Chasing dreams with comedian Max Amini

Ahead of his performance in Dubai tomorrow, the popular Iranian-American stand-up comic talks about his struggles to find success.

STAND-UP COMEDIAN and actor Max Amini is a star on the rise. With a major television project on the horizon as well as sold-out stage performances around the world, the American comic is preparing to take his place among Hollywood's brightest talents.
Tomorrow night, he returns to Dubai to headline his new show, Authentically Absurd, at Ductac Theatre. While it's clear that Amini's Persian roots have helped him build an incredibly enthusiastic base of supporters, drawn to his Middle Eastern anecdotes and nuanced cultural observations, his new show promises to offer a fresh take on more universal themes.
"As an observational comedian I developed this new routine around issues that every one can relate to," Amini said.
"The theme of it is my perspective on the world. My biggest inspiration right now is to seek topics that have a deeper meaning and leave audiences thinking."
A resident at American comedy institution Laugh Factory and a regular on the upcoming series Real Rob, an indie TV production being spearheaded by Deuce Bigalow star Rob Schneider, the 33-year-old is enjoying his increasingly busy schedule. But like so many talents trying to make a name for themselves in the cutthroat industry of stand-up comedy, he often faced internal struggles about whether finding success was a realistic ambition.
Amini graduated from the prestigious University of California, Los Angeles where he studied theatre and television.
With his father's support he began playing comedy clubs, honing his craft with each performance. After years of performing for small, inattentive crowds, one night Amini seriously contemplated his future in the business.
"Someone came to my mind - an older comedian in his 60s who was a regular at a club we both performed at. He wasn't the funniest comic but he was beloved around there; a genuinely kind person who had been performing in these small venues for more than three decades. Well-dressed and well-liked, he was amazing to be around.
"After every performance, he would get in his car and drive home. I thought that if this was the worst case scenario for me - that I would end up like this gentleman - I would be content as long as I was doing what I loved. Today I'm performing at huge theatres with thousands of followers, but getting to this place was difficult. When my comedy was more authentic to myself, and I became a better performer and artist, things changed. I let go of the uncertainty."
Amini is a master of audience interaction. His quick delivery style and personable demeanor breathes life into every performance, much to the delight of comedy fans just beginning to discover his talent.
"Comedy is at its best when it's raw and real. When you are deriving from your personal life experiences and talking about things that could be painful to you in a comedic way, that's what audiences value most. It's just as exciting for me as it is for them."
Max Amini will perform at Ductac Theatre at 7pm and 9:30pm on July 24. Tickets start at Dhs250, available from www.ductac.org

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