Mitch Benn

Interview with Mitch Benn by Jo Ann Vassallo for The Times of Malta

• Were you always a ‘funny’ person – a natural comedian?
No, and I’m still not.

• How does one become a stand up comedian?
Accidentally.  I know of precisely two comics who are fulfilling a boyhood ambition to be a comedian; the rest of us got sidetracked into it while trying to do something else.

• What do you usually feel before a performance? Any anxiety?
Nope.  I have no sense of stagefright whatsoever.  I realise that this is freakishly unusual; it’s like a strange gap in my psychological make-up.  If it looks like a gig is going to be rough then I feel disappointed that I’m not going to enjoy it but there’s no fear there at all.

• What milestones, other than what you have already achieved, do you wish to reach?
In comedy, not much now, really.  Still want to write a Broadway musical or have a platinum album or compose the score for a hit movie…

• Does making people smile make you feel good?
Of course; why wouldn’t it?

• What’s your style of humour: sarcastic, witty, silly?
All of the above, depending on how the mood takes me.  One of the good things about being a comic songwriter is that the industry does rather like to pigeonhole us as a certain kind of act; political, surreal, physical, whatever… Being a musical act I kind of satisfy that, so above and beyond that I’m free to do whatever I want.

• What makes a comedian ‘professional’?
Having enough respect for the audience to put the best show on that you can, whatever kind of mood you’re in.

• What is the most challenging part of your job?
Getting to the venue on time.

• Is it stressful? More or less stressful than a more conventional type of job?
Wouldn’t really know; don’t have much to compare it to.  It’s probably about as stressful or relaxing as anything else, just in different ways.

• Who is your favourite stand –up comedian (apart from yourself)?
Couldn’t possibly name a single comic; my own particular “idol” is Tom Lehrer, an American satirical songwriter (and mathematician, oddly enough) who had a bit of a cult following in the 60s.

• How do you feel about performing in Malta?
Fantastic, as I’ve managed to spin it out into a holiday.

• Is there a performance in your career you will never forget? Why?
Too many to mention.  I’m hoping Malta will be another one.