Our Work Is A Terrific Laugh

Jun 29 2008

Three Jokers Reveal What It Takes To Make A Living

CRAIG HILL

CAMP comedian Craig had his first success at the age of 10 when he won a talent contest impersonating Cleo Laine.

Years later, after training as a hairdresser, then going to drama college, he was working at a box office during the Edinburgh Festival.

"I was aware of the comedy world but it never occurred to me that I could be doing that," he says. "But my friends said my natural off-the-cuff, having a laugh with them was something I should do on stage. One of them booked me in for a gig without telling me.

"When I found out, I was prepared to cancel until the very last moment, but I went on, did it and loved it.

"I was terrified when I first stood on stage but I can't believe what I got back from it and I think if you do the things you fear, it makes you grow.

"Don't be afraid to die. It's not the end of the world if nobody laughs at a single thing you say - you'll still survive.

"Don't force yourself to do it. But if people have told you you're funny and you think you have funny things to say, then do it."

Like most careers, comedy may not be financially great in the beginning.

"But that's not why people start it," says Craig, of East Kilbride. "They want it to be rewarding and after a couple of years, you can earn a decent living and still be very happy and anything beyond that is a bonus.

"As comedian you can make a living telling stories about your own life and, as scary as it can be, it is also hugely rewarding."

His final word: "If they are laughing, you are doing something right."

See Craig Hill Makes Your Week at the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh from July 31until August 25.

MARTHA McBRIER

MARTHA started her comedy career by entering and winning a talent competition.

"Comedy competitions are a good way to go because you are guaranteed stage time and you'll get seen by somebody," she says.

"That was my first experience of comedy. But it was 20 years ago when there was no comedy career path and no one was recruiting."

Various paid gigs came her way, and Martha learned the ropes as she went along.

But there was little regular work and she finally gave up.

Then, after a break of more than 10 years, she came back to standup comedy two years ago to much acclaim. "It takes persistence, talent and luck, " she says. "If you are good you will get regular work and you'll make a name in the industry.

"Most of all it takes persistence because you change and develop and then your writing changes and your performance skills improve."

Budding comics should not select comedy as an easy career move, she warns.

Martha said: "It's not easy but it is worthwhile. It can be a fantastic career and make you extremely wealthy."

Catch Martha at Edinburgh's Gilded Balloon in A Wee Bit About A Lot of Things from July 31 until August 25.

LYNN FERGUSON

LYNN set out to be a serious actor - but became a comic because it paid better.

She followed big brother Craig who is now a top talk show host in the US.

"At school, I was advised to become an occupational therapist but I didn't want a career based on basket weaving. I followed by best friend into drama school, instead," says Lynn.

"At the end of it, I realised actors don't get paid very much and when the man who ran a comedy show offered me £250 to do three minutes of stand-up, it seemed like a good deal. When I started off I didn't have much of an idea but my theory is if you turn up often enough, people will give you work," says Lynn, the voice of Mac in Chicken Run.

The mother-of-two adds: "There's a huge lie told about stand-up comedy being the hardest job in the world but frankly, being a mother is really hard.

"Surviving on hardly any sleep for weeks on end is much harder than 20 minutes on stage or working in a biscuit factory. I think if people want to do it, they should go for it."

Lynn's best advice came from fellow comic Mark Little: "He told me in the first two minutes people want to know who you are, where you come from and what you think you are.

"Also, be interesting. Don't worry about being funny. People will forgive a lot if you tell them something they don't know."

Lynn appears at Edinburgh's Gilded Balloon in Heart And Sole and The Plan from July 30 to August 25.

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