Wednesday, June 14, 2006

You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!!!

I just got this e-mail through my newly established MySpace spot - boy, I'm getting so many comfy corners in cyber-space I'll soon be living in a computerised box...

I had the pleasure of seeing you the other night at the powerhouse.. You were fantastic!!! Keep up the good work and i look forward to seeing you perform again :) Hayley

How lovely...and to think I almost mistook it as spam, seeing as Hayley's pseudonym is "Forbidden Lust". Well, evidently Forbidden Lust ain't as nasty as it's cracked up to be!

Now....to answer the questions posed at my press conference:

1. When can we hear you on 4ZZZ?

Friday afternoons, from 3pm to 6pm. It's 102.1FM. Make sure you call in and suggest something for our improvised radio section!

2. What made you get into comedy?

My husband. He just needed me out of the house. Oh, the mirth. No seriously, I guess the idea had crossed my mind every now and then, but I had no idea how you even did it. I came from an acting background, was almost always cast in comedic roles but I didn't really give it any major thought more than occasionally (like when I had the great joy of interviewing Fiona O'Loughlin for my Mums who Dare to Dream book; that got me thinking, but again, only fleetingly). Then a little under two years ago a random conversation led to me getting into a weekly impro show (you can click here if you want the full story), which gave me confidence that maybe I was funny enough to entertain an audience.

A few months later I saw a poster advertising the Triple J Raw Comedy Competition, and I immediately entered. I hadn't written a scrap of material, I had no idea what I would even talk about, but I knew once I had a deadline I would have to come up with something. The first gig I did, I didn't even know how to plug in my guitar!! I felt like such an idiot, but it actually went really well, I ended up going through to the State Finals and have been performing regularly since. I remember after that first ever gig, the sound guy coming up to me and saying 'Jenny, I have to tell you, when you didn't even know how to plug the lead in the guitar, I was thinking 'oh my God', but seriously...that was fantastic.' That made my night.

I think the more potent question might be...what keeps me in comedy?

3. What is your biggest fear?

Hmmm....aside from Celine Dion recording a duet with Mariah Carey which I am then forced to listen to while eating sprouts?

Losing the people I love. Those of you who've been with my blog for a while (oooh, how I love you) will know that my own mother died when I was five, and subsequently I am rather paranoid about losing the people that I love. I'm not scared of death in itself, just the pain of being separated. But that said, I also find this awareness of death incredibly motivating to get the most out of life, plus it makes me treat people a bit nicer. So you know, it's not all bad.

I'm also really scared of Hannibal Lecter and snakes. Or Hannibal Lecter wearing snakes. That'd suck.

4. What is your most embarrassing moment?

Childbirth...okay, that's a cop-out - it's just so incredibly obvious (though true) that it's immediately rendered unacceptable.

Probably dyeing my hair black at uni - not that it looked bad, it actually looked cool, but then as soon as my grandma (who I call mum, for future blogging reference) decided she liked it, I immediately re-rebelled and tried to dye it back to blonde. Which you can't do. Unless you like multi-coloured hair that clumps and falls out. In the nine months that followed, I started two things: hat-wearing and an internet relationship. Nuff said.

*hanging head in shame*

8 comments:

Cazzie!!! said...

Thats about the only colour I havent had my hair dyed..even whilst at uni...hang on...black is not a colour..its a shade..or so my art teacher told me in year 12 at high school!! I know about the loosing the hair thing too, I lost alot of hair after illness last year..it has now grown back nicely thank goodness. I got to wearing these groovy headbands that expand into a headdress..from PAddy's Market in Sydney. LOve em..and I still wear them on the odd occasion.
Jenny...what age were you when you learnt to play guiar? I would love to learn but fear I am getting ON!!

Jenny Wynter said...

I first started playing when I was in grade four, but then didn't touch it for years til the end of high school (and then only a bit when procrastinating for exams). I got really into song-writing with guitar in uni days, but then the first time I'd played in ages was once I started doing comedy.

I don't think it's ever too late to start playing: go for it!!! You'd be amazed how many songs are only three chords. I know I get by on the crappest playing ability ever, but I think people are a little more forgiving of musical prowess (or more accurately, lack thereof) when you're doing comedy. I convince myself it's just part of my 'schtick'... ;-)

Cazzie!!! said...

Thanks for that I will take it up as soon as my finances allow me to :) Will do lessons each Thursday when it is my own time out without my sproutlings :)

Huggies said...

I will attempt to tune into the ZZZ's tomorrow afternoon.

Jenny Wynter said...

Happy to be of service! :-)

Huggies said...

Just listened to your show on the 4ZzZ with Alex. Very funny although I was kind of doing stuff which prohibted me from calling for the improvised radio section plus I wasn't sure if my lack of a 4ZzZ subscription would go down too well.

When I get another job I will pay the $45.

Jenny Wynter said...

Hehe, just a little insider tip - you don't need to be a subscriber to ring in with suggestions. But please...no further. ;-)

Sharpie said...

Celion and Mariah Carey - LOL - classic diva bitches that are the MOST annoying sounds on earth!!!