The subject of today’s Q&A is Emo Majok

What’s the best bit of advice you’ve been ever been given from a seasoned comic? 

When I was first starting up in comedy, my brain used to race a million miles an hour. I wanted to talk about anything and everything. Most comics know the smartest way of performing to an audience that’s never seen you before is to win their trust in the first minute or two. So what I’d do in a five-minute set is make a comedy sandwich. I’d win them over with my second-best joke in the first two minutes and end my set with my best joke in the last minute or so. Anything in between that first and last bit of that set would be fresh new material. The audience hardly knows you’re trying new bits so you would essentially smash most of your sets which 1) makes you look good, feel good and gets you more bookings; and 2) helps you keep your set fresh and evolving almost unnoticed. To this very day I try to write and perfect a new five-minute set using that same method #comedysandwich.

And what has proved to be the least useful? 

I remember being told if a joke doesn’t work three times, toss it out. I disagree. If a joke doesn’t work for me three times, I stick it in my incomplete file and revisit that the week after, the next month or even the next year. It was funny for a reason. Sometimes I find that as my joke-writing gets better, some of those old jokes just required comedic tools I didn’t possess at that time. Some of my best jokes I wrote when I was first starting out; I just didn’t know how to deliver them.

Is there one thing that keeps cropping up when people talk to you about Edinburgh in August?

I keep getting told this will be my biggest opportunity to date. True or false I’m approaching it like I’m hungry. When it’s all said and done, and that last show from the Festival is done, I want to know I gave it my everything. 

What’s your favourite word that begins in ‘e’? 

‘Endless’.

Is there one act you absolutely HAVE to see in August?

Troy Hawke. I’ve been on a few shows with him, and I found him absolutely hilarious.

When I was first started in comedy, my brain raced a million miles an hour

Picture yourself in early September: what would constitute a successful Fringe for you? 

Better life lessons, better at my craft, inspired, more network opportunities, money LOL. 

What percentage of your early stand-up performances is likely to appear in your Fringe debut? 

About 30%.

Which other new comedian do you feel a special kinship with? And do you reckon it’s reciprocated? 

Joe White, Jason Wood, Kyle Legacy, Aliya Kanani, Ruven Govender, Rory Lowe and Ben Darsow. I feel it’s all reciprocated yes. Each person I’ve named there I have broken bread with at one point or another.

Which side of your family do you get your funny bones from? 

Mother’s side for sure. Everyone’s too serious on my dad’s side.

What will you do to keep fit and healthy (relatively speaking) during August? 

Walk, run, read, meal prep, lots of water. Strong mind strong body.

Which word of six letters or more will crop up the most in your Edinburgh show? 

‘Informative’.

Emo Majok: African Aussie, Underbelly Bristo Square, 3–29 August, 8.30pm.