6. What do your parents/children (delete as applicable) think of your job?

 

Like me they are pleasantly surprised at how things have panned out because it was looking pretty ropey for a few years. 

 

7. What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?

 

I love this job but it does severely limit where I can live as there are very few countries where a person can realistically build a career in stand-up. I’ve visited loads of wonderful places like Barcelona and Utrecht and Maui that I would absolutely love the chance to move to but I’d have to abandon a lot of my profession to do so. Of all the restrictions a comedian’s life has this one gnaws at me the most.

 

 

8. I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?

 

To my knowledge you’ve seen me perform once and you were late, but it’s nice to hear I left a good impression*. In response to your question: I’m the best comedian of all time.

 

 

9. How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?

 

Only a nutcase would ask or answer this.

 

 

10. How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?

 

Of course you should work hard and be persistent, but even then a tremendous amount of things have to come together in a person’s life for them to make a living as a comedian. Luck is an enormous factor in anyone’s existence let alone their prospective showbiz career. I say this as someone who has generally had far more good luck than bad.

 

11. 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 a third category?

 

These days I’m the former. I was filled to the brim with angst and self-loathing formost of my early/mid 20’s and I now view that whole period of my life as wasted time. People used to say to me “Don’t ever get happy because it will ruin your act” but now I am very happy and my comedy has improved immeasurably, so go figure. 

 

12. Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?

 

16 year old climate change activist Greta Thunberg. It’s hard to imagine how many statues will be made of her.

 

13. 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).

 

What’s a drawer?

 

Sean McLoughlin: Hail Mary tour details here: http://seanmcloughlincomedy.com/tour-2019/

 

*I've actually seen McLoughlin twice and I was late both times. The first time was at Kilkenny's Cat Laughs Festival in 2015 where if my memory is correct his gig actually turned out to be in the only venue that was actually just outside Kilkenny so I think I had a good excuse for being late. Or maybe that was Jacksepticeye. And the second time in Edinburgh last summer I was only late by about a minute so I'm getting better.