Interview: Rarely Asked Questions – Ross Smith: Page 2 of 2

6. What do your parents think of your job?

 

My parents love it! My mum would support me in anything and has become my biggest supporter but also biggest critic. She comes to as many gigs as she can. i came off stage once at a big club, all excited and full of post-gig adrenaline and i asked her what she thought she said ‘I don’t think you should have closed on that joke’. My dad is also a fan. He spent my whole childhood telling me I’d end up in prison so I think he’s just relieved he doesn’t have to plan visits. I’ll never forget him telling me in Edinburgh ‘I really like the joke where you call me a c*nt.'

 

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

 

Definitely living on the breadline. Ah if only I could afford bread. I also don’t like how competitive it makes me. I spend ages trawling Facebook looking at people and deciding how much I hate them for how much more success they’re having than me. Instead of that i should be writing jokes!

 

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?

 

Thanks! I think im ok. A solid 6.5. A Sam Allardyce of comedians. I’ll occasionally have a few good games and people like me. but i’ll always finish mid table. There’s room for improvement but my god am I a tryer.

 

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

I earn nothing. I would really like to earn something. I really would like to push my yearly earnings into the thousands.

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

 

Luck is massive- but its about putting yourself in the place to find it. I did have a massive break in meeting Steve Dunne, he writes with Joel Dommett and others and is an all round comedy genius. He has really pushed me onto another level i didn’t know i could get to and is also now a really good friend. I guess also the holiday with strangers going viral was pretty lucky.

 

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?

 

I think I’m a lazy self harmer. I work hard but mainly admonish myself for not doing enough, then still do nothing. I think it’s important to have a balance of comedy and normal life, then one informs and helps the other. I struggle to find that balance sometimes. Maybe i should do a pottery course or something.

 

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

 

He’s a comedy writer - does that count? But Matt Morgan - from the Russell Brand radio show. Hilariously funny - an everyman who I relate to on every issue. Everything seems ok if I’m listening to Matt Morgan rightly take the piss out of Russell Brand.

 

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).

 

I have to say this largely depends on my mood. If I’m in a rush absolutely not. Its carnage in there. But if I’m hiding from work or going through one of my sporadic tiffs with depression and trying to pull myself out of it I will organise those babies like it will fix my life. I'm talking reuniting every odd sock with their partner, folding, labels. The thing about a drawer is that if you close it, it looks tidy. There you go - put that on a tea towel ‘all drawers look tidy if you close it’. Relationship saved - you’re welcome.

 

 

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