[wzslider]By: Medina Malagić
While stand-up comedy enjoys a ubiquitous presence throughout the world, over the past few months in BiH the roots of a stand-up comedy scene in BiH have begun to take a strong hold.
Several months ago, a stand-up comedy performance took place in Café Gogo in Sarajevo with an introduction of around 20 amateur comedians, and after a slew of successful shows, the next season is expected to start in September.
I had the chance to sit down with four young rising stars on the BiH amateur comedy scene (Mate Grbavac, Darko Baotic, Marko Puljiz, Alan Dardagan) to speak with them about their insights into the comedy scene in BiH and in surrounding countries, their expectations and what stand-up means to them.
They explained that while it took about two years to establish stand-up comedy in Slovenia and Croatia, it took them two months to begin in BiH. While the stand-up scene in BiH has only begun, it is too early yet to speculate on the form and direction the stand-up comedy scene in BiH will take.
They elucidated that in the former Yugoslavia, comedy, especially dark comedy, was viewed as one of the distinct characteristics coming out of BiH and one of the markers of identity here. ‘’When they listen to us, they hear our accents and there have been situations where people have told us to just speak and they start laughing. We used to have our own forms of comedy (TV and theatre) and it was very popular in the former Yugoslavia. Now, the scene is totally different. There is stand-up comedy in Slovenia and Croatia, but nothing has been happening here. So, what took them two years to establish took us 2 months because we just started doing it’’, explains Marko.
While stand-up comedy continues to enjoy immense popularity throughout the world, in BiH young amateur comedians are coming to the fore to showcase their own, personal and individual brand of comedy. They explained that they are not so interested in capitalizing on the past success of the BiH comedy scene, but are rather looking to develop a stand-up scene in BiH where comedians have the opportunity to cultivate their own unique style.
“I don’t perceive us as funnier than comedians in neighboring countries. But we have this trademark due to a few good shows. However, stand-up is different. It is individual. Your humor reflects your personality. If you do not gather enough individuals in BiH to do standup, then how can you have stand-up?” says Mate.
“We have different styles and personalities and we are all performing together. We have something for everybody’’, said Marko, and he added that all of the comedians in BiH have their own material.
Thus, they want to start building the stand-up comedy scene in BiH because so far, there has been expressed interest. Since it is something new in BiH, they pointed out that one of the main problems now is how to get more gigs.
There is interest in stand-up but we need to see if we can expand it. There are different people doing stand-up. It is important to find out if we are able to profile people who like different types of stand-up. There should be enough people for different kinds of comedy. For people here, it’s just stand-up and its something new and funny”, adds Mate.
This endeavor is a chance for aspiring BiH comedians to inject something innovative into a form of comedy that is already established throughout the world. They don’t necessarily lament the fact that BiH is known for its brand of comedy based off a few TV and theatre shows. Instead, they see this as a chance for them to show something new, an expression of their individual selves manifested through their comedy and shared with a public that will hopefully respond positively. Thus, they are attempting to establish something different in the comedy scene in BiH, as a way to digress from what BiH was known for decades ago. ‘’We are still talking about Nadrealisti and Audicija. All subsequent attempts have been copies. A similar example is the attempts to emulate Monty Python’’, explains Darko.
They also view authenticity and finding your own voice as a vital part of stand-up comedy. ‘’People are able to recognize if you are trying hard to impersonate. People see when you are being fake. You have to be honest on the stage, because people have to believe what you are saying. You are telling your opinion, story, personal views, and not someone else’s’’, he adds.
“If you really want to make people laugh you have to amuse yourself first.The person who tries to amuse others is often seen as a clown or a court-jester. You have to dig deep and express your own personal views and if people see that you are amused they also will be. And they will laugh.That’s what comedy is all about”, said Alan.
“You have to put down your ego and try not to copy. It can happen that someone will say that you remind them of a certain comedian, and then you realize that you have been a cover band’’, said Marko.
What they view as a positive aspect of their attempts to popularize stand-up comedy in BiH is the fact that comedians with varying styles and personalities are gathering together to put on a show for the public. For them, this is a chance for the public to see and get used to the varying forms of comedic expression, to witness how universal messages can be conveyed in different ways and in the end.
“It is basically your humor and it reflects you. Someone can influence you and you can still have your own material’’, notes Mate.
Comedy exists not only to amuse, but also to reveal certain truths about the human condition, things that are universal and experiences that we have in common. The role of a stand-up comedian is to bring his/her own personal insights and experiences to the public, and by doing so attempts to find a common ground with the audience. Also, the combination of captivating storytelling and skills in performing are one of the necessities of a good comedian. Marko, Mate, Darko and Alan are four comedians who each deliver their own brands of humor to the burgeoning BiH stand-up comedy scene.
Just one language remark, if I may.
International abbreviation for Bosnia and Herzegovina is “BIH” (with capital I), but, very few people outside of former Yugoslavia would know what it stands for. Using “Bosnia” only would be much more appropriate.
Thank you for comment.