Interview with Harriet Braine
Comedy Blogedy: How long have you been gigging in comedy?
Goose: We started writing together in 2012 – but only Adam performs. Adam did stuff at university, but Ben bowed out on a high after his nativity performance (email us for DVDs).
Comedy Blogedy: How would you describe your comedy?
Goose: Our shorter sets are zippy and quickfire fare, whippersnapper stuff. For our long-form Edinburgh shows we try and have a mad, ambitious premise with some kind of magic trick reveal at the end. Typically the magic is in making the audience disappear.
Comedy Blogedy: Which comedians influence your comedy?
Goose: We’re pretty comedically vulnerable: anyone who’s on before us on a mixed bill night always seems pretty incredible. Beyond that, the usual gang of Tim Key, Liam Williams, Phil Wang, The Pin, Keith Akushie, Sheeps, Ellie White. Oh, also, Sandi Toksvig writes all our material, so we should probably credit her here.
Comedy Blogedy: Did you always want to go into comedy?
Goose: No, our parents forced us into it.
Comedy Blogedy: How do you go about writing your material?
Goose: With a couple of deadlines, a steaming cuppa Joe, and a nice clean pen, you can’t go far wrong. We’ve also found it helps if you have a gnawing sense of self-doubt which you’re desperately trying to outrun. If all else fails, just drop Sandi a text.
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?
Goose: We both work as tutors, but we can’t get material from it because it would be a breach of contract. Ben once tried to get his 8-year-old Geography student to write a script for us. He’s now writing for Live at the Electric, so fair play to him.
Comedy Blogedy: What do you find the most enjoyable and frustrating parts of the comedy circuit?
Goose: Most enjoyable is being in a packed-out theatre, with a cheering audience and standing ovation. Most frustrating is that it’s not our show.
Comedy Blogedy: What’s your favourite type of audience to perform to?
Goose: Intelligent people who can see the mark we’re missing. Also, GPs are always up for it.
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?
Goose: We’ve actually never been heckled, which is a great shame as we’ve spent so long working on our comebacks. Our favourite heckles are ‘Keep going!’, ‘You’re doing really well!’ and that weird thing where all the audience stand up and clap.
Comedy Blogedy: What advice would you give to new acts thinking of starting out in comedy?
Goose: The best advice we ever got: sandi_toksvig_69@zippymail.net
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