Stand-up comedy in Asia from my perspective

Dear One and All,

This post has been long overdue but better now than never. I have had the privilege to travel around Asia with my comedy in the past 3 years of attempting to do stand-up. I say attempting as quite honestly - 3 years in stand-up can hardly consider as you being a 'professional stand-up comedian' or at least i think so. I've performed in Malaysia ( KL, Sabah, Penang), Hong Kong and Macau ( as part of the hong kong international comedy competition) , India ( Delhi, Mumbai ) and have performed with comedians from Philippines,China,India,Malaysia,Thailand etc. I've also had the privilege to do open-mic spots in Australia ( Sydney,Perth) and went over to the US last year to accompany Rishi Budhrani to watch him perform in some prestigious clubs as part of his win at the Hong Kong International Comedy Competition in 2012. As an observer-performer, there are certain things i would like to say about the new explosion of the Stand-up Comedy scene in Asia. For one - its over-whelming to say the least and its wonderful to see the way its turning out. Lots of positive and lots of mistakes being repeated. Let's start with the positive.

Positive things about the Stand-up comedy explosion in Asia

1. Thanks to the 'Russell Peters' Phenomena that took place, many aspiring stand-up comedians cropped up in Asia. In a small country like Singapore, we have 40 open-micers out of which 6 stand-up comedians are traveling, doing corporate shows and being approached by show promoters to perform around the country and region.( Note : In most part of Asia, people pay to watch open-mic nights.)

2.  Most Asian countries  now have regular open-mic shows  and professional comedy shows running quite successfully ( Singapore has one of the most popular comedy shows called : Comedy Masala)

3. The media has gotten wind of this ' new wave ' and is quite proactive in promoting stand-up comedy and its comedians.

4.  Youtube has become more vibrant with funny content coming from all over Asia and stand-up comedians in Asia are forced to up their game!

5. Asian comedy festivals are cropping up ( Hong Kong International Comedy Competition, The Weirdass Pajama Festival in Mumbai, Singapore Comedy Fringe Festival etc)

6. Many more stand-up comedians from the West have performed/ are coming down to perform in Asia hence serving as a learning experience for Asian comedians helping them connect dots with the west.

7. Full-time / Part-time comedy clubs providing regular opportunities for stand-up comedians who have a 30 minute set.

There you go! All positive! Fantastic. Now for the Negative.


Negative things about the Stand-up comedy explosion in Asia

1. For all stand-up comedians in Asia : Listen up.

 You might have been performing stand-up comedy for say 3 years like me? Or 5 years? Since this is a new wave - its easier for the media to get to us and hence for us to be covered in the papers. This does not..read again..DOES NOT make your a celebrity. You can have 300 people watching you perform stand-up shows regularly..you're still NOT a celebrity. Stand-up comedy is being truthful to yourself and finding your voice on stage..the moment you start thinking that you are bigger than your audience..its time for you to spiral down to zero. If you are using stand-up comedy as a medium to get famous or join the movies - perhaps you want to reconsider being in the profession.

2. Local Humor Vs International Set

I know many of us fall into this category of wanting to do local humor because the majority of our audiences are locals but if you want to travel with your comedy - we all have to make an effort to write international material so we can travel and mark our country on the global comedy map. I have been guilty about writing just for my country but this realization has changed the way i now write. The difference is simple..you've been writing about your country..now it's time to talk about the world as an asian. The small shift makes a big difference. It might sound simple though but its lots of growing in the dark and jumping up at numerous open-mics to test out material.

3. Let's have millions of shows and millions of open-mics

Stand-up comedy in itself is a challenge so what makes you think you can become a promoter?
Not everyone can run a comedy room successfully so you got to ask yourself if you can manage being a stand-up comedian AND a promoter at the SAME TIME. Many stand-up comedians/open-micers are now running numerous shows in their cities..what's going to soon start happening is that the audiences will start getting confused as to which show they should go for and numbers will start dropping. Some people will go as far as to do comedy shows for FREE which will then bring all your hard work of building up a scene to zero. Even if its an open-mic - you got to charge money for a performance. When i say performance - you got to have a poster, a line-up, a good host etc. Regular stand-up comedians have to come together to come up with a monthly comedy show time-table so that we are not stepping on each other's toes.

4. STEALING MATERIAL will tarnish your name + NOBODY can MONOPOLIZE comedy

Please don't try to accelerate your process of wanting to become a better comedian by stealing material from other stand-up comedians/ the internet/ old jokes etc. This will not help you in the long run and word comes around. TRUST me..we know who you are!

