Comedian Maeve Higgins

Irish comedian Maeve Higgins is in New Zealand for the first time to perform as part of the NZ International Comedy Festival 2009.

Higgins says she first got into comedy via a radio competition.  “I didn’t win but it gave me the bug. A few months later I did my first open spot.”

Whilst she wasn’t the typical budding comedian, jokester at school – today the world of comedy and her personal life do intertwine.

“I am quite like myself onstage so I think it is hard to separate the two, which is fine by me. I’m bad at acting so I don’t really have a choice.”

During what hours of the day do you feel most inspired?
Night time of course! In the mornings I’m a dull robot, it isn’t until day is done that I have ideas. Some are good ideas, like doing a new joke about marmalade. Some are bad ideas, like having sex with a friend.

How would a good friend describe your aesthetic or style?
Good friends are generous but honest, so I guess something like ‘she is tolerable I suppose – but not handsome enough to tempt me’.

What aspect of your creative practice gives you the biggest thrill?
The sweet sweet cash of course! Mmm, money. I use it to buy goods and services, like hair clips and carpet cleaning.

How does your environment affect your work?
I get distracted easily so if there are humans or animals or plants around I absolutely cannot write. I need a bunker in a box inside a suitcase.

Do you like to look at the big picture or focus on the details?
Probably the details, the big picture is just too big and unmanageable unless you’re a superhero.

What's your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in the creative industries?
Don’t fool yourself into thinking that what you do is important.

Which of your projects to date has given you the most satisfaction?
Work stuff doesn’t really satisfy me, there’s always more to do. The project that floated my boat the most recently was knitting a dress for a friend.

Who or what has inspired you recently?
It’s hard to put my finger on what inspires me – I know I feel giddy around Felicity Ward, an Australian comedian I’ve recently met at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.  She just really funny, and that makes me want to impress her, which is what inspiration is I suppose.

How did you first get into comedy? Were you the jokester at school?
There was a radio competition to find new comedians. I didn’t win but it gave me the bug. A few months later I did my first open spot, I was not a jokester in school.

Is it hard to turn off the comedian in your personal life or do the two worlds intertwine?
I am quite like myself onstage so I think it is hard to separate the two, which is fine by me. I’m bad at acting so I don’t really have a choice.

Where do you get your material from?
From the internet. Just joking around. From my real life experiences.

Tell us about your show at this year’s Comedy Festival.
It’s a girl (me) talking (mainly) about her ideas and opinions in a funny (subjective) way on a stage for a short time (55minutes).

What are the strengths and challenges for the NZ comedy scene?
I haven’t been here long enough to comment with any authority. There seems to be a healthy variety here though, which is great.

What advice can you give to aspiring professional comedians?
Take your top off.

If you could go back and choose a completely different career path to the one you've chosen, what would it be?
I’m terrible at drawing but I love colouring in, so maybe a painter, of rooms and furniture and things like that.

What place is always with you, wherever you go?
The internet of course. My only real friend – always there to remind me of crummy reviews and negative comments about me online.

What's the best way to listen to music, and why?
Through headphones on a train eating cheese doodles – because I’m whimsical, I travel a lot and I love to snack. What an adorable combination.

You are given a piece of string, a stick and some fabric. What do you make?
I don’t know.

What's the best stress relief advice you've ever been given?
Kurt Vonnegut says we are here on earth to fart around, and don’t let anybody tell you any different. As usual, he’s right.

What's great about today?
Well, I went to the Botanic gardens in Wellington and a two year old told my friend Nick he was too fat to be on the kid’s swing, that was pretty great.

What’s your big idea for 2009?
Just to keep on keeping on really. Keep on truckin’.

More information

NZ International Comedy Festival 2009
                                         
Dates: Tuesday 12th – Saturday 16th May, 8.30pm
Venue: The Basement, Lower Greys Ave, City
Tickets: Adults $22, Concessions $18, Groups of 10+ $18
Bookings: TICKETEK: 0800 TICKETEK (0800 8425385) www.ticketek.co.nz