Gabriel Iglesias on What it Means to be Funny
Growing up in a household of six children raised by a single mother, Gabriel Iglesias developed the ability to deal with obstacles by using humour early on.
He started sharing his unique brand of humour with the world in 1997, honing his craft anywhere he could and developing into the name he is now.
Iglesias will bring the mixture of parodies, characters and sound effects that tell the story of his personal experiences to Harbour Station in Saint John on October 20.
We asked Iglesias a few questions about what it means to be funny.
In your view, what makes something funny?
As a comedian, using humor to deflect pain and get through difficult situations is what makes us the complex people that we are. Sometimes, breaking the ice with a well-placed joke can help the hardest or most awkward situation.
Why is it so hard to be funny?
It’s not hard for some people. For some it comes naturally, for others it takes hard work. If you want to be a comedian, you need to perform as much as possible. Perform at coffee houses, open mics, anywhere you can get time. Keep doing it.
What’s your take on the comedy scene in North America right now?
It’s a great time to be a comedian. With all the ways that you can consume comedy entertainment like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and the traditional ways as well, comedy is stronger than ever.
Who are some of your favourite comedians on the scene right now? Why?
I really enjoy Jim Jeffries, he really goes there. Since my comedy is more on the clean side, I can live vicariously through his material.
What can people expect from your performance at Harbour Station on the 20th?
New stories about Frankie as he is now a high school graduate and interacting with his friends as well as more stories from the road and the repercussions of my older jokes and how they have come back to bite me.