Also, there are some comedy promoters / Stand-up comedians who will try to monopolize comedy - they cannot. Please know your worth and be dignified. If you think someone is trying to control comedy in your city..talk to them..they could just be very insecure. Don't be mistaken in thinking you can control art..you cannot. Artists will master their trade and move on to do their own 1 hour shows..its a normal process.


So people - these are just my observations. Some of you might agree and some might disagree..after all we are artists..opinionated. :) Enjoy your comedy…keep writing! keep jumping up at open-mics! AND most importantly…KEEP IT REAL!

My punctuation is really bad but your attention span is great. Congratulations on reading till the end.

Love and Laughter,

Sharul Channa

When I was a little girl...

When I was a girl..a very little girl : Age 8
Ma asked me, " Beta, what do you want to become?"
I said," Ma - I want to be an actress..i want to dance and sing.."
She said, " Haan beta, sure!..You can be who you want!"
I wore frocks and short skirts with colorful sleeveless tops.
I sat on the sofa with my legs all over the place and drooled on the carpet while watching TV.
When i grew up just slightly - Age 10
Ma asked, " Beta - how was school?"
I replied, " Very good - i made a new friend..he is a very smart boy!"
Ma said," Good beta - i am glad you made a new friend."
And i grew more - Age 14
Ma said, " Beta - i want to talk to your about something. It's called Puberty."
I said, "I know ma - look at these..my breasts have developed.."
Ma then looked at me and said, " Its time beta..sit down on the sofa with your legs crossed and don't talk to many boys for THEY will talk.."
I wondered why but i complied.
And i grew more - Age 16
My mom said , " Beta - time to choose your subjects! What do you want to study?"
I said, " Ma i want to do Acting! I will be an actress Ma!"
She replied, " Nahi beta - you will need to study something more substantial. This is a hobby."
I replied, " No ma - i will study acting!"
Ma gave up on me.
I grew older. Age 20
Ma said, " Listen beta, now that you have completed your diploma and degree..its time you get a job..a 9 to 5!"
I said - " No ma - i want to be something else..something different!"
She replied - " You need to save up beta for the FUTURE. The Future?!"
I grew older. Age 25
Ma said : " Now beta - its time you get married. All girls have to get married. This is the RIGHT time. Its the RIGHT time beta..you have to sit well when you meet his parents..dress up covered and give up on your childish hobbies.."
I replied : " Ma - you said i could be anything i like..do anything i want..why does my chest feel heavy ma?"
She replied : " Don't worry beta - i did it, your grandmother, your sister..its normal."
I asked : " Ma - can i live on my own with him..my partner?"
She replied : " Now - we no longer make the decisions for you beta..they do! Ask them.." 
I grew older. Age 27
Someone said - "Why aren't you married! Get married..you need to have kids on time..go..!"
Someone else said - "You need to do this..everyone does it!"
I said - " Something doesn't feel right..why doesn't it feel right..?" I need to make my own decisions..i need to live my dreams..i need to fly..i don't want children..i don't need anybody…i need my confidence..i want to fly..my feet are tied..i want to run for i don't want to have a daughter i will teach all these lies.."

Singapore Comedy Fringe - Calling all Stand-up Comedians in Asia

Dear One and All,

Hope you people have been doing well ! My post today is about the Singapore Comedy Fringe and why it is an important event in the history of comedy in Asia.

First of all !

When is the Singapore Comedy Fringe : April 23rd 2014 to April 26th 2014
Where is the Singapore Comedy Fringe : DBS Arts Centre
Tickets from : http://www.sistic.com.sg/events/fringe0414

So guys - this is the deal. The Singapore Comedy Fringe is happening and why should it be so important to stand-up comedians? Various reasons.

1. Stand-up Comedians from all over Asia and the US are performing
2. This is the right place to be if you want to meet other comedians/promoters/producers
3. Watch the different styles of comedy and comedians and what material are the comedians of the various countries writing
4. Connect the dots. You have a 20 min set that you think will work in Singapore, Phil, Malaysia, India,Dubai? Come talk to the people who will/may be able to direct you to the right direction

I have come across comedians who don't feel the need to travel because they might be so comfortable in their own countries getting the appropriate response and audience reaction but traveling to watch comedy and throwing yourself out of your comfort zone is the most beautiful thing ever and traveling only expands your horizons in the world of writing stand-up. Take this as a personal invitation to come down to Singapore and be a part of Asia's Stand-up comedy gathering. Even just watching is lots of learning.

Why should the audiences watch the Singapore Comedy Fringe?

A festival with comedians from
1. Singapore
2. India
3. Dubai
4. Philippines
5. Malaysia
6. US

Promising lots of laughs :)

We are creating history. This is the true blue Singapore Comedy Festival and the first.

