Dave Hill - I Want To Make People Happy And Help Them Forget Their Problems (Comedian)

When I started, I never thought it would become a career, but I figured it might at least help me be a bit less shy at group dinners.

1. How and when did you choose comedy as a career?

Comedy was an accidental career for me. I didn't really get into it until I was already in my thirties, which is later than most. I am a musician too and realized I enjoyed talking in between songs as much as playing songs, so I would keep on talking and talking, much to the annoyance of my bandmates, who would start glaring at me after a while. 

Someone would break a guitar string and I'd think "Great! Now I can talk to the audience for even longer!" I also realized if I just talked instead of playing in a band, there would be less equipment to carry at the end of the night. 

Meanwhile, I was also working as a journalist and realized I mostly just enjoyed sneaking jokes into my articles and didn't care too much about things like actual reporting and facts. 

I figured if I worked in comedy it would be behind the scenes, but when a friend asked if I would try performing on his weekly show, I decided to give it a shot. It grew from there and next thing I knew it was my job. My parents were horrified.


2. What type of content do you enjoy producing the most and is the most challenging? 

I love things about all of it. Performing live is great when it is happening because I get completely absorbed in the moment and don't think about anything else like whether or not I remembered to pick up my laundry from the cleaner if I have coffee at home, or whether I will die alone or little things like that. 

Most of the time when I'm off stage, I dread the idea of being on stage, but I know I'll be happy when I get out there so I keep doing it.

My more introverted side enjoys writing a lot as I can just sit there on my laptop with my dog at my feet. Also, I don't have to wear pants if I don't feel like it, which is a bonus even though my dog usually complains. 

That said, sometimes you just stare at a blank page for a couple of hours and spend the rest of the day yelling at yourself. It has its negative aspects too.

I like acting, which I've been doing more of lately, a lot too. There's a lot of waiting around with acting but there's also a lot of good snacks, so it evens out in the end. If you give me good snacks, I can be talked into anything. I'd help hide a body if you promised me decent nachos.


3. Do you prefer digital as a medium or do you enjoy doing live gigs more and why?

I enjoy live gigs a lot because it's a more immediate connection to people. I also enjoy travelling, seeing new places, and learning how people live, so performing live is a good way to do that without having to pay for a vacation. Also, there are usually free drinks after the show, so there's that too.


4. People, who are interested in taking up stand-up comedy as a profession, do they need a funny bone or they can develop one?

I think it's good to have a funny bone, to begin with, but most people do, so as long as it's there you can develop it. Plus, we all know someone who isn't in comedy and works a "normal" job who is the funniest person we've ever met. 

I think sometimes the only difference between a person working at a desk and a comedian playing to huge crowds is that the comedian actually tried to do it and the person at the desk didn't. That said, it's not an easy job being a comedian and being funny is just one aspect of the job. 

But I'd still encourage anyone to try it if they want to. When I started, I never thought it would become a career, but I figured it might at least help me be a bit less shy at group dinners. In the end, I never really overcame my shyness at dinner but I did get a career out of it, so it all worked out.


5. How stable is being a stand-up comedian as a profession in India? And what is the future of this profession?

I know several comedians, like my friend the hilarious Anuvab Pal, for example, who have very stable and successful careers in India. I think comedy in India has a great future. I'm excited to come there to perform live as soon as it is safe to travel again, even if it's during monsoon season. 

Get ready, people of India! I'm coming and I would like to stay at your house. We can have a Disco Dancer watch party and drink way too much Thums Up cola.


6. What impact do you want to make in this world?

I want to make people happy and help them forget their problems for a bit enjoy their lives more. And if I can help them have better lives by inspiring them somehow, that would be great. 

Or, on the other hand, if they can learn from my life mistakes and I can serve as a cautionary tale they can learn from, that's okay too. Just as long as they tell all their friends about me.


7. Which is your favourite book and why?

There are too many to choose from so I will tell you I am really enjoying the one I am reading right now, Pop. 1280 by Jim Thompson. It's both hilarious and deeply disturbing, something I aspire to on a daily basis.


- Dave Hill (Comedian)

Website: https://www.davehillonline.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrdavehill/


Interviewed By Khushi Garg