Rehan Sayed - Money in Comedy Career Is There but Not in Your Early Stages (Stand Up Comedian From India)

In India society plays a major role in deciding the career and I am blessed that my parents support me. “Money in Comedy career is there but not in your early stages”- once you start getting famous people will eventually recognize you, & from there, your journey of getting Shows(corporate/colleges, etc) starts.

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

Back then I was a very Introvert kind of person. “comic” personality was there in me from school time but I never usually gave a thought about it. In 2015 I had an accident, which I think changed my thinking completely. Today I am there but tomorrow I maybe not, so why not let me just live. That’s how I tried/and I’m still trying to change from an “Introverted guy” to an “Extrovert”. Coming to Comedy, I started in 2016(initially Snapchat as a platform) then Engineering happened, moved to Youtube but then dropped off from it. Started making content on Instagram.

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

I would prefer any type of content (but not obviously ‘cringe’) that can make people laugh/or bring happiness to at least some. (& for the most part, I will go with “Insta reels” mostly because the content making is quick as compared to Youtube).

Some of the likable contents on my portfolio(Instagram):

Misheard Lyrics series
In Conversation with Siri(series)
Sanskari Bhau: A Parody of Hindustani Bhau(Planned)
Common products unboxing with YouTubers(Planned)

Challenges, there are, I am an Independent creator & I have no one with me to help(Planning/writing/directing/acting/editing - It's only me & me!)

Second, the location I stay in is so noisy, to be honest, I have so many plans for voice over/comedy dubbings but the circumstances do not allow me!

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

I personally prefer “live gigs” more because the response you get from live audiences is way more comfortable I mean “if someone does not like the bit~ then they will generally heckle in between.”, and being a comedian its always a great thing that you got your feedback on-the-spot plus in fact you have new material in your set (making fun of that heckler).

But in the case of the digital medium, all are *Keyboard Masters*. Even though I have done a few open-mics & then this pandemic happened, I always want to be on stage for sure!

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?

For this, I would say “If you have some funny element in you (maybe your way of speaking or acting), for example, if you can make someone laugh you either know them or complete stranger. Then you are already a “comedian”.

Now, to be a stand-up comedian you can learn different aspects of it. I personally see Comedy as a General Art form that anybody can pursue(not forcibly) but to be a Stand-up Comedian or any other form of comedy you have to learn some basics of it and then try to experiment with it.

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

This is subjective as some may find it stable and others won’t. Taking the example of mine, I recently graduated (Computer Engineer), working in IT company and Comedy is my hobby.

So putting up in a simple equation i.e

Recognition - Getting shows - More Money in repeat mode.

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

I don’t know. May be making everyone smile, because at the end of the day “A smile on the face is what everyone wants”.

7. Which is your favorite book and why?

Engineering Notes!

Frankly speaking, I usually don’t consume books (as in literature terms).

One funny incident I remember from school days, one day a bookseller came and started advertising about them, everyone was happy and started buying books from him, now to look cool I also bought two books one was titled ‘The Time Machine and other I don’t remember. Started from index page reading…reading…reading, after few days I forgot where I kept it!