Obie is a bit of a Comedy Lege’ in the North. A little like chips with salt’n’sauce, you don’t hear about him nearly as much outside Scotland, but once experienced, you just wonder why everyone isn’t getting to enjoy him on a regular basis.
He is properly, Scottishly, awright wee manishly funny. About everything. About nothing. About you. And, frequently, about himself. England, you should be thrilled to pack his audiences as he arrives in you over the next few months.
We had a blether … *
1.) I have regularly had to battle for a seat in your Edinburgh shows, which always seem to be sold out and you are just so well known and loved – even during the Fringe, where no one really loves anyone – all without big management, big promotion, or the ubiquitous “as seen on Live at the Apollo” strap on your six feet by ten feet poster.
You are a true grass roots comedy hero (do not argue). Is that a career path you would recommend ?
I am not sure I’m a hero. Oops I argued. If you an let me know who has me on legend status Ill buy them a pint. I have maybe stayed under the radar because I have never really been one for networking. I can’t pretend to be nice to a promoter if I think they are a bit of a dick.
I only really want to work with people I know treat acts with respect. All acts, including open mike acts. You will very rarely see me in the schmoozing in the industry bars at the Edinburgh festival. I feel out of place there. I sometimes see people there I’ve known for years who will ignore me because I am not a stepping stone for their career. When I’m in Edinburgh or anywhere else I am more likely to be out drinking with people that were in the audience. Would I recommend it ? Yes. I think it makes my comedy more authentic.
2.) You have a degree in Manufacturing Engineering and Management, you are a heterosexual male, white, ginger, generally happy and well balanced. Has this been a big problem for you, career-wise ?
I am going to have you cancelled for calling me ginger. I am a blonde. (sic)
(FYI he is SO not blond … maybe grey-ish but …)
I probably have more of a back story than I let on, but nothing of real tragic value. Just more inconvenient than anything else. I don’t believe it as a problem though. I don’t believe in making excuses for not being where I want to be in the comedy world. I take full responsibility for that. Its easy to get jealous of other people who are higher up the ladder than me. I maybe used to be a bit like that however now I realize its down to their work ethic. They put the work in, they use the right strategy and its worked out for them. I learn from what these people are doing.
3.) Also you are knocking on a bit…that can’t be a good look in a TikTok world?
I don’t believe that. Comedy is a thing you can crack at any age. I’m a youngster compared to some. Lynn Ruth Miller who sadly passed away last year started doing comedy in her seventies. She had a decent career. That inspired me. People who use age as an excuse annoy me. I have run a few marathons over the years. Part of my ‘Fuck It’ list was doing the Edinburgh one in May. The first one I ran was 12 years ago. On that day there was a 98-year-old man running it. He started running in his 70s because he was depressed.
Plus, social media is a skill to learn. I’m doing Tik Tok videos and building it slowly. Still finding my voice online.
4.) Tell me about your ‘Fuck It’ List – it seems to have been building for a while – and I am assuming it is not just pages of women’s names starting at Kim Kardashian and ending up with Elaine C Smith …
The ‘Fuck It’ list idea is partly a way of thinking and partly a Bucket List.
I find saying “Fuck It” in an emotional tone can help break through barriers. I remember when I started doing comedy, I was a bit shite and nervous for a bit. I was doing a ten-minute sot in the Stand in Glasgow. They never book me but that’s not the point … I had worked a 12 hour shift that day just before the gig. I hadn’t had time to go over the material much. It was about half an hour to go. I was panicking a bit. I didn’t think I was capable of doing it. My friend was there so it would be worse dying on stage when someone you know is there. However just before I went on, I said “Fuck It”. I don’t care how this goes. I went on with a carefree attitude and that was the best gig I’d had up to that point.
As well as that I wrote down a list of things, I wanted to do years ago. I’ve done a lot of the things on it, but I am always adding to it in my head.
5.) So this is really quite a philosophical show ?
I think it’s meant to be. As well as making people laugh, I want to get the ‘Fuck It’ attitude across. I want to help people live a freer (How many e’s. More free. you know what I mean) life. I would like to see people going away from my show with the idea that they should say “Fuck It” more and take more chances in life despite their background and the negative attitudes that they get from society. This includes me. I still feel I am held back a bit from going full on ‘Fuck It’.
I would like to be out promoting myself 8 hours a day rather than doing my day job with Just Eat. I know I could do it and earn enough money from doing my own shows. The pressure of having to pay a mortgage is holding me back a bit. A bit of a dilemma. But work in progress …
6.) So if I could guarantee you an actual BUCKET list … what would be your top three things on it ?
1. Doing a tour all over the world where I could sell out decent sized theatres.
2. Being in a happy relationship. This is something I have found hard over the years. Maybe this is my tragic back story
3. For some reason in my head I have an obsession of being able to do a backflip. I don’t know where it came from. I have a recurring dream that I can do one. Just a mad thing that I would love to do. Would need to find a gymnast to train me for this.
7.) Now – you are self-producing and self-promoting a NATIONAL tour as well as writing and performing it. Glutton for punishment? Or workaholic?
I don’t believe doing what you love is work. I love the excitement. At the festival every year I always do 3 or more shows a day. People sometimes ask me why I do it and think I must be exhausted doing it. I never understand that. I’d do 3 shows a day all year if I could. I love doing it. I’ve worked 12 hours a day in warehouse jobs in the most boring, mundane environment. People never ask why you are putting yourself through that. They just see it as normal and what people do. Part of the ‘Fuck It’ list idea is escaping the mundane life of day jobs.
So, if you will take my advice, get in there and join the Fuck It movement.
And for the terminally Southern, please do not worry, as Obie says “I speak the Queen’s English and I use ALL my consonants”.
* blether: informal chat
Watch Obie live at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/obie-the-fuck-it-list-tour-45929
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