Interview: LINDSAY WEBB | Humanity

Interview by Chris Dornan

  After rave reviews, (Four stars – Herald Sun, Four stars – The Pun) an eye popping incident and sell out shows at the Adelaide Fringe & Melbourne International Comedy Festival with his 2011 hit show Pundamonium, Lindsay Webb is back and previewing his 2012 Festival show Humanity.

Chris Dornan chats with Lindsay Webb



For those who have never seen you “live” What can they expect from The LINDSAY WEBB 2011 ‘Preview’ “HUMANITY” Show?

Expect to be questioning yourself in a good way, expect to have a good laugh… bit of a question… a look at life and hopefully, hopefully a bit of insight.
 
 
Do you have pre-show rituals or routines before you take the stage?

Not really no definitely make sure that I turn up is a good one for me.
 
 
Seeing you now a more accomplished comedian a veteran of 15 plus years ,do you enjoy the laughs you get more now or does the audience make the difference?

Yeah I started In 1997… so yeah nearly 15yrs. You know what, it’s a good question! I do enjoy the laughs I get now because they’re not as shallow as the laughs that I perhaps got earlier in my career. As a young comic, you’ll do whatever you can to get a laugh because that’s what’s needed and as an experienced and hopefully wiser comic you enjoy the laughs that come from the right place in the crowd.
 
 
You have performed overseas in front of many different people how do the audiences differ?

Mostly everyone’s the same right.. If you say something that’s generally funny people around the world 99% of the time will laugh there is obviously some crowds that are a bit more parochial than others and some crowds are a little more tight or a little bit more relaxed there’s certain nuance that change, but essentially if you’ve got a world style act that’s relatable to people in different countries then everyone’s pretty much the same you either make them laugh or you don’t.
 
 
Do you find your popularity has grown with comedy fans since you were a “rookie” comic?

Yeah for sure, I think so? I hope so? Bloody hell I’ve been pretty busy, it better have grown unless you know something I don’t know. But Yeah I think it has. I do regular shows and people seem to come along and people are pretty keen and I have a good following on line and people involved in what I’m doing. It’s pretty good it’s nice to see the people are interested and give you a bit of space that you’re doing the right thing.
 
 
If I was the Big Promoter with all the cash and I asked you to be the Big Headliner in front of 20 thousand people with money not an issue , Who would you love to be your (3) support acts at the gig? Dead or Alive comedians?

That’s a great question…. I’ll take Billy Connolly because he inspired me to get into stand –up .I’ll take Robin Williams, I will take those two because they’re both something that I inspire to be and they’re both very good improvisers as comedians and they’re both very good a dealing with situations and having comedy in the moment. Third is a tricky one, you know what, I probably going to take someone that I know so I can share the experience ..I’d probably take Will Anderson. I’d take a mate so he can go “yeah it was awesome!”
 
 
Who would be you all time favorite comic ?

Billy Connolly,Yeah most definitely.
 
 
Thinking back, What would be you biggest defining moment on stage that stands out?

You know it was probably for me going to my first Edinburgh Comedy Festival, In terms of stand up moments off the top of my head , and getting a slot at the Edinburgh Fringes it’s pretty cool, it’s kind of exciting and then to get there and to get on stage and to make it all happen ,it’s quite an achievement , its sounds like you’re going to do another festival but there is such a logistical barrier in putting it on and getting it all organized before you get there when you live in Australia. So that was probably one of the times and I guess to back it up, when I got reviewed and accepted and people liked it and I got a four star review in my first ever show at Edinburgh that was pretty amazing, makes you feel pretty cool!
 
 
Is there anywhere in the world you would love to perform you show and do a LINDSAY WEBB TOUR?

I want to go to Canada , can you help me out?
 
 
I’m originally from Canada ,I could probably help you out

I am really keen and a really good mate of mine is Canadian, his name is Steve Patterson, I’ve worked with him a few times at The Comedy Store in Sydney. He really wants me to go to Canada but I haven’t been able to put it together. So that’s one place where I definitely want to go and I’m going to try to get there myself.
 
 
After reading about your new “HUMANITY” show how much or your material is true to your life?

Ohh…..90% of stuff because I believe it, not because I know it’s entertaining.
 
 
Being a father of two kids, Do you ever get material from them? And are they funny like their dad?

Not yet! They better hurry up because I’m investing a lot of money .Yes they are funny they seem to have a very good comedic trait about them.
 
 
Have you ever thought “To hell with it!” and thought about doing something different from comedy?

Well I’d be lying if I said never, maybe about four and a half years ago, I had one of those moments , where I was like what am I doing? This is ridiculous. I’m chasing after a dream… maybe I’ll give this away and I had a bit of crisis of confidence. But fortunately when you have a crisis of confidence you can do two things, one you can quit and believe in yourself that you really are no good or you can really believe in yourself that you are good and go out that much more enthusiastically, so I chose the second one and it paid off.
 
 
Now for the LifeMusicMedia RAPID FIRE One word answers to see a different side to LINDSAY WEBB:

Favorite place to visit?

Adelaide
 
 
Favorite Drink?

Beer
 
 
Favorite Movie of All Time ?

Tough call …. Ford Farlane…I’ve watched it the most of any other movie.
 
 
Favorite Band?

The Foo Fighters
 
 
One thing you can’t live without?

Beer
 
 
Favorite Website?

www.comedywebb.com …actually its really boring probably www.news.com.au
 
 
Favorite ice cream?

Vanilla
 
 
Favorite “Words of Wisdom From Lindsay Webb?

”Be something that makes you Happy.”
 
 
What’s next for Lindsay Webb once the tour is over? Book Deal? Movie Deal? Politics? Or just a McDonalds Happy Meal?

I’ve got a web series that’s been recorded it’s going to be released later this month called ”Share House” It’s an online series and it’s also being pitched to SBS as a comedy. I’ve just been published in my first ever book that Penguin put out called ”Funny Buggers” so that comes out later this month which you can get at www.amazon.com or good book stores if they still exist? And the next big thing is I’m possibly going to start writing things in pencil and taking back my World Record… I’m going to do a 50 hour show.