INTUNE with Dan Lees

INTUNE with Dan Lees

INTUNE with Dan Lees, one of the amazing acts at the Big Wowie! a comedy cabaret night held at grow to raise money for Hackney Night Shelter. Dan talks about his career and what got him into comedy before the final Big Wowie! tomorrow night! 
  1. How did you know you wanted to be on stage?
I was writing stand up comedy for a friend, Guy Combes, who eventually convinced me to get up and perform with him as a double act called Moonfish Rhumba. We made rap songs about vegetables. I very quickly caught the bug.

 

  1. What has been the highlight of your career?
Performing to 3 people for an hour at the Edinburgh Fringe. Maybe that’s a low point but once you’ve been there, everything else seems like a highlight.

 

  1. What advice would you give someone to help them improve their confidence?
Constantly strive to push yourself slightly out of you comfort zone. I was very shy as a kid and I am still really but I’ve found performing has improved my confidence. 

 

  1. What do you do to switch off?
I play guitar and watch YouTube videos about the Beatles. My happy place.

 

  1. What do you love most about the comedy scene? It’s a place where anybody can get up and do and say pretty much whatever they like and if people laugh it works. There’s a beautiful simplicity to that.

 

  1. What struggles have you faced within performing, and how have you overcome them?
I think every comedian struggles after they have a gig that doesn’t go well. Comedy is so immediate, you know whether it is going well second by second. People laugh or they don’t. I used to take it more personally but over time you build a resilience. It’s still not easy, just not completely crushing. 

  1. Where do you find your inspiration?

Everywhere, funny thoughts ideas can come from anywhere. Overheard conversations, films or on the toilet.

 

  1. Do you prefer working solo or as a group?
I enjoy both. It’s great playing with others but the control of being on your own with no one to help you is also exhilarating.

 

  1. What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
Oxygen.
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