But for Perth comedian Ciaran Lyons, it was the risk that catapulted him into a career in comedy.
Now five years later, Lyons has cemented himself in the scene as one of Australia’s brightest up-and-comers, with various jobs including comedian, Triple J radio and TV presenter under his belt.
Lyons (19) said he broke into comedy on a whim as a young teen.
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READ NOW“I just saw things on TV and thought I’d give it a shot; you know when you’re 14, you don’t really think too hard about things,” he said.
“So I booked an open mic night spot and a month later I was there. But I think it’s good to start early, some people put it off for so long and it’s a waste of time.”
Lyons has opened for well-known comedians including Akmal, Harith Iskander and Lawrence Mooney, and currently splits his time between Sydney and Perth for work at national radio station Triple J.
But now the comic is back in Perth and gearing up to perform his own show 1996 at this year’s Fringe World Festival.
“This show’s really just a stand-up, I like to do audience interaction, which makes things different every time depending on who’s in the crowd or what things pop up,” Lyons said.
“Some of the best things come from the audience because it’s so off the cuff and no one’s expecting it
“I guess my style is a little bit anecdotal, my stand-up is just what I go through in life and then I try to turn it into funny material.”
1996 will open at Fringe World Festival on January 22 at Hokkien House at the Noodle Palace. Details at www.fringeworld.com.au