Come and Join us.

Love and laugher,
Sharul Channa

Things Your Mum Will Never Talk To You About

There are certain things mums just refuse to tell us. I think they should! It's important.

1.  Which one is the Right Hole.

I think mom's should sit their daughters down and explain to them about their female anatomy. It is so important. I know for a fact that most moms i know just brush aside the whole issue or shall i say the "Hole" issue. I just want to know how many holes there are and which one goes where. I mean you know what i mean. I am not talking about the embarrassing conversation mom's have with us when we get our periods.  I really mean it. Let your girls and boys know about it.

2.  YOUR PARTNER CAN NEVER BE LIKE YOUR FATHER

I wish moms told us this. How can you expect your partner to love you like your father does. Your father is different as a father and different as a partner. Don't expect your husband or bf to be as caring and sensitive as your father cos i bet that your father is an asshole to your mom at times but YOUR MOM WON'T TELL YOU!  

3. How to be Manipulative and read into double meanings

You mom def needs to teach you how to be manipulative. Yup True. Women need to be manipulative to survive. You need to be manipulative with your Bf/ Husband/ Mother-in-law/ Extended Family and many more people. I think mothers should give us a crash course on this. This shocks the hell out of us when we get into a new relationship or have to deal with difficult people. Don't take things at face value. 

Example :

Mother-in-law : " Is everything ok with my son..?"

Meaning : " Did you upset him..?"

( depends on case to case basis)

4.  Every woman needs to stay alone to become Independent and Understand her self-worth

I think mom's need to throw us out of the house to fend for ourselves. If not we just simply get sold like sheep. At least the asian women do. The one phrase common in an Indian household is " Don't do it here..do it when you go to husband's house"... There is nothing such as " Do it at your husband's house.." - This simply means...you will never get to do it. You need to stay alone to discover your own individuality and understand you self-worth. True. You need to stay alone and learn how to live on your own and live your life on your own terms. Trust me its not the same staying at your parent's place. 

Next time your mom says - " Do it at your husband's place..."...Look into your mom's eyes and let her know...that she is doing a lot of things to keep her husband happy..but is she happy herself? Learning is both ways!

5. How to make a good cup of coffee or Tea.

I think mom's should def teach their daughters how to make a good cup of coffee or tea...at least for one person. You know why. Women are different from the entire human race. We are super strong but we all need a fuckin' cup of coffee/Tea in the morning to keep us going. Sometimes more than one but we need it...so please teach us how to make one for that extra kick! ;) Also - HAVE YOUR FIRST DRINK WITH YOUR MOM! Mom - please get drunk together...we have lots to bond over! ;)

When I was 85kgs

I was once 85kgs.

I hated going out.

I had friends 10 times more good looking than me.

I would go to a shop and pick out clothes XXL and they felt tight on me.

Whenever people said they loved me and their world revolved around me..i thought they were calling me the world.

Guys would check me out but only the really ugly ones. Beauty is not in the eye of the beholder..some people are truly ugly.

When cute guys checked me out - I knew they were checking me out cos i was like the WALL CLOCK to them - and remember..you never wear a wall clock on your wrists. They would see me and their faces would be filled with disgust.

I fell in love with a guy for 7 years and thought this was it but he was such a fucking good looker...I didn't want to become his sister so i never told him. This is what good looking guys do..tell them you like them and they will either say - "Sorry." or "You're my sister.."

I was as big as a bulldozer...buffalos spoke among themselves when they saw me...they felt better about themselves. 

I felt like if you ever flipped the dictionary and searched for "FAT"...my face would be there.

People could run marathons around me.

When i ran for the bus - i injured people around me.

When i didn't hold the handle on the bus and the bus jerked...i fell on a man a skinny man who almost died.

I felt like eating all of my friends' leftovers

Mc Donald's was my best friend..

I slept around with KFC...

Pizza Hut was my whore...

I once sat on a pony in australia and the pony stopped halfway during the ride and took a dump..

I started losing weight..

I lost 25kgs...

Clothes started fitting me..

I gained confidence...

Men started hitting on me..

I started smiling more often...

But i was very hungry...

Still very hungry....

I am a comfortable weight right now..

But inside..deep inside..I am still that FAT GIRL.

10 RIDICULOUS QUESTIONS/ THINGS PEOPLE SAY ABOUT SINGAPORE

1.  " OMG. WILL I GET JAILED IF I SPIT ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW."


ANSWER : " No, you will just look like an idiot for doing it for no apparent reason. Stupid.


