Someone made a clever observation about me when they said "you love funny". They were spot on. I do love funny. What's not to love? If you're innately funny, you're generally good with strangers, acquaintances, colleagues, children and dogs - well, not sure about dogs, never had one. What intrigues me most about comedians is what lies behind the funny on stage. To hear it directly from the horse's mouth, I caught up with the VERY hilarious comedian, Max Amini and here's giving you a sneak peek, but first, some stats. I'm actually surprised I feel the need to add numbers in my blogs. One, I hate maths. Two, I'm allergic to numbers and four, I suck at maths.
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| Max Amini in Amsterdam |
- YouTube subscribers: 66,000 +
- Facebook likes: 400,000+
- Twitter followers: 53,000+
- Instagram followers: 123,000+
- Times I have seen Max live: 2
It's been fourteen years since Max joined the comedy scene and catapulted himself into the Max Amini we know today. I personally find that his appeal lies in his effortless improv and unbelievably perfect understanding of Iranian culture and everything Iranian. Note to self all - people are not Persian, the language Iranians speak is, as is the rug in your mother's house and the neighbor's cat (Maz Jobrani, the other infamous Iranian-American comedian, would agree with me here).
I can't recall how exactly I came across Max but I'm glad I did because his comedy is infectious.When I heard he was visiting Amsterdam in 2015, I had to buy a ticket. In fact, I took my mother for her birthday. When it was time for the photo opp, I gave my mum my phone and asked her to take a picture. Max, true to Iranian culture, reached out to greet my mother before speaking to me. Needless to say, he won her over instantly! The second time his comedy tour brought him to Amsterdam, I decided to leave my mother behind and hijacked him for an interview. Yes, you get a sneak peek but first, check out some of my personal favorite Max Amini comedy ...
"Tomato juice"
"Persian Guys"
"Dancing Seriously"
Now that we're in the same head space ...
Naveen: Congrats on selling out all your shows! What's life like on the road?
Max: I get to experience new cultures and people - that's pretty awesome. I don't get to have much of a routine for a healthy lifestyle.
Naveen: How does a comedian maintain a relationship on the road?
Max: It's very difficult. My last relationship lasted four years, sometimes we traveled together. It can work but it depends on the type of people and the lifestyle they have.
Naveen: Does the future Mrs. Amini need to be funny?
Max: It helps.
Naveen: You're known for your improvisation. How do you create fresh content?
Max: I am an observational comedian. It's all in my comedy notes on my phone.
Naveen: How do you prepare for the physical comedy? The London tube one was spot on!
Max: I try to make it spontaneous and unpredictable for my fans.
Naveen: Maz Jobrani seems to have paved the path for Iranian comedians. Do you agree?
Max: One has nothing to do with the other. There are other comedians with Persian descent. Every artist has to be authentic. We're all friends and support each other.
Naveen: What's been the best compliment and worst criticism that you have received?
Max: My comedy appeals to all ages from 8 to 80. I appeal to a mass. It's universal humor; I don't care or look for the criticism.
Naveen: What makes a comedian successful?
Max: Hard work, tenacity, experience, commitment. Experience is the most important in stand up. The longer they perform the better they find their own voice. The only secret to stand up is to keep doing it. It's a mix of talent and hard work. You have to trust the journey and be receptive.
Naveen: Which female comedians do you admire? What do you think of Amy Schumer?
Max: I'm not a fan of Amy Schumer. She goes for shocking more than funny. I like Wendy Cummings.
Naveen: What's the lifespan of a comedian?
Max: I'll eventually do less cities as I'm focusing on producing and directing films.
Naveen: Do you ever get stage fright?
Max: Not really, I get excited to go on stage.
Naveen: Do people expect you to be funny off camera?
Max: ALL the time
Naveen: Tell me something no one knows about you.
Max: I'm the gangster of love [laughs]
Follow Max on Instagram @maxcomedian
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