| Comedy News |
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| CN : How long have you been doing stand-up? JA : I've been doing stand-up for 7 years now. CN : Why did you choose stand-up? JA : I first went to a comedy show in '91 watched the show and thought, "I can do that". I even spoke with the headliner about how to start. But after all that I didn't give it much thought. (Actually I was lazy and didn't really bother to try) CN : How did you get your start? JA : In '92 I went back to a show and had that same thought. So this time I got off my lazy ass and went to amateur night. Now I went there not to go on but to watch. The next thing I know I'm being told I'm going on 5th. WHAT?!?!? I HAVE NO MATERIAL!!!! I was told to come up with some. So I went on stage and did some stories that I would do at parties and stuff. I'll be honest and as corny as this may sound... as soon as I took the mike for the first time I knew that that was what I was supposed to do. Stand-up. It felt so natural being up there and making people laugh and it still does. CN : After all this time, do you still get nervous before a gig? JA : I rarely get nervous. I did recently and man did I suck!!!!! I truly love what I do so I don't get nervous. CN : What goes through your mind when you find an audience is not responding the way you felt they would? JA : When shows aren't going my way I do all I can to try to get the crowd. Clean, dirty, topical, whatever I can. If all else fails, I get off stage and drink!!!! Really though, I try to the bitter end to get them. If not at least I tried my best. CN : Who if any are your early comedy influences? JA : Growing up my older sister had Bill Cosby records and I would listen to them constantly. I'd go to school and do his jokes (always giving credit to him... I'm no thief) High School was Steve Martin. I would get up in front of my hallway mirror, put the record on and do his act. Wow... what a weirdo! Others were having Kiss concerts in their houses. I was doing quasi-stand-up. I was the opener. Both Bill and Steve were influences. As I got older, I got into the king of all comedians... Carrot Top.... Kidding!!! Richard Pryor in my mind is what stand-up comedy is all about. He combines truth with comedy and makes it very very real. Truth be told, I'm a fan of comedy. It's different now that I do it for a living because I watch it more as a student. You can learn so much from just watching a good comic and a bad one. CN : Who would you say is Montreal's best comedian, and why? JA : I'm a big fan of Joey Elias. Each time I see him he gets better and better. I also enjoy Freddie James and that other black comic. What's his name again... oh yeah... Mike Patterson. He just cracks me up. CN : Who, in your opinion, is the best comedian of all time? JA : Richard Pryor CN : How different do you find Montreal is from the rest of Canada where performing is concerned? JA : The comedy scene in Montreal is great. A lot of talented comics are here. CN : Among those involved in the industry there is always a lot of talk about "Hack" and "Stolen" material. What are your feelings on the two? JA : As far as comics who steal. You can fool the crowd but the comedy community, especially in Canada is small. You steal jokes the comics will know. Let me tell you... once you're labeled a thief you'll always be looked at as a thief. CN : Where do you see yourself (career wise) in 5 years? JA : 5 years from now I'd love to be doing movies or maybe just flying to my shows instead of driving for 73 hours. Maybe be one of those announcers on Monday Night Football. Oh well... we'll wait and see. |
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| The following is an interview with Montreal Comedian Jocko Alston |