ANTON ZHYTLOV stand-up comedian, anchorman, script writer

Anton, what do you think stand-up is a kind of art or a way to spend a good time?

- Stand-up – is art of spending a good time, but, generally speaking, everything is subjective. Everything depends on the circumstances: the audience, the comedian and the material. If everything concurs, a real theatrical miracle will happen. When there is deep meaning in ridiculous things, we call it Double Puntendre. I always try to conclude my performance with slight catharsis, a moment, when you put a definite stop after the laugh and loud cheers, and provide everybody with an opportunity to ponder upon an absolutely unfunny thought. For me, personally, the whole meaning of standup is implied in this moment. Having made just a single person laugh, you change thousands!

The stories you share – are they the ones taken from your own life or you make them up?

- Both. Of course, the majority o jokes are taken from real life. When you are looking for the plot, setup or pressure point that provide you with further ideas, you listen more carefully to the chats of passers-by or acquaintances – «A comedy of observation». The most pleasant thing is that everybody knows what you do and everyone wants to become a character of your monologue, even if they say the opposite!

What does inspire you?

- Most of all – women. I may sound braggadocios, but it is a truth, which is difficult for a man to admit. Man can tell jokes just in order to be loved by women, to be interesting to them, and others will later follow them. Zhvanetskyi has described it in the best way: «The best companies are familiar men and unfamiliar women! »

How often do you have blunders during your performances?

- «Blunders», it depends on what you mean? There are often moments of improvisation when the audience doesn’t get your joke and you have to make the atmosphere friendlier, when the spectator replied funnily to your question to the audience or pursued your joke, providing some reflection. Of course, there are also people, who yell out something inappropriate or just want to express themselves and insert the word. We call them «hacklers» The main rule of a comedian in such cases is to evaluate the situation critically. If you feel that you can reply wittily – go on, but if you don’t, just smile and continue the show.

Where are the best jokes born – on the journey, in front of the computer, on vacation?

- Of course, not in front of the computer, but somewhere among the friends, on the way to somewhere, in short, in every place, where is somebody to talk with and speak about. The joke is mastered in front of the computer and the material gets more compressed.

What pieces of advice can you give to struggling comedians?

- I recommend to always remember that humor is subjective. Everyone has their own taste. You shouldn’t be afraid of a bad performance. Of course, you should always make conclusions. Trust the point of view of particular people. Trust those, who laugh at your jokes and are disposed to your style, your «Comedy body», with whom you can share your thoughts and if they laugh, the audience will also get it. Make a video or audio record of your monologue to point out the most prominent moments and topics, and then develop and master them. It can be extremely painful, especially if you give speech in complete silence. I went it through and experience it now. I am angry with myself, with the spectators, with the weather, but then I laugh at myself – and I can continue, but the main thing, which my friend, a comedian, taught me is «to be yourself». They came to you, but not you came to them. So just let them see you from the inside.