Interview: Rarely Asked Questions – Paul F Taylor

Offbeat, quirky and often delivered at breakneck speed, take a leap into the unknown with Paul F Taylor's blend of daft character comedy, animal impersonations, and surreal story-telling. Expertly keeping the Comedy Police at bay, (but falling foul of that pesky Gorilla) this mad-cap, curly haired comic executes his material with both admirable skill and silliness.

Paul F Taylor's live show has just been released by Next Up. They have also just released the latest show from Andy Parsons. Find out how to watch these and many more excellent comedy specials here.

 

What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren't sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)?

Forget everything I had planned. Try to be truly present. Then breathe until I hear my name called.

What irritates you?

Myself usually. I seem to be much kinder to other people than my own self. I expect a lot from Paul. Which really irritates me.

What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

I nearly got run over when I ran into the path of a truck. I have no idea what I was thinking, I saw a bird then my inner dog took over and I chased it. The truck took an emergency manoeuvre and missed me by millimetres. Sometimes when I lie in bed at night my brain replays the event and I imagine in gruesome detail how I would have died.

What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?

Once when attempting to drive a car load of comedians to a gig I drove to completely the wrong location. The booker had texted me the postcode which I’d fed into my sat nav. However, I included an extra X, which turned out to be the kiss the booker had put at the bottom of their text message.

What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?

The inconsistencies of responses to your work. Before I started, much like most audience members, I believed that things were either funny or not. That if people weren’t laughing, it wasn’t funny. But laughter isn’t like that, it isn’t black and white. Laughter can only exist when the conditions are right, and the comedian communicates their idea effectively to that audience. There are so many factors affecting what you do that initially you have no awareness of, but years in, you can spot in a flash.

Paul F Taylor Interview continues here.

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