Blake Freeman’s new show doesn’t have a name.
The Melbourne comic won best Newcomer at the 2019 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, but says he wanted to have the freedom to make jokes about anything this time around. We spoke to Blake as he prepares for a full run of his new show at Comedy Fest.
You’ve mentioned you don’t have a name for the show to leave it more open ended. What are you dealing with in the new show?
I don’t know if reaction is the right word? But my reaction to things in relation to what I was taught – talking about childhood stuff, relationships, and the impact of one on the other. But there’s also a bunch of dick jokes as well. It’s trying to go that one layer deeper without sounding like a wanker.
So you’re from Melbourne and pretty experienced performing here. What have you learnt from the past few years you’re going to use this year?
This will be my third solo show at Comedy Fest.
I don’t know if this is going to sound pretentious and I hope it doesn’t – it’s so gunna. I’m kind of excited by the idea of losing the crowd and trying to win them back. In terms of learning I’d like to think I’ve learnt patience – I’m a patient man.
How would you try and explain your act to someone who hasn’t seen you before?
See this is where I wish I’d read as a child. I suppose loose storytelling mixed with observations from my own life. Just a lot of fuckin’ around, silly jokes, and them some personal stuff sprinkled in. But a lot of fuckin’ around.
What do you take away from other comics?
Well, the thing I like about my favourite comics in Australia is the authenticity, when you see them on stage and then off stage you’re like, ‘Holy shit that’s the same person.’ I think that’s awesome.
What are your career highlights so far?
Yeah, doing the Gala last year was a huge thing, that was really cool. This is going to sound bad but I remember I did a show on the Gold Coast where I was bombing so hard, and there was a lady the whole time I was on stage, for 40 minutes, she was legit rolling cigarettes and was throwing them onto the stage and I was, like, ‘This is definitely a highlight.”
And I suppose the cigarette thrower would fall under your best heckler moment?
One hundred percent, someone can say something to get a laugh or trip you up or whatever, but after a while you hear so much shit that it kind of becomes boring. But when someone rolls cigarettes during a show and is just throwing them onstage for 40 minutes it’s like, ‘This is something I’ve never experienced.’
Could you have picked them up and smoked them?
I did I picked a few up and took them because I was still smoking then and I was like, ‘I’m taking these.’ I took a few but after a while they just kept coming and coming and it was just way too many.
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What are you most looking forward to at Melbourne Comedy Festival this year?
It’s our one time of year where all your mates, other comics, are out and about and doing shows so you do your show and then link up with them and talk about whether you had a good show or tanked. There’s just a vibe when everyone’s out and about, everyone’s kind of stoked and stressed. It brings the whole city and all the comics together.
Is there much competition between comics?
Nah, because if even if you’re on a hot streak at any second you could have the worst gig of your life. Even when you’re killing it, you’re still a bit antsy and can’t throw any shade because, you know, I could tank tomorrow.
Is it a confidence game, you’ve got to keep up to keep the streak going?
I kind of look at it like each show is an individual thing, I try to never run on momentum. I try to go into each show with the same energy even if I’ve bombed the night before or did well. Just go in and be like ‘Fuck it.’
Is there anything you want to tell the potential audience?
Please buy tickets. If that could be my answer to everything that would be great.
Blake Freeman’s new show runs between Thursday March 31 and April 24 at Swiss Club at 89 Flinders Lane. He’ll also be appearing on Monday April 11 at Melbourne Town Hall. Buy tickets here.