2.  " OMG. I HAVE CHEWING GUM WITH ME RIGHT NOW. WILL THEY ARREST ME ? "


ANSWER : " No, Can you pass me one..."


3. " OMG. I HEARD GEYLANG IS THE RED LIGHT AREA...HAVE YOU BEEN THERE?

Answer : " Yes..my aunty stays there. No..she is not a whore. Geylang has residential area too.. its just a business like every other business..get over it lady and why don't you go choose the guy you are going to sleep with after you get drunk..and of cos..you won't charge.


4. "OMG..OMG...I want to go to that Swimming pool at Marina Bay Sands..THAT SWIMMING POOL ..gosh..is it really that high.."


Answer : " Yes..Enter the pool..take that picture everybody is taking..the one with the Singapore Sky-line in the background and then get off a minute later cos its just a pool. A NORMAL POOL.


5. : "OMG...I GOT INTO ATTICA..i heard there are really hot guys there.."

Answer : Yes. Its awesome. I love getting groped and rubbed while dancing so i go there too. Perfect.


6. " OMG OMG...I want to watch the F1 race!!!! Have you watched the F1 race?


Answer : No. I am Singaporean. While you are spending loads of money watching the F1 race..we carry on with life cos we are going to work..getting stuck in traffic jams and then going for our casual drinks. Enjoy.


7. "OMG..i want to so live in Singapore!!! I want to live the asian life..the amazing asian lifestyle..like try asian food wow..i am getting an apartment in Orchard!!!...

Answer : Bitch. Get a HDB in Geylang and live the amazing Singaporean lifestyle.


8. " OMG...I AM GOING TO CYCLE TO ORCHARD and then CYCLE BACK HOME...wow..only 40 mins...!"

Answer : Ya correct. Why don't you attach a 2 seater behind and ride a rickshaw instead..then you can earn some money too. Bitch, the MRT and BUS system is super efficient here. Cut the crap.


9. " OMG. I love going to sentosa every weekend for a tan..!"

Answer : " Sentosa is our disneyland..you don't go to disneyland everyday..".. Bitch please. Go to the botanical gardens and take pictures of flowers instead and don't forget to bring your bicycle. 


10. " OMG.....Homosexuals cannot kiss in this country..they cannot kiss?? They cannot..?"


Answer : "Get out of your house... and go to tanjong pagar and if that's not enough i have amazing gay friends who are giving you the WTF look as u say it.."

Indian Women being Stand-up Comedians : Difficult?

Someone recently asked me.. So Sharul, being an indian female..has it been difficult being a stand-up comedian. I looked at her and smiled. " I don't know babe..maybe not as difficult for those in India..i replied." I wouldn't know.

Indian women are profiled to be conservative and coy so when they see an indian female taking centre-stage and talking about things they don't expect her to talk about..they get shocked.
Some people say " Oh, she is getting laughs because of the shock value !" and some people say " Should she talk about that topic..what does she know about it?"...

I really wish sometimes they could just call the female comics just plain - Stand-up comedians. Many times if you watch shows..the emcee would make it a point to say.." The next comedian my friend is a woman...*Cheers*..yes..please put your hands together for Sharul Channa.." and then i go on and talk about having a big nose. Are they wrong at doing that? No. Not at all because there aren't many women in this business compared to the men.

What i cannot stand is those male chauvinist pigs who decide they need to come counsel you after the show..although that stopped happening to me 2 months after i started doing comedy. There are such pigs in the business itself too..like some fellow male comedians think they have to act smart and say shit like .." oh you woman you..why don't you just show your tits on stage and they will laugh..!" To which i usually reply.." Why don't you show yours since your mama fed you like a fucking pig when you were young.." It happens but that's a one off experience again. We have such amazing fellow comedians in the Singapore circuit..its been fantastic.

So the question remains..Is it difficult being an indian woman female comedian. Well- its rare..But we're tough. We have prob gone past the " Oh..if i contort my face this way..men will not find me attractive anymore or my eye-liner has not been drawn well phase and hence i won't get married blah blah blah.."

Female comedians are comedians too. Fullstop. Spelt out.
So - as long as we don't marginalize ourselves nobody can. Yup..we don't bother what others think about the laughs we get. As long as you can stand on stage and make a group laugh - you're funny. There is no gimmick there. We 're not going to get more laughs cos we are women so its not easy..in fact it can work against us..so we have to work harder..but again..we're just Stand-up comedians.

The only way being an INDIAN female stand-up comedian is going to benefit me is if you get me..some amazing chicken tikka after the show or a little bit of Salman khan on a kebab platter. That's about it. Get over it.

love love,

Sharul