Welcome to the Land of Weird and Wonderful With Comedian Kei Gambit

British comedian Kei Gambit has been a key part of the Beijing comedy scene for a number of years, so if you’ve ever ventured into Paddy O’Sheas on a Tuesday or been to other comedy shows then it’s a safe bet that you will have seen him.

For those who are fans, or anyone wanting to have a good laugh we have good news for you! Kei will be headlining his second show, titled Kei Gambit’s Weird and Wonderful Part Deux on Apr 29 and 30. Ahead of his show, I talked to Kei about how he first got into comedy and how things have changed since his first headliner.

First things first, how long have you been doing stand-up comedy for?
I’ve being doing it for around seven years but I did take a few years hiatus at one point to focus on my band, Bastion. After that I gained a new passion in stand-up and decided to return and do stand-up instead. Not that the band wasn’t an amazing experience, it just wasn’t what I wanted to do anymore at that time of my life. 

How did you get started in comedy?
Funny enough, the first time I tried an open mic I used a fake name! I can’t remember what it was, Steve Santiago or something, but I was so worried about a negative response I wanted to create a “get out of jail free” card. The twist is I did fairly ok, and I got the bug. I came back as myself the next week and started talking to other comics, many of whom I’m still friends with to this day, and started to write more jokes. 

What made you decide to start doing comedy?
I’ve always been a huge fan of Ricky Gervais, Bill Burr, Eddie Murphy, Jim Carrey etc. and it was always something that was a dream of mine to do. I started comedy around the same time I started acting and voice acting. Luckily the stars came together for me and I’m lucky enough to be able to do it all. Comedy is something that has been one of those scary, but aspirational dreams of mine and I’m blessed to be able to do it to the capacity I am. 

What was it like doing stand up for the first time?
Terrifying. Fake name, fake accent, I had a getaway plan ready to go. But when I finished and people actually laughed, and didn’t throw bottles or chairs at me, it felt amazing. To make a room full of people laugh at what YOU have to say is quite the feeling.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced doing comedy?
Adapting. As soon as you have five minutes of jokes you have to make sure they work every time. Then you build to ten, then fifteen, then so on until you have an hour. Writing jokes for me is something that comes when I have inspiration and maybe that comes twice a week or only twice a year. This and making sure people who have seen your jokes before, laugh at them a second, third or even more times is also a challenge. I like to sprinkle a little ad lib on my jokes so people who have already seen them can feel they’re enjoying them all over again, but that’s not easy and that’s something I’ve spent a long time thinking about.

What’s been your favorite moment in comedy? 
Oh boy. I’ve had a few great stage moments. Hecklers tend to be a highlight. During a bit about how I hate getting gifts unannounced because it gives me “gift stress”, a fan in the audience confessed that she had planned to give me flowers and a custom fridge magnet after the show. Embarrassing for both of us! But the real favorite moments have been the ability to work on stage with some of my best friends week after week, and even some people I never thought I’d be able to work with. It’s been an amazing experience.

Your upcoming show is your second headliner that you’ve done, what's going to set it apart from the first?
Well this show is Weird and Wonderful Part Deux, so it’s going to be a bit of both worlds. A lot of people didn’t get the chance to see my first headliner so this is another chance to see the second leg of the tour, and for the people who did see it, I’ve added a deck of new jokes for them. So it’s both a familiar, but also fresh experience. 

How do you think you’ve grown or changed as a comedian since your first special?
My first special was something I’ve had in my soul for seven years I just never had the motivation to get it done. I’ve had so much motivation and support from other comedians that lit a fire in me. So I didn’t stop, and I’ve been building and exploring and writing even more. 

Any tips or advice for other comedians out there?
Best advice I can give is to just give it a shot. It might not work at first, you may have to write new things, but if you keep at it and listen to advice and criticism, you’ll be able to build a solid set and roll with it. People notice talent and people who have the drive to succeed. 

Kei Gambit's Weird and Wonderful Part Deux, presented by Comedy Club China, will run on Apr 29 at 7.30pm at the Gent's Club, Apr 30 at 7:30pm at The Great Outdoors. Scan the QR code for tickets and details.

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Images courtesy of Kei Gambit