How did you get into comedy?
I’ve no idea why this fascinates people so much. I’m more interested how someone gets into accountancy.
Comedy is a strange job.
Is it?
To most people; so how did you end up doing such an unusual job?
Okay then, for the record I did improv for a bit, which I now find the smuggest thing in the world to watch, then I was asked to MC a gig in Queens University Belfast and that was it. I was booked as a regular MC for a series of clubs that had just opened around the north of Ireland.
Where are the best audiences?
In Ireland?
Anywhere.
Indoors, to watch comedy, that they’ve paid to see.
In the world, where in the world are the best audiences?
Oh right. English speaking, indoors to watch comedy that they’ve paid to see.
Don’t be so facetious.
You want me to suggest that one nationality has a better sense of humour than another and that is not true.
Okay then who has the worst sense of humour?
Not saying.
Who are your comedy heroes?
As soon as I mention some names you are automatically going to compare me to them.
Just answer the question.
Billy Connolly, Richard Prior on “That Nigger's Crazy”, Woody Allen…
They’re all story telling comics…
You see, what did I say. Next you’ll mention the story telling Irish thing.
What story telling Irish thing?
The connection between the Irish story telling tradition and Irish stand-ups.
Woody Allen isn’t Irish.
You know what I mean.
Well is there a connection?
No! Is that what non-Irish people think we do of an evening; sit around and listen to old man McGinnty tell banshee stories? It may come as a surprise to you but we’ve got electricity in Ireland and TV. I’ve never seen a proper storyteller in my life and I’ve no desire to. Anyway there’s lots of Irish comics that just do gags.
There seem to be a lot of very good Irish comics about at the moment…
No there’s not. There are some very good ones, some okay ones and a lot of crap ones. The very good ones and the okay ones get to gig in England or wherever, the crap ones stay in Ireland and nobody ever hears about them.
Where do you live?
What are you trying to say?
Where do you get your material?
Out of my head where do you get your ideas from?
But do you use things you’ve overheard or real life instances or…
Look all of this gets lodged in your subconscious and yes it does get used but surely that’s where all ideas come from. It’s not like everything I do I’m automatically thinking, “this would make a great bit of material”.
Really?
Well no. Sometimes I do think that but it’s never enough on it’s own, things always need embellishment and exaggeration or a touch of the surreal to make them funny.
How do you deal with hecklers?
I don’t really get heckled much anymore.
But when you do, do you have a killer put down?
No. I respond to whatever they hit me with.
What advice would you give to aspiring comics?
Why should I give them advice? Nobody gave me any advice. No sorry I tell a lie, Sean Lock once told me to always stay in the best place that I could afford when I was on the road because there’s nothing worse than having a terrible gig then going back to a dingy B&B.
Do you think he was trying to tell you something about your act?
What do you mean?
Never mind. Don’t be such a misanthrope just answer the question, what advice would you give to aspiring comics?.
People say you should persevere, even if you are dying on your arse every night well I disagree. Certainly keep on trying for a time but there comes a point when you have to realize that maybe you just aren’t funny. Then again what do I know, just enjoy yourself.