What do your parents think of your job?
My mom is super supportive and used to come to every show. She’s my biggest fan and supporter and knows me so well, she fact checks my set sometimes. My dad didn’t understand what the big deal was or why I bothered, but became more approving after one of his white friends explained that working on a Stephen Colbert project is a big deal.
What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?
I think the expectation that you have to perform and bring people join when you are offstage is the most annoying part of being a comedian before. I’m not just talking about the classic “OMG, you’re a comedian, tell me a joke!” drivel common at parties. There’s a certain expectation from randos that everything I say has to be perfect at eliciting whatever feeling or sensation they are seeking at any given moment. Sometimes, I am literally just trying to eat my poké bowl or chat up someone cute. Being a comedian is the only job where people insist you demonstrate your craft to them at all times. Follow me on Instagram or go to a show! Also, it doesn’t help that the people who always demand a free performance are ugly girls with hot boyfriends!
How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?
I get paid by the show with the really good ones netting me a couple hundred dollars or more and the indie one netting me between $20 and $60. Of course, I would love if I had a minimum of a couple hundred dollars per show and up to a thousand or more for the really swanky venues, but I also know the nature of the gig economy plus the cost of living crisis make such wishes unlikely. Sort of unrelated, but any shows that feed me fancy food are automatically my fave. I did this podcasting awards show in Chinatown once and they showered me with lobster and filet mignon in addition to my performing fee, so let’s make that an industry standard please!
How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?
I got my first TV job on Tooning Out the News because I just so happened to be performing at the People’s Improv Theater. Of course I had to deliver three stunning character monologues in my audition and improvise a callback, but I feel very lucky to have gotten the opportunity when I was in very nascent phases in both my stand-up and VO careers.
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’m a tortured artist trying to have an affair with a golfer. A lot of my material comes from trauma and my friends and family used to worry about me because of it. I used to make some truly poor decisions in the hopes of getting a good story. Now, my philosophy is that you have to be alive to tell the story! I used to pride myself on being the life of the party. After watching a bunch of true crime documentaries, I don’t think that’s such a good idea. I’ve had a lot of messy, failed relationships, and I consider myself lucky that I’ve been able to write a show about them instead of being featured on an episode of Dateline (that’s the murder show in the states).
Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?
A huge portion of my show is devoted to my childhood obsession and desire to emulate Princess Diana! There is a photo of three-year-old Otter weeping for the Duchess (sic) of Wales outside Kensington Palace in London! I relate so much to her suffering and also enjoy wearing lots and lots of pink and light blue. Her story was what taught me the concept of suffering within the human condition and I have aimed to embody that in all aspects of my life.
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).
Of course! You never know who might be checking or inspecting you down there. I for one, do an excellent job of keeping things fresh and stylish! You were of course talking about my undergarments, right? I actually tailor my outfits so that they match too. Today, I’m wearing my surfing Shiba Inu boxers because they match my summery vibe.
Otter Lee’s ‘Princess Syndrome’ is at Just The Tonic @ The Cabaret Voltaire Liberty Room 3.30pm for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
PHOTO CREDIT – STEVE ULLATHORNE
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