What do your parents think of your job?
They’ve come around to it! In the beginning, they were like….What the fuck?? You wanna embarrass yourself on stage? Alone?? Everyday??? But now they’re on board. They're still rightfully confused that success in comedy does not necessarily mean you get paid at all. And they have been very supportive of my show Side by Side, even if quite of bit of it is at their expense.
What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?
I struggle very much with the admin part of it all. In comedy, you have to be able to perform and write but then you also have to be able to produce, edit, publicize, and market yourself. In success, it often feels like an office job and that is something I am terrible at. I got into comedy because I was very bad at everything else and I never wanted to sit at a desk, but now I find myself at a desk quite often. But thank god it's for something I care about.
I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?
I think I’m good! I’m a lapsed catholic and one of the things that’s remained is an inability to brag but I’m working on it. I am very very proud of my show. It rocks. Sometimes I’m so shocked I wrote it. I’m like shit how did I write that?? It’s like you blackout during the creative process and you’re so thankful to the little gremlin version of yourself that wrote it all down. I’m proud of where I’ve come from- I’ve bombed in countless basements all over the world, and while I know I will continue to bomb gloriously, it feels good to be here now.
How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?
As a comedian and nanny, I earn next to nothing. I would love to make a little above nothing if that’s not too much to ask!
How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?
I think it’s more about access than luck. People with more access, be that money, family connections, or opportunity, will always be better situated for success. I have been very lucky in the ways I have gained access. I started nannying for actors and that brought me into a world with much more access than the world I was in when I was washing dishes or waitressing, and that has absolutely helped my career.
Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into third category?
I am a recovering self-harmer! I used to very much glamorize being fucked up or “crazy” and “damaged” but now I am very much trying to golf. Self-harm is just so unsustainable and ultimately hurts me more than it helps. Art is the only career path where we let people be totally tortured as a plus. If your heart surgeon was like “I am soooo dark and twisted” You would be like…. absolutely not.
Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?
A big part of my solo show is about my pre teen obsession with Brendon Urie of Panic at the Disco, so I think I unfortunately have to say…Brendon Urie. Truly wish I could give a more evolved answer like Žižek or Chomsky. But no… I had Tiger Beat posters of Brendon Urie all over my wall and I had a full manic episode when I served him when I was a waitress. But you’ll have to see my show to hear that story.
Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (please think long and hard about this question, it's to settle an argument with my girlfriend. The future of our relationship could depend on your response).
Absolutely not. All my drawers are perpetually wide open and they look like the mouth to hell. If you have clean, neatly folded drawers you are a serial killer. Who has the time?
Maggie Crane’s ‘Side By Side’ is at the Underbelly - Dexter – Bristo Square at 5.45pm from 3rd- 28th August (not 14th). For tickets go to www.edfringe.com
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