Michael Akadiri on the State of Comedy

Source: BBC New Comedy Awards 2021/Phil McIntyre Live

Comedy is a hobby which got out of control.

That’s my go-to answer whenever I’m quizzed on how I, a junior doctor by trade, ended up as a stand-up. As I prepare to tour my sophomore show, Trust Me, I’m a Daddy, I thought this would be apt to reflect on the state of comedy, this ‘hobby’ I dearly love. 

Firstly, any honest discourse about comedy today needs to separate the artform and the industry. 

Artform

The artform is like no other, the ability to make an audience laugh is unique; and in my opinion, the talent to simultaneously inform, educate and challenge them is truly special. 

In its purest form, it’s an individual with a microphone who can take their audience wherever they’d like. The beauty of the genre means you know instantly if they’re enjoying the journey. You don’t have to wait for album or book sales – you find out right there, right then.

I’m an observational storytelling comedian so I lean heavily into my personal life for anecdotes. In Trust Me, I’m a Daddy, I’ll regale the audience with yarns about my debut year of parenting, comparisons to my childhood and my attempts to juggle my new responsibilities with comedy and medicine. (spoiler alert: I don’t do things conventionally…)

There’s a been an argument in recent years that audiences have gone soft, or ‘woke’. I’ve been fortunate enough to gig up and down the country for the last 7 years and that’s not been my experience, whether in response to my own jokes or those of my colleagues. Comedians can still be daring and provocative, as long as above all, it’s funny. If humour is central to the premise and not hate, audiences tend to follow suit. 

Credit: Edward Moore

The Industry

I became a comic as I was attracted by the artform. However, you soon realise that comedy is a business and your artistry is secondary to the desires of the industry.

An industry which has rapidly changed thanks to the rise of social media. Gone are the days where you needed the approval of influential agents and TV producers to be successful – although having them in your corner does no harm. The popularity of Instagram & TikTok means a comedian today can build an audience online and bypass traditional industry gatekeepers. 

This is no mean feat. Some comics bemoan the challenge of being both a stand up and content creator but when done successfully, as the likes of Josh Pugh can attest to, it can dramatically change the trajectory of a career.

Of course, being funny online is completely different to stand up. Not many can traverse both adeptly, myself included. But I truly believe there’s an audience out there for everybody. I’m sure you can think of a personality who you find so deplorable, you wouldn’t rush to save them from a burning bush that probably has at least 100k followers across their socials. 

Snakes & Ladders

I see the career of a comedian like a game of Snakes and Ladders. You roll the dice, and you may be fortunate to reach a ladder on your first go (a TV show or a viral video) that whisks you up a few echelons quicker than your companions. As long you avoid the snakes (which some struggle to do), you can enjoy a long and successful career. 

Other comics, may not encounter such ladders, but as long as you keep rolling the dice and stay true to the artform you’ll make your way up the board. But you have to bet on yourself and roll.

Whether in comedy, or life in general – keep rolling the dice. You’ll be surprised how far your ‘hobby’ may take you.

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Come see Michael Akadiri’s latest roll of the dice with his brand new show, Trust Me, I’m a Daddy which kicks off in Leeds on Wednesday 11th September at the Hyde Park Book Club. Tickets available here. NHS & student discount available.