BRIAN KAVANAGH

Today, we welcome Brian Kavanagh along to The Comedian's Conscience. Within his first year of comedy, he's gigged all over, including some of Scotland's most famous clubs, gaining him a slot at The Glee Club. Always trying out new material, this has led to him announcing a solo show, Hindsight, to premiere at Vibe Room Comedy Club on 25th November!


Great to see you, pal! Let's get right into it, what made you want to get into stand-up? 

Being a funny fucker... No, I had always been “the funny one” in my group, from school to work and later years. I just never thought of doing anything with it or that it was something I could have used as a job or career etc. I'm very impulsive and If it had crossed my mind at 18 or whatever to try stand-up, I would definitely have done it. Sadly though it never crossed my mind until I was sitting in the midst of lockdown stoned out my mind, and that was that, I went for it, and haven't looked back since.

Your style is very conversational, do you find that helps with writing jokes? 

I wasn't really sure what my style was or would be, I just drew from experiences I had already had, and the first time I went on stage I spoke from the heart and was honest. I never wrote the first time with punchlines added in. I wrote down 3 funny stories I had experienced and just decided to tell them the same way I would my friends at a party or whatever, adding bits along the way that would pop into my head and that I knew would make people laugh. It was 10 mins and worked well so I've tried to stick with that. I notice I could tell a joke one night and then tell it the next completely differently, the same story but in a different way, I like that and makes it feel less scripted which I think my audience of 2 fans enjoy.

What kind of challenges have you faced as a new act? 

I felt a phase for a few months that seemed like it felt easier at the start than it was now. I think when you come straight in you have no idea what works or what doesn't so you just go with the flow more naturally and risk more. As you get more into it you can start to overthink it and it affects your performance in a bad way, well it did for me. I struggled with that for a good bit and forced myself out of it. Don't overthink it and go in and have fun, that works better for me. Master the art of not giving a fuck and you'll be better. That's my life advice, don't give a fuck too much, let it come naturally. Terrible advice but I like it.

What can you tell us about your upcoming show, Hindsight?

It's sold out now, which feels pretty cool. I feel like there is a feeling it's too soon or fast for the time I’ll be on stage etc and 3 or 4 months ago I would have probably agreed with you. But I would also have been overthinking it, which I'm not now. I'm going up there to have fun and see what happens, don't feel any pressure from it really. I've spent this past year constantly testing new stuff. I had in my head that it was leading to me having more and more tested material that I could have done a longer set with. It's named Hindsight after my ex-wife and my 10-year marriage, as in hindsight I should have cut my dick off and killed myself. But here we are. See you on the 25th November hopefully.





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