Edinburgh season has well and truly begun with many of our homegrown comedians having abandoned Irish shores for the rest of the summer to try to amuse the Scottish public with their best material. One such comedian , Michael Downey, whom we caught in action during the 10daysinDublin festival, chatted to us before he left about his return to comedy and his thoughts on the comedy scene today…

Michael, many people will be aware that your comedy career was interrupted by a car accident almost 10years ago now, but for a lot of audiences this will be the first time they’ve heard of you… Is it strange for you to be a ‘newbie’ comedian again?

It is strange but it’s easier in some respects because people don’t know what to expect, they don’t have expectations. It’s a bit like doing longer and longer open spots without the nerves associated with brand new performers in that situation. It might frustrate someone else but because of what I’ve been through I’m just glad I can physically get to a comedy club let alone perform.

Yes but I don’t think it’s exclusive to Ireland. Comedy has become Big Business, there is an unbelieveable amount of “comedians” trying to break onto the scene and it’s become more deliberate and ruthless. When I started the drive was the buzz/fun of it now it appears to be that combined with hopes of tv/movies and whatever. When I started comedy felt like the final scene in E.T now it feels like the opening scene in Saving Private Ryan with jokes whizzing by instead of bullets.

No, I’m still hilarious. I may be more handsome and a better kisser but the stand up is still top quality

The best part is reclaiming a part of my life that was robbed from me by the car crash and the worst part is that the live seen is colder from a performers perspective, there is a lot less genuine camaraderie.

No it’s something I needed to do for myself (sorry for sounding like Whitney Houston there)

Since you didn’t break into song we’ll allow it With all your experience I have to ask – If you could give an aspiring comic one piece of advice what would it be?

Work your ass off, with your material not with making “contacts”! Stand up is a job like any other and the more experience and work you put into it the better you’ll be. Even though lots of the public don’t like to think that what you are saying on stage is crafted that’s the reality.

I think I would alternate from week to week between Bob Geldof and Kylie Minogue, but they both might be offended that I hadn’t procured their services in order to drive AND sing to me.

 

Well I’m sure they’d supply some interesting conversation even if they weren’t employed to sing and drive?! Michael is bringing his show ‘Standing Up Again’ to the Gilded Balloon from 5th-26th August at 19.45 daily,if you want to catch him in action yourself all the necessary details can be found here.