I’ve been lucky enough to have done a bunch of voice work on Darrel Dennis’ CBC Radio Series, “Revision Quest”, this past couple of weeks and I’ve really been impressed by not only the staff working on it, the writing and comedy found therein, but mostly by what the series IS SAYING. Many of the sketches are political and social in nature – taking strong stands against the system, fighting against stereotypes, and shining a bright light on the positives and the contributions Indian Peoples bring/give to the mainstream on a daily basis.
There is a poignant piece that I voiced on Friday that started with a couple of old friends that “play catch up” as they hadn’t seen each other in a long time. The sketch opens with a line about the Native character, “becoming a lawyer, NOT a real lawyer, an ABORIGINAL lawyer.” It’s super funny and of course the ridiculousness of it gets more and more out of control as the sketch plays out. The sketch plays on the idea that floats around in the mainstream so often – that being an “Aboriginal Something/Anything” is somehow less than or belongs in a “different” or “special” category.
The sketch really hit home because of some talk that happens in the comedy community here in Winnipeg (amongst a few, whom won’t talk to me about their problem with me getting all the work I do BECAUSE I’m an Indian), and me being a working comedian – whether I’m writing it or performing it.
The Native Comedian
The first thing a new standup comic does it writes what he knows. So, whether it’s a “shit joke,” a “my girlfriend is weird joke,” or a “my gramma loves bingo joke,” the young comedian writes what is close to them because it’s easiest. Often new standups have very little form in the “creativity department” and they stick closer to telling “stories” rather than jokes about the stuff that is closest to them. Of course, some new comics show great potential and have tons of creativity (those are the ones that usually stick with it).
When I started doing standup (out of necessity really, I moved away from Toronto, quit my improv/sketch troupe Tonto’s Nephews, and I needed to get back onstage as I was starting to lose my mind a bit) I wrote all of my “easy” stuff first. I realized really quickly though that that wasn’t the direction I wanted to go – bingo and bannock jokes were/are cheap laughs as far as I’m concerned and I vowed to myself that I wouldn’t go that route. In my act I reference the things that make me me – my mother loves the bingo, my kookum had/has a thick bush accent, and most powwow folks I powwow with love Indian Taco’s etc., so of course, some of my content deals with those things. What I aim to do though, is take the things that “we’re known for” and turn them upside down. I also state openly that there are no such thing as stereotypes when I write comedy – stereotypes are based in truth – they are general, but, tackling a stereotype and trying to make people aware of the ridiculous nature of the stereotype is the job of comedy I think.
I’ve heard through the grapevine (never to my face, though I caught some nuthuggers of some of the local “pro comics” talking about my “Native Comedy”) that some of these “pro’s” in Winnipeg discount the fact that I make my living from comedy because I’m a “Native Comedian” and that I do alot of “Native Shows”. Even some of my friends, some in comedy, some not, say this to my face (and they don’t realize how enraged I become when I get booked for a gig and they ask me “if it’s a Native gig?” Some of the “pro’s” in the city have advised me to stay away from “Native, cultural” material and write an act that can be “seen by anyone” and “enjoyed by anyone.” You can imagine how I’ve reacted, how it felt to hear that from comics, but also, what it did to me as a “new-ish” comic. So, did/does that mean white people won’t find me funny? I thought my job was to be funny – period.
The fact is, about 60% of the work I get is from “Native gigs” and the other 40% of the work I get is from “mainstream gigs.” To be frank, if they’re paying, I’ll consider it doing it. When the phone rings I let the contractor know that they should go to my website to watch the demo vids that I have up, and if they like what they see – to call me back. I’m proud/lucky to say that I still tend to turn down more work than I can take. There have only been a few times when someone has said they specifically wanted a “Native Comedian” and therefore they came looking for me. I get work because I’m funny – I think. But to insinuate that I get work because “it’s a Native gig” or because I’m a “Native Comedian” is insulting and I believe that that’s what “the pro’s” have meant in the past.
It could be petty jealousy because I’m working alot and in the past Winnipeg comedy has been a relatively closed market for younger start up comedians, or, it could be that because I’m “new-ish” to standup comedy that I don’t “deserve” to be working as much as I do. Neither argument is particularly good as we know markets tend to choose the products they like, and, because I’m still new to the standup game (going on 3 years now), I’ve been doing comedy for money, as a living I guess, for nearly 10 years. I’ve paid my dues on the road, done free shows, been ripped off, travelled in vans and buses, experienced great successes and great failures, had bad shows, had amazing shows, performed at some of the world’s largest festivals, faced rejection, gained the respect of my peers, lost the respect of my peers, and everything else in between. I work really hard at what I do – and this is all that I want to do. I can’t change/won’t change who I am or where I came from, so to ignore that in my act/writing is ridiculous. Instead, I’ll continue to do what I do, and now, hopefully, continue taking more of “the pro’s'” work from them.
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Zat was a great performance TO-MASS! Almost didn't recognize your voice.