I have a range of projects that need funding with your help. All you have to do is click on the PayPal button and donate as little or as much as you wish. If you are feeling especially generous you might consider a regular amount.
All the money that goes into the PayPal account will be used to create short films (maybe even some long films), comedy sketches, documentaries and a range of podcasts. Everything I make will be made available free online, a good deal and better value than the TV Licence I'm sure you'll agree.

Tuesday 25 August 2020

Unlocked: Part 2


As I said in the first half of this newsletter, the year started so full of optimism that the #SteveO2020 hashtag not only seems like years ago but also like the most amazing misfire.

However, now that the lights are slowly being turned back on I feel that the time is right to pick up. There are a few projects that I should have been working on before lockdown. We should be ready to start on one film fairly soon, which I have worked out can be done with all of the safety awareness of the new world. I have another film, a drama, which requires crowded pub and nightclub scenes so I am probably looking at a long wait or a major re-write.

So let's get down to business. Now that I am ready to go (and The Random Sessions is back) we need to inflate the coffers. I am aware that times are not the best at the moment for a lot of people, but for some people the lockdown has saved people money. Working from home has saved the cost of travel passes, food and that morning visit to the chain coffee shop. 

One of the positives from the bizarre events of the year so far has been the recognition of how important creative people are. Obviously we are not one of the emergency services and nobody suggested standing outside and giving us showbiz types a round of applause, but please try and imagine something. Try to imagine how your lockdown would have panned out without books, music, television, movies and other such form of creative arts you have turned to.

I have been churning out archive footage and creating new content throughout lockdown for free, the time is now right for the favour to be returned.

Your donations will be used to make films, documentaries, podcasts, comedy sketches and more, and in return for your generosity everything completed will be made available online totally free of charge without adverts. Please do what you can and remember that you are helping create something that everyone can enjoy, you're especially helping those who afford to donate. Remember how nice we all agreed to be when this all kicked off? Let's not forget that pledge.

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To help fund a range of documentaries, films, comedy sketches and more, please hit https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/steveoliverofficial and all the money donated goes into creating entertainment that will be made available for free.

Follow Steve Oliver on:



Unlocked! Part 1


The #SteveO2020 hashtag was something I had to bury. Obviously I can't complain about my plans being poured down the toilet because there are people far worse off. 

I have not been idle during lockdown, all of us in the entertainment business have had to make significant changes to our output. Here is what I have been getting up to, all provided for free of course, if you have enjoyed any of it then please make a donation and I will use that money to make more entertainment.

Isolated Juggling: This seems like years ago.

Dog Walk Comedy: A daily joke on Instagram in the early days of lockdown, and a compilation on YouTube. I might bring this back.

The NottinghamLIVE Radio Archive: Live performances from the iconic and much missed radio show. These are the surviving recordings, more may surface. There are some that sadly are not good enough quality to upload.

The Sunday Alternative Live at The Maze: Surviving audio and salvaged video from this venture in 2015.

Gig Footage and Musical Miscellany: All uploaded with permission.

The Random Sessions Lockdown Top 20: Voted for by some of the artists who appeared on the show.

Vinyl Comedy Club: My latest project. I have a large collection of comedy records, mainly LPs, and every week I play one and critique it. 

For no real reason I suddenly came up with a spoof character, a piss take of the Covidiot brigade who seem determined to keep this virus spreading. He doesn't have a name and I might do some more videos of this nature.

Anyway, this was the first part of my birthday newsletter in which I looked back, in part two I will look into the future in this new world.

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To help fund a range of documentaries, films, comedy sketches and more, please hit https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/steveoliverofficial and all the money donated goes into creating entertainment that will be made available for free.

Follow Steve Oliver on:

Sunday 26 April 2020

Locked In



I can't be alone in suggesting that the year 2020 should be written off as a bad job and we should be allowed to start over next year. That is assuming of course that there is a next year, and even if there is one, we have to assume that we will be out of lockdown and be allowed to get on with our lives (newsflash - we won't).

The optimism of new year has now well and truly eroded, so now we are adjusting to a different way of life.

This includes those of us in the entertainment business across the board. For my own part I have obviously had to ditch The Random Sessions for the time being. I was about to start work on a documentary before everything went to the wall. I also had a short film in the works and both of these required other people and locations. The biggest kick in the teeth for me is that I was given the green light to film a documentary relating to Goose Fair, which is 99% likely to not happen.

Anyway, here is how you can help me during this period of weirdness:

Donate using the button at the top of the page or by hitting this link.

I find it hard to get people on board with the whole crowdfunding thing. My annual Twitter help during clock-change weekend did not meet its targets so I am already behind. Although my productivity has had the brakes applied, I am still attempting to keep providing content. There is a load of unedited footage from over the years that I am working through and uploading to YouTube, including old NottinghamLIVE radio performances, footage from my stages at Hockley Hustle, and other bits and pieces.

Had I had time to prepare I would have invested in some proper equipment. All I have is the camera that I use for The Random Sessions and my phone. If we ever get out of this I am going to build a broadcast studio in my cellar for live/pre-recorded visual and audio output because it is clear that this is the future. The way we work will change dramatically on the other side of this, if there is another side.

Dog Walk Comedy is a daily joke on my Instagram.
Isolated Juggling is a YouTube series in which I make use of lockdown by learning to juggle.
Coming soon, The Random Sessions Lockdown Top Twenty.

I am currently recording bedtime stories for my niece and nephew which are for their eyes only. However, if you have kids then I can make a tailored storytelling video for them. Just make a payment of £5 using the PayPal buttons, and add some details (what story do you want/kids names and ages so I can personalise them).


I will use the donations to create films, documentaries, comedy sketches and podcasts when I can. In return for your generosity I will make everything I create available free of charge online for everyone to enjoy, so please be a part of something amazing.

Aside from donations, (and if everyone reading this drops two pound, I would get just over a quid after PayPal cuts), there is something that you can do if you can't afford to donate; share the videos on your socials and spread the joy. The local press have embargoed me so I rely on word of mouth for publicity, I did reach out to them and try to get them to drop the media blackout but to no avail.

One final thing, please help me to remove the word 'unfollowed' from my social media by following me:

Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Subscribe to my YouTube.

Many thanks in advance.







Wednesday 1 January 2020

Happy New-sletter Part 2


It is time to get serious and pick up the slack from a slow few years. This is hopefully my last full year living and working in Nottingham and I have unfinished business to attend to. 

First of all, this year you can help me to finally lose the word 'underfollowed' from my social media. If you don't already follow me then please do so on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to my YouTube channel. If you do follow me on any of the social media, then please recommend me to your followers. 

The big thing is to finally get the hang of crowdfunding as it hasn't been a massive success for me so far. It really is quite simple, everything I make using money donated is made available for free, without adverts. Everybody can enjoy it thanks to your generosity so you can be proud of being part of something. There are plans on the back-burner for comedy sketches, short films and documentaries (as well as keeping The Random Sessions going) but there's also more ambitious projects involving puppetry and animation so please hit the PayPal button at the top of this page or simply go to this link and donate what you can, it is all much appreciated. 

If you donate £3.65 then you are only paying 1p a day for everything I provide, in fact you are getting a day for free because this is a leap year. Of course if you can afford more then even better, more money makes more content. I know that January is a tough month because you will have been paid before Christmas so how about a break the internet donations blast on payday?

Thank you in advance.

#SteveO2020
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