Interview with Dean Sekhon

Comedy Blogedy: How long have you been gigging in stand-up?

Dean Sekhon: I’ve been doing it quite infrequently since November last year, so not very long, about 4 months, but I’ve made it on to comedyblogedy.com already so I must be doing something right.

Comedy Blogedy: How would you describe your comedy?

Dean Sekhon: It’s more or less just some silly, self deprecating, one liners strung together with very tenuous links. It also involves never remembering any of my jokes when I’m on stage, but that’s not an affectation, I’m just an idiot.

Comedy Blogedy: Which comedians influence your comedy?

Dean Sekhon: I don’t really know about who influenced my comedy, I haven’t examined it very closely, I don’t want there to be the pretence that there is anything worth examining. However I did grow up very much liking the comedians Mitch Hedberg, Woody Allen, Demetri Martin and Chris Morris. There are loads more but those were just the first that came to mind, so bad luck other highly successful and admired comedians, you don’t get a name check from Dean Sekhon today.

Comedy Blogedy: Did you always want to go into comedy?

Dean Sekhon: No, I always had an interest in it and loved it but never thought it was something I could do, I kind of still don’t to be honest. We’ll see I guess. I decided I would at least try and then spent about a year being afraid to, then I met this girl who I wanted to impress so I told her I was going to try and be a comedian, and then I had to.

Comedy Blogedy: How do you go about writing your material?

Dean Sekhon: I’m not very good at writing anything just after I have decided I am going to write something, material usually comes from random funny thoughts I have that I think could make a joke, then I will work to get that joke good and tight and worded as well as possible. This is a bit inconsistent though…so I think I’m going to have to develop a better method at some point, thank you for asking me that question and making me realise this.

Comedy Blogedy: Do you gig as a stand-up full time or is it more of a part-time hobby? If so, do you find that your main job influences your material?

Dean Sekhon: Well I’m a student so I suppose it is part time, the two don’t really mix though. Well sometimes I will think of something funny while bored at university.

Comedy Blogedy: What do you find the most enjoyable and frustrating parts of the amateur comedy circuit?

Dean Sekhon: It’s only ever frustrating when the night is poorly run and neither the audience nor the acts enjoy any of it. That’s only happened to me once though. Everything else is pretty nice I think. Meeting people, getting to go on stage and make people laugh…it’s just nice to get out of the house really.

Comedy Blogedy: What’s your favourite type of audience to perform to?

Dean Sekhon: One made up of nice, non scary people.

Comedy Blogedy: Have you been heckled a lot since you’ve started gigging? Do you enjoy being heckled? What’s the best heckle you’ve had?

Dean Sekhon: No I’ve not ever been heckled. That’s either because I’ve not been doing this for long enough for it to have occurred yet, or I’m just so physically intimidating.

Comedy Blogedy: What advice would you give to new acts thinking about starting out in comedy?

Dean Sekhon: Take some time to write some jokes you’re happy with and then just go and try it. Also visit some open mics as an audience member first to see what it’s like and to find one that you feel would be most appropriate for your style, but don’t be too picky. Don’t take advice from someone who has only been doing it for 4 months.