1 hr 23 min
80 - Nigel Lawrence The Explore84 Podcast
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- Self-Improvement
For the first instalment of the “When I Grow Up” edition Comedian and Writer Nigel Lawrence joins the podcast to talk about the expectations people have when they find out you’re a Comedian, and the challenges of being a “company of one”
Nigel’s career in comedy began just after he’d finished school at the University of Alberta, writing jokes for another comedian and occasionally joining that comedian on the road. He’d watch this comedian deliver the jokes he’d written and not quite have them land right, which Nigel insisted was a problem of delivery, not material. After speaking up and suggesting he could do it better he was told “why don’t YOU do it then?!”, and being up to the challenge he gave it a go and the rest is history.
Early on he says his friends were very supportive of his choice to get into comedy, it always seemed like his friends and roommates liked to go to his shows to cheer him on (and drink some beers while they were at it), but Nigel explains that he actually prefers to not know anyone in the audience, and that it makes it easier to just walk out on stage and make it happen.
Before long Nigel experienced a challenge that is common among many Canadians in the entertainment industry: lots of talented competition without much room to grow. This led to his decision to move to Los Angeles, where many more opportunities for standup as well as comedy writing are available.
Working in comedy today comes with many challenges, from changing audiences to the global pandemic causes closures of comedy clubs and other venues. Nigel explains that because of his material the issue of changing audiences and folks taking offence at material hasn’t been much of a challenge for him, but like many the inability to deliver live standup in person has been a huge barrier. He explains that there are currently some opportunities with online shows over platforms like Zoom, and that while these opportunities are great, they’re also very different.
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The Kondrat Podcast: website | facebook
Alberta Beer Festivals: website | twitter | instagram
Nigel Lawrence: website | twitter | instagram | facebook
For the first instalment of the “When I Grow Up” edition Comedian and Writer Nigel Lawrence joins the podcast to talk about the expectations people have when they find out you’re a Comedian, and the challenges of being a “company of one”
Nigel’s career in comedy began just after he’d finished school at the University of Alberta, writing jokes for another comedian and occasionally joining that comedian on the road. He’d watch this comedian deliver the jokes he’d written and not quite have them land right, which Nigel insisted was a problem of delivery, not material. After speaking up and suggesting he could do it better he was told “why don’t YOU do it then?!”, and being up to the challenge he gave it a go and the rest is history.
Early on he says his friends were very supportive of his choice to get into comedy, it always seemed like his friends and roommates liked to go to his shows to cheer him on (and drink some beers while they were at it), but Nigel explains that he actually prefers to not know anyone in the audience, and that it makes it easier to just walk out on stage and make it happen.
Before long Nigel experienced a challenge that is common among many Canadians in the entertainment industry: lots of talented competition without much room to grow. This led to his decision to move to Los Angeles, where many more opportunities for standup as well as comedy writing are available.
Working in comedy today comes with many challenges, from changing audiences to the global pandemic causes closures of comedy clubs and other venues. Nigel explains that because of his material the issue of changing audiences and folks taking offence at material hasn’t been much of a challenge for him, but like many the inability to deliver live standup in person has been a huge barrier. He explains that there are currently some opportunities with online shows over platforms like Zoom, and that while these opportunities are great, they’re also very different.
—
The Kondrat Podcast: website | facebook
Alberta Beer Festivals: website | twitter | instagram
Nigel Lawrence: website | twitter | instagram | facebook
1 hr 23 min