Why DJs and comedians are basically the same
Published: Tuesday 26th November 2024
As she prepares to bring her immersive dance comedy show Slug in a Club to London's Pickle Factory, Vidya Divakaran explains how similar the roles of DJ and comedian are.
Yes, comedians and DJs both perform in clubs, and James Acaster and Nish Kumar's set at Glastonbury was a festival highlight, but is that all that overlaps in the venn diagram of these two forms? Here's 10 reasons why the two are more similar than you think...
1. An extreme sport for adrenaline junkies
Ostensibly performance for the two could be seen as completely dissimilar. But the buzz of being behind the decks and the mic is exactly the same - the adrenaline coursing through your veins as your brain tries to stay present, but your nervous system screams danger. DJing and comedy are for those who love to feel like they're doing an extreme sport but don't like to move much.
2. There are as many different comedy nights as there are club nights
The parallels between commercial and alt spaces in both comedy and clubbing are eerily similar. Stand-up is to commercial house as alt clowning is to donk. Another way of thinking about it is Infernos is the Top Secret Comedy Club of clubbing - you will find a gaggle of business consultants suited and booted on a Thursday night in either.
3. Lineups are all-white to me
Both comedy and DJing are dominated by white men who think they're in for an assured chance of fame and fortune but, in reality, are incredibly mid. Nevertheless, they persist.
4. What do they even do?
When DJs and comedians are really good, it looks like they're doing nothing. It's effortless, skillfully natural, and doesn't scratch the thick fourth wall that hides the endless hours of prep and failure that went into the set.
5. Audience interaction is everything (on TikTok)
Whether it's a heckler or a dumbass knocking the play/pause button on the decks, if it's on film and makes you look superior to a random stranger, that's Instagram gold. And is there any better clout than sending a promoter your reel with 500k views and 17 comments tearing down a messy girlie on a hen night? I think not.
6. A form of escapism
Philosophically, comedy and DJing have the same intention. Both are trying to make a group of people feel free of inhibition and come together as a community unit. One is through laughter, and the other through dance (when it's not done for TikTok).
7. It's all about timing
Gauging the crowd's anticipation for a beat drop or a punchline requires the same spidey senses for both comedians and DJs. Nowadays, it's more an effort to be acutely aware of people's dwindling attention spans. However, there's still plenty of room for playfulness and subversion. There's nothing more thrilling than a well-executed backspin/ bait and switch - emphasis on well-executed. Otherwise, it's a bit awkward.
8. Progression is hard (unless you're a nepobaby, then good for you, I guess)
Starting comedy/DJing lowkey is easy - all you need is an open mic/deck in a grotty pub and a dash of delusion. But progression for most of us requires consistency, a lot of late nights in mildew-ridden basements, and a couple of ounces of delusion. They're not the healthiest of hobbies if you need 8 hours of sleep and dinner that isn't a pint of beer and a cig. But it's all worth it for that headliner pipedream, baby!
9. A potential red flag
It's pretty cool on a date to say you're a comedian/DJ. It's the easiest icebreaker because everyone asks the same questions: Do you get nervous? How long have you been going? When are you next performing? However, if they ask the last one, and you've just matched with them on Hinge, chances are it's out of politeness. Don't invite them to your gig as a first date. (It doesn't go well, trust me - if the gig goes badly, you can't look them in the eye, and if the gig goes well, you won't be bothered to talk to them unless it's for positive feedback).
10. It is art
Musicians and painters, and poets can frankly suck eggs. Comedians and DJs are the real artists of the 21st century. Right now, people need to laugh, and they need to dance. And whether the haters like it or not, the artistry that goes into comedy and DJing is not to be underestimated.
If you want to see the world of comedy and DJs collide, you will love Slug in a Club - an immersive alt-comedy hour in an actual club with a line-up of the UK's most exciting South Asian DJs! Join me, Vidya Divakaran, on a night out through my perspective as a queer brown woman with the head of a slug.
Slug In A Club is next on at The Pickle Factory, Bethnal Green, London on Thursday 28th November from 9pm. The show will feature MC Kiran Saggu and DJ's DJ Lil Pharma (Mustafa Yasin), DJ Rishi (Brown Excellence), and YOURBOYKIRAN (Daytimers). Tickets are available on RA and DICE.
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