called Mr. & Mrs. C.

I also got to meet the brilliant Jungle Jonathan and catch up again with Pete the Bugman as well as getting to say hello to the legendary Steve Backshall.

At this weekend in Glasgow the newest member of the Bug Explorers Bug House will almost certainly be making an appearance. Talulah, The Antilles Pink-Toe (Avicularia avicularia) as you can see below from the picture with Mrs. Jim, she's a gorgeous arboreal spider with lovely orangey-pink toes. Come say hello in Glasgow (or another Deadly Day Out soon)!