It’s takes a strong nerve and balls of steel to succeed in stand-up comedy – something that London-born gagster Marlon Davis knows only too well. But while some succumb to the heckles and the harsh reviews, the likeable 30-year-old is gradually making a name for himself in his homeland, and looks primed to take the world (and Abu Dhabi) by storm. And considering that his own flesh and blood never thought he was up to it, it’s an impressive feat indeed…
So you’re still a relative newcomer to the circuit – when exactly did you go pro?
I’ve been slogging away for the past five years, but I only gave up my job last year. The breakthrough was a comedy competition with a men’s magazine in the UK, which I entered and won. Which was amazing. You’ve got a window after you win these competitions, where they’re looking for the next big star, so to speak. A lot of offers came my way off the back of it.
Have you learnt much about the trade since making the leap?
I’ve found I’ve got a lot of time on my hands during the day, but since it’s your bread and butter, you have to take everything a bit more seriously. It’s a completely different lifestyle and a lot of people are jealous of it too. When you get into some sort of routine, you find you start complaining about it, but then I’ve got all these friends I used to work with who are just cursing me out, because they’d love to be in my position.
Have there been any really harsh lessons? Any really bad gigs?
The worst was when I played to my local town. It was just after my mum discovered I was doing stand-up and she invited everyone she knew. The whole place was packed, and my first joke fell flat. Then I jumped off the stage and into the audience, but of course they didn’t trust me yet because they didn’t know if I was funny or not. I asked this lady a question and she said, ‘Don’t worry about that, you just go back on the stage and try to make me laugh.’ And she emphasised the word ‘try’. I lost the whole room after that, then I started getting heckled. And I was like, ‘Who’s heckling me?’ It turned out to be my own mum. Then she stood up and apologised to the whole room. She said, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t know he wasn’t going to be any good.’ I guess she was just trying to toughen me up.
How are you getting used to the life of a travelling comedian?
My girlfriend tends to get a bit jealous when I travel, so you have to sort of play it down and be like, ‘Nah, it’s going to be rubbish. It’ll be horrible.’ It’s part and parcel of the whole thing though. I’ve been to a few places recently – Los Angeles, I went to the comedy store out there. I did a festival in Switzerland. Belgium, Holland. It’s good – because the audiences are all different, it takes you out of your comfort zone and keeps you on your toes, it keeps you alive and helps you adapt. It makes you a better comedian.
Sounds like you’ve got plenty of stamps in your passport. Looking forward to your first show in the Middle East?
Yeah, I am. It’s my first time out that way – being West Indian I usually fly in a different direction. I’ve been told that the audiences are really up for it, that there are loads of British expats. So you can say stuff like ‘Heinz baked beans’ and they go mental. And ‘Quality Street’ – I bet they go crazy. I’ve also been told that it’s just a really amazing place – like Disneyland, but for adults.
Who do you aspire to be as big as? Do you have a target?
Yeah, there are so many comedians that I love. You’ve got Richard Pryor – someone who has a real legacy. That’s the sort of comedian I aspire to be. Someone who has a good body of work, rather than just someone who’s made loads of money in the last year. But I’m an artist at heart, and I just want to have a good body of work, so people can talk about me in the next 50 years. That’s worth more than money, more than anything.
Marlon Davis will be performing at the latest Laughter Factory show at Heroes, Crowne Plaza on October 11. Tickets, priced Dhs130, are available from www.timeouttickets.com
