Nik Coppin – Stuff
Ewan Gordon asks Nik Coppin some questions about his new Melbourne Comedy Festival show ‘Stuff’.
How long have you been coming to the Melbourne Comedy Festival?
This will be my 5th Melbourne festival and 3rd solo show.
What keeps bringing you back to our shores?
Well, in Melbourne, it’s certainly not the weather, I can tell you! It’s like coming to England from England. Maybe that’s why I like it here – it reminds me of the un-predictable English weather!
Have you ever though of immigrating to Australia? If not, why not?
The thought has crossed my mind, but would you have me? I’m not so sure. Also, the comedy circuit in Britain keeps me too busy to really get away from just yet. But you know, if enough people come to my future shows, I might just get enough of a following here in Australia to have KRudd let me stay.
What makes the audiences you receive in Australia different to the audiences you get overseas, apart from the accents?
Accents? You have accents here? I never noticed!
To be perfectly honest, you guys don’t heckle quite as much as our lot back in Blighty. Odd, given how mental some of your travelling Aussie’s are like over in the UK!
What should the average festivalgoer expect from your latest show?
Well, this year’s offering is going to be full of banter and playing around with the audience and new ideas.
Not that I’m treating the festival and the audience this year as some kind of experiment, but I have found that I can fun with the crowds here and want to again before I get a bit more structured and serious with future shows. Last chance for fun. Probably….
What is the worst thing anyone has ever said about your comedy to your face?
A woman that is now a major player and agent here, once came up to me when I was a new act and told me that my personality and ‘confidence’ on stage were amazing for a newbie, but my material was a little weak. I responded in a way that suggested I was offended and that she didn’t know what she was talking about. I didn’t mean to sound that way, but I think it was just how she took it. I often wonder if she was ‘interested’ in ‘taking me on’ at the time and where it could have gone.
What lifelong ambition have you not fulfilled yet?
At some stage I would like kids. How can I deny the world another little Coppin? It just wouldn’t be fair! And I wouldn’t mind a talk show or something and a Lamborghini Countach!
Who were your influences when you were first starting out in comedy?
The actor and comedian Eddie Murphy was my first comedy hero. But Spider-man and his wise-cracks made me want to be funny in times of difficulty many years ago.
That and I fell in love with Kylie Minogue years ago too and thought the only way to meet someone – or people – like her was to get into show business in some way. Shallow, I know, but we all have our reasons to start these things. But it’s the reasons that drive us on that define us in this business in many ways and I love doing what I do.
What is the single funniest thing to happen to you while performing a gig worldwide?
There are too many little things to name just one. But a girl throwing up in her lap in the front row of a gig in Bristol was pretty funny. Especially as I was telling her off for being on her mobile while she was doing it. She was bending over and making weird sounds, so I thought she was talking to somebody on her phone and didn’t realise until I got off stage when the compare told me what was actually happening.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Funny you should ask, as I was just talking to comedy friends about that yesterday. I didn’t really come up with any answers. A talk show? A solo tour of theatres? That would be nice, but not really sure.
To not have to worry about what I was earning, or if people will book me or turn up to my shows would be nice
And finally, What was the best heckle you’ve had to date?
It wasn’t aimed at me, but at another member of the audience. It was in Auckland and I talk about it in my show, so get yo’ ass down and watch and you will hear what it was all about.
You can catch Nik Coppin at the Elephant and Wheelbarrow on Bourke St throughout the festival, probably in the main bar, but he’s also doing some shows there too. For booking details click here