The challenge is to set yourself apart as a comedian: Kanan Gill

Got no plans today? You can head out for a few laughs!

Indian stand up comedian, actor and YouTuber Kanan Gill is all set to perform in Dubai on Friday evening.
The event is part of Front Row Laughter Night series by Front Row Events, the producers who got Kanan's YouTube partner, Biswa Kalyan and Varun Thakur in Dubai in 2018.
We spoke to Kanan Gill on what we can expect from his show tonight.
Excerpts:
You are no stranger to Dubai having performed here before... how different is the audience here?
The Dubai audience enjoys a good laugh just like anywhere else! It's always a privilege to perform here.
What can the audience expect from your show this time?
A mix of stories and observational material all intertwined with an absurd and emotional undercurrent which I hope people will find very funny. I've been experimenting with newer forms of jokes and trying to push the envelope as far as my act is concerned. So if you've seen me perform before, you can expect something very different.
Indian comedians are performing internationally and have reached people's home through platforms like Netflix. Is it the best time to be a comedian in India?

It's an interesting time to be a comedian anywhere in the world right now! With online platforms commissioning specials and distributing them to peoples' homes, a lot of the once hard battle is won. However this presents new challenges, now that people can access a tremendous amount of standup from wherever they are, how do you set yourself apart as a comedian?
The internet is supposed to be free of censorship but how often do you censor your jokes - while putting it online or live shows?

Both online and live shows require some cutting depending on where the performance is taking place. It quite often ends up being a task of finding a different way of saying what you want.
Does it get frustrating sometimes when you need to tone down a punch line just to be safe?

Yes it can be.
Who is your bouncing board?

I usually bounce jokes off people in my personal life if at all. I usually just debut thoughts at open mics. Most of the process is internal.
Do you have a pre-show ritual?

I almost always have a cup of coffee. I usually try to go over the set in my mind and where the new things I want to try go in the set.
What do you think about the comedy scene in Dubai?

I haven't had too much exposure to the comedy scene in Dubai, but if the same audience that comes for our shows is the one that's going for local acts, I bet the comics have a great time!


Date: 1st March, 2019
Venue: Emirates Theater, Emirates International School, Jumeirah
Show Timings: 2 shows, 5pm and 8pm
Tickets price: Dh50, Dh100 and Dh150.
(Tickets available on Platinumlist.net and 800tickets)