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

💌 LOVE THIS EPISODE?

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts

Leave a 5⭐ review – it helps more people discover these stories

👋 Follow How To Fail & Elizabeth:

Instagram: @elizabday

TikTok: @howtofailpod

Podcast Instagram: @howtofailpod

Website: www.elizabethday.org

Elizabeth and Bill answer listener questions in our subscriber series, Failing with Friends. Join our community of subscribers here: https://lnk.to/7i0moR

Have a failure you’re trying to work through for Elizabeth to discuss? Click here to get in touch: askhowtofail.com

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.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices