How James Mullinger Learned To Embrace Virtual Performances
SAINT JOHN — Like many performing artists in New Brunswick, when the state of emergency to contain the Covid-19 virus first happened, comedian James Mullinger worried about his livelihood.
Everything was ordered to shut down the day before one of his biggest shows of the year at Saint John’s Imperial Theatre.
“So that lockdown happened. I got that show the next day, which in itself was devastating,” says Mullinger. “And then suddenly, over the next few days, there was this realization that every single gig for the next three, four, five, six months was just gradually disappearing – as is the case for so many people.”
But while other types of performing artists, particularly musicians, immediately embraced online performances, the comedy community has been less inclined to do so. Mullinger counted himself among them and turned down opportunities initially.
“Standup is a very different artform and generally is kind of requires interaction and feeding off the crowd,” he says. “I must have declined about a dozen of them.”
At first, Mullinge decided to offer one of his comedy specials for free online for anyone to watch. But he finally decided to give virtual gigs a try after seeing a local gym, HIIT30, successfully move its business online through video conferencing platform Zoom.
“They were doing classes via Zoom as a way of keeping their clients, and basically all their clients had stuck with them,” says Mullinger.
“What enticed me there was I felt I didn’t understand the intricacies of how Zoom works. I hadn’t even heard of Zoom two months ago … But because they knew how it works and they were explaining how they added these classes, I thought, ‘well this is worth giving it a go.'”
Mullinger had his first Zoom show about around a month and a half ago. His schedule has been full of them ever since.
“I found it very satisfying and enjoyable. I see everyone’s faces so I could see they were laughing,” he says. “And I think the argument that comedians need to hear laughter, do they? Or is that just all massive egos demanding that they’re told how funny they are every 15 seconds. I can see [the audience is] enjoying it.”
Most of his gigs have been private events for businesses, organizations and parties, but he’s also done one for a Toronto Comedy club via Twitch, a streaming platform popular with gamers.
“I have actually been finding it extremely enjoyable. Obviously there’s a selfish part that’s nice, that I finish a gig and I’m at home,” says Mullinger. “I don’t have to get on a plane. I don’t have to drive for seven hours, there are all those factors. But creatively, I found it stimulating.”
But Mullinger’s next gig will involve him leaving his house, though it will still be broadcast online. On Saturday he will be taking part in the Saint John Theatre Company’s Live @ The BMO Isolation Edition series, where he will perform a set via Zoom in a traditional theatre setting, not in his dining room.
“It’s still done on Zoom, but it’s in a theatrical space, with more than one camera and better sound,” says Mullinger. “It’s going to be interesting seeing how that shift works … it’s going to be lovely for me to be in an actual theatrical space.”
Though the virtual shows have been successful for Mullinger, he’s looking forward to the day where he can perform before larger, live audiences again. But even when those days return, he says may still offer some virtual services, especially for things like workshops and speaking engagements.
“I do think there are certain aspects of doing things virtually that could continue,” he says.