I love comedy so much that I hate it
Why do we look at an audience and change who we are? In this episode of The Comedians Paradise, host Marvin McCarthy sits down with legendary comedian, broadcaster, and author Robin Ince to unpack the psychology of performance, the power of artistic masks, and his highly anticipated book, The Future of Jokes.
Robin opens up about his early roots in 1980s alternative comedy (from Rik Mayall to Alexei Sayle) and shares a critical lesson for all creatives: why trying to find a voice that merely “works” can make you end up hating the art form you love. Here is an overview of what we discussed:
[[00:00]] My love of comedy, launching The Future of Jokes tour, and the importance of doing what you want. [[03:48]]
[[02:30]] The psychological dangers of making snap judgements about a crowd. [[03:16]]
[[03:40]] The creative trap: how shaping yourself for others makes you hate what you love.[[05:00]]
[[05:00]] Staying true to your vision: lessons from Josie Long and other authentic acts. [[05:48]]
[[11:00]] Why you don’t need to win every single audience over, and celebrating the uncompromising acts I love—from Gavin Webster to Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Marjolein Robertson. [[17:00]]
[[18:26]] The sheer brilliance of DIY maverick Mark Dean Quinn: unique inventions, performing to shift workers, and the legacy of The Ice Man. [[22:06]]
[[22:06]] The undeniable inner drive: “I just have to get up on stage.” [[25:00]]
[[30:40]] Surviving the disastrous shows and navigating the exact moments you want to quit. [[32:30]]
[[33:06]] Developing genuine stage confidence: “I ain’t scared of the audience.” [[36:00]]
[[37:00]] Final wrap-up and what I would like to plug. [[38:34]]
If you would like to know more about Robin, check out the links to his book, podcast, and creative community:
• His book (The Future of Jokes): https://shorturl.at/01QHf
• His podcast (Robin Ince’s Liberation Conversations): https://shorturl.at/oEx4R
• Robin Ince’s Patreon: https://tinyurl.com/3ujzv7mk
You can follow this podcast on YouTube at https://bit.ly/41LWDAq, Spotify at https://spoti.fi/3oLrmyU, and Apple Podcasts at https://apple.co/3LEkr3E
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