BEING a comedian is no joke. It’s a tough business in general and being a female comedian is even tougher. But that is precisely why Shamaine Othman is so drawn to this profession.
After obtaining her Bachelor of Performing Arts at Monash University in Melbourne, she returned to Malaysia and took on a job as a broadcast journalist. She then went on to become an assistant administrator with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra before venturing into stand-up comedy.
Shamaine talks to Savvy about how she got started and what it’s like being a female comedian in Malaysia.
WERE YOU ALWAYS FUNNY, EVEN AS A KID?
I guess the right people to ask that question would be my family. I always liked comedy because that’s what my father was involved in, producing sitcoms like Pi Mai Pi Mai Tang Tu and 2 + 1. I was always surrounded by comedy and my father taught us how to always see the humour in all situations.
DID YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO DO AFTER YOU GRADUATED?
I had studied performing arts with the intention of becoming a full-time actor. That was my ambition. Then I got fat and realised that that dream was over. Now, I spend my days scriptwriting and performing comedy. Not in a million years did I think I’d be doing these things. I really thought I was going to end up as an actress.
WHAT GAVE YOU THE CONFIDENCE TO TAKE ON SUCH AN UNUSUAL PROFESSION?
I think the fact that it is such an unusual profession. Back when I started out, the only other female comedian performing regularly was Joanne Kam Poh Poh. Male comedians like Kuah Jenhan and Phoon Chi Ho were very encouraging; they’d say things like: “Go do it, we need more female comics”. I must say I love a challenge.
WHY ARE THERE MORE MALES THAN FEMALES DOING THIS?
Traditionally comedy has been a male-dominated scene. I think women just need to see more women doing it, so they can muster the courage to give it a go. That’s why I think it’s important for show promoters to include female comics in their line-up. Things are improving though. In the past few years, we have seen the emergence of all-female stand-up nights.
WHAT DID YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOUR CAREER CHOICE?
Well, considering what they do - my mother is also involved in TV production - they obviously weren’t against it. Their only worry was whether I could get by financially because they know only too well how tough showbusiness is.
SO, HOW’S THE MONEY BEEN?
I’m a full-time scriptwriter and comedian and frankly, it’s my scriptwriting that pays the bills. Corporate comedy gigs pay well but I don’t do those because I’d have to censor my material, which can sometimes be risque. I want to keep my comedy as raw as I can because I deal with enough censorship writing for TV.
IS BEING FUNNY SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO BE BORN WITH?
I personally believe that some people are born to be funny. If you’re naturally funny then you can train to become really good at it. For example, if you want to be a professional comedian, you have to train at it. But at its heart, being funny is something innate.
IS THE COMEDIAN NETWORK A TIGHTLY KNIT ONE?
Very much so - everybody knows everybody. Online, there are chat groups for comedians and the Crackhouse Comedy Club is like home base for us to hang out. We help each other out.
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS FROM?
I mainly get ideas from my own life - things that happen to me or stories that I hear from friends or stuff that I see in a documentary. I watch a lot of TV and online videos and these things do spark ideas for me.
COMEDIANS OBVIOUSLY WATCH OTHER COMEDIANS. IS THERE A FINE LINE BETWEEN BEING INSPIRED BY SOMEONE AND PLAGIARISING THEM?
Joke borrowing is joke stealing. This should never be done. It’s okay to borrow ideas or themes but not specific jokes. For example, a few comics in the local scene - including myself - have jokes about how to talk dirty in Malay. The general concept is the same but each comedian has his or her own jokes with different premises, set-ups and punchlines.
WHAT’S THE MOST SURPRISING THING ABOUT BEING A COMEDIAN?
That we’re not 100 per cent funny and bubbly all the time. When I’m on the stage, I turn it on 100 per cent but off stage, I can be a rather subdued person.
WHAT’S THE HARDEST THING ABOUT YOUR JOB?
You know what? Everything is hard for me. Having the discipline to keep writing new material, making sure your material is funny, generating fresh ideas, staying true to myself - all of that is hard. I think most people don’t realise that when comedians are up there telling their jokes, they’re giving away a part of themselves to you.
WHAT MAKES YOU KEEP ON WANTING TO DO THIS?
I can’t see myself doing anything else. Telling these stories that are so personal to me and making the audience laugh makes me feel really good.
WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING AT THIS YEAR?
Some personal projects that I’m looking forward to doing is finishing my first feature film script. I am working on my solo one-hour comedy special - hopefully stage it at the end of the year or early next year. I’m also planning to launch a female-centric comedy channel on YouTube.