This interview, conducted by e-mail, was received on the 11th of June 2000.
What is it like being a Perth comedian for you?
I think perth is a good place to start doing comedy because it was very easy to break into the scene and being such a small scene it is not in the national spotlight like melbourne or sydney would be so I can get away with not being very good at standup and still get gigs because while I think my material is very good (obviously or I wouldn't be doing it) my stage presence and delivery is nowhere near where I would like it to be. So yeah I guess perth is as good a place to start as any but as I live here I didn't really have much of a choice.
Would you like to be known in comedy all around Australia?
Why stop at stop at just australia. I'd like world wide recognition...I wanna be famous...I wanna live for ever...I want to be famous enough that I can pick up the New Idea and read about who I'm dating.
Have you met any well known Aussie comedians? If so, who?
I supported austen tayshus once so that was kind of cool even though he was too important to talk to me or even turn up on time.
How often would you say you get a gig?
Not often enough, probably every couple of months at the moment but I have started doing some radio work and that is a weekly deal so that eases the pain a little bit.
If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only save three things from the boat (things, not people), what would they be?
My TV (with remote control), my Playstation and my stereo...there would be no power to use them with but I'd be happy just knowing that they made it plus I would get a lot of satisfaction out of knowing noone else could use my remote.
Do you have an idea of how to promote Perth comics?
I think they (we) just need to be seen and heard more often because a lot of times when people find out that I'm a comedian they say "wow i didn't know that happened here in perth" so I think there is just a lot of ignorance to our plight among the general population...maybe some kind of comedian telethon would be a good idea. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that a lot of venues don't go to a lot of trouble to promote themselves they are content to just keep drawing on the same audience all the time. The few gigs that I have helped set up and promote I have been pleasantly surprised to find that it is actually very easy to get coverage in the local papers and it was insanely easy to get a radio show. A little effort seems to go a long way. But the best way to promote comedy is to offer a good product...put on comedians who are actually funny and offer humour that is at the same level as your audience, people are more likely to return if they enjoy themselves the first time and that way they will tell their friends and all the ads in the world can't beat word of mouth.
What got you started in comedy?
I had always considered myself pretty funny, my mates were always laughing at my jokes and a lot of comedy I saw on TV (standup, sitcoms and variety shows) was (in my opinion) not very good and for about two years I went around telling anyone who would listen that I could do better, so I started to consider trying standup. I went down to a comedy club (The Laugh Resort) to check things out, scope the scene man! and while I was very impressed and thought the show was very entertaining I left thinking "yeah i can do that". About the same time I had a very painful romantic episode that stripped away the last remnants of my dignity and self esteem so I booked myself in for a tryout at the Laugh Resort secure in the knowledge that even if I got up there and bombed it wouldn't matter because it couldn't possibly make me feel like a bigger loser than I already was...but I didn't bomb I went really well and I am hoping that the rest will be history.
What is the best venue for comedy in Perth?
Without a doubt the best venue for comedy in Perth is Rosie'O'Grady's on Canning highway in South Perth, it has the biggest crowds and always puts on a quality show plus it is non-smoking which really suits my style (it's almost like I have something to do with running it). There is a gig on there on the last friday of every month and it is a guaranteed good time...two thumbs up from this reviewer.
Describe your first time on stage.
Very scary, I sat in the audience with my mates watching the "proffessionals" do their acts and the closer it got to tryout time the more nervous I got. Anybody considering trying standup I'll give you a little tip free of charge - beer and lots of it. Finally the MC called me up and I took to the stage, I looked out at the audience but all I could see was a whopping great spotlight shining directly into my eyes, my legs were shaking but undaunted I pressed on, I did four "bits" (bits that to this very day, eight months later, I still pull out of my repertoire on occasion) it lasted about five minutes and then I got the hell off. It went really well, the other comedians were very encouraging and the venue coordinator, Chris Dooley, told me to come back for another tryout as soon as I could, he wasn't there for it so I thank Eileen Glynn for putting in a good word for me. After that I got a paid gig and things went from there.
What does your family think of you being a comedian?
They are very supportive, they have seen my act and think that I am actually quite funny. They are also hoping that I make a lot of money out of it so they can retire early and god knows I'd like to oblige them.
Who, comedian wise, do you admire?
Jerry Seinfeld, David Letterman, Norm Macdonald, Monty Python, The D-gen late show crew, Eddie Murphy and Adam Sandler.
I admire anybody who has the guts to actually give standup a go regardless of wether I find them funny or not. I also admire a number of local perth comedians, I won't name them (duh slap!) but they know who they are or if they don't they are welcome to ask.
If you could be anyone in the world, who would you be?
Kobe Bryant
What is their best feature?
Young, rich, on his way to being the best at what he does and all in front of the prying eyes of the world. (He plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA for those of you who live on mars or happen to be female...(!!joke!!))
Is there anything else you'd like to say?
West Coast Eagles rule
© Dominica Malcolm/Malcolm Media 1999-2009, ComedyDownUnder.com
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