6 minute read
Vegan Comedian: Ishi Khan-Jackson
YOU MUST BE LOOKING FORWARD TO GIGS AGAIN!
Absolutely! I am really looking forward to travelling around the UK seeing new places, fun faces - obviously not just faces - I mean that’s what I’ve seen too much of on Zoom. So that should be 'fun faces and beyond'!
I am especially grateful to be part of the Brighton Fringe year. Part of me feels a bit rusty, but mainly excited to get going. It’s lovely to look forward to something. And it’s so nice that the first live gig is in Brighton.
sweetvenues.com/whats-on/ i-mmigrant-the-remix
at 2:.10pm May 29, 30, 31 at Sweet Venues and 26, 27 June.
Plus I’ll also be doing a Work-In-Progress at Caxton Arms Brighton on 31 May at 6.45pm and 4.15pm on 21st June. I am also excited about being part of a panel show Buxton Fringe Festival in Buxton 17 July for ‘It Just So Happened’.
..and on more online panel shows for the Ram Festival.
This year the Derby festival will be all online through facebook and YouTube. I’ll be on Den of Fools on 1st June, Roger’s Blue Suede News on 4 June, Fun Night on 5th June.
IS IT EASY ENOUGH BEING VEGAN ON THE ROAD?
Well of course. Roads are not made of honey and I have no intention of eating a road any time soon. But yes, my needs are fairly simple, thanks to my upbringing in Africa. What I love about being a vegan roadie is how easy it is to pack snacks. Cucumber, apple, carrot and water are my favourite go-tos. They have the munch factor, hydration and refreshing index - just right for my quality time with my Sat Nav. And wherever I am I can get these with ease.
WHAT WERE YOUR ORIGINAL MOTIVES FOR GOING VEGAN?
My Journey to becoming vegan was organic from being vegetarian.
I was lucky that I already loved and preferred fruit & veg as a child. I guess I listened to my body. My body is great at communicating what it likes in terms of taste and what energises me and de-energises me. So It was a smooth and easy process to be more compassionate to myself by gradually letting go of all that I now call, “non-food!” I didn’t know what I was doing was vegan really. I was listening to what my body.
It was an act of self-love and self-respect. I would have been vegan sooner, had it not been for the honey.
LOCKDOWN – MISERABLE, RIGHT? OR CREATIVE AND DYNAMIC? OR BOTH?
Lockdown has been an interesting journey. It’s been revealing, reflective, restful and recharging.
In the beginning I realised how tired I was as a freelance artist striving to survive. In fact, I realised I had not stopped or taken a break from the moment I moved to the UK. My peers had regular holidays, family time, friends reunions etc, But I had to focus on studying, work, learning the ways of British society and culture to keep planning for the future. Lockdown was the first opportunity to stop and take stock of all that had happened so far. A time to reconnect with my inner self. It has been a good time to learn and reach out and get to connect online and get to know friends better too. I have had time to stop and miss family. There have certainly been more opportunities to write and the circumstances present many topics to write about. I know many artists have also felt the pressure to make the most of the time and write. That can be tough too. At the start of lockdown, I was full on regular Joe Wicks workouts etc., but this eased off by the second lockdown. Now I take it one day at a time.
At times lockdown’s been frustrating, mainly for my cat, who now gets more chatter from me, but it’s also been a time for a good clear out of so much paperwork. Why do we collect so much? A decade worth of paperwork collected because of being too much in rush there hasn’t been the time to clear out and work out what’s essential and what isn’t. Everything seems to want to be the most important document on your desk. Me! Me! Me! So one day I did a BGT style audition for the lot of them to decide which stays and which gets to travel in a bin lorry. I also meditated until I burnt a hole in my yoga mat. I’ve made some lovely friends, received lots of generosity and kindness in terms of food, sounding boards, professional guidance. I learnt skills like folding pants to look like socks and made this:
https://youtu.be/Voc2BZROWYM
WHAT ABOUT THE CLUBS AND PUBS – WILL THE GIGS FLOW BACK, OR ARE THE VENUES STRUGGLING?
The venues seem to be keen to get going so that’s exciting. Comedians are keen to making their contribution to society and people are ready for a good laugh so let’s do this!
VEGAN COMEDIANS - SURPRISINGLY QUITE A FEW. FEMALE COMEDIANS – NOT ENOUGH. VEGAN FEMALE COMEDIANS – QUITE RARE?
Not sure what the stats are here, but hey as more people go plant based, surely that means there are more people in all areas that do that too. As more vegan options are available, less vegans are in the closet and more people are likely to try them. vegan options that is, rather than closets.
WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO SEE MORE FEMALE COMEDIANS?
Hmm? Well this is an interesting question. How about on International women’s day, everyone becomes a woman for day. I’d like to say for a period of 3 months or 3 weeks, but that might be too tough for everyone. This can be fun for everyone to do together? The world is in a transformational state at the moment where society’s inequalities are been revealed and this first step of awareness leads to our growth and move towards equality and inclusivity.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM YOUR MALE AUDIENCES ESPECIALLY?
Same as female audiences. I love seeing their teeth. Not that I’m a denture collector. I’m looking forward to seeing their laughs.
DO YOU THINK THINGS WILL IMPROVE IN TERMS OF REPRESENTATION IN THE CREATIVE ARTS, FESTIVALS & COMEDY LINEUPS AS WE GET BACK TO ‘NORMAL’?
I have faith in humanity and growth and progress, the change may be met by resistance by some. They are just scared and fearful of losing how good they had it. But eventually, when we all let go of the old scarcity mindsets, we let go of competitiveness and scrambling, we can embrace a brighter future of collaboration, better understanding, empathy and compassion together which is more loving, kinder, richer, and brighter than we could have ever imagined. This will set us free and help us fly further like geese who are clever like that!
ANY ADVICE FOR UP AND COMING COMEDIANS?
Enjoy the journey, be kind to yourself.
