Warning: Very strong language
Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?
My name is John Hastings I am a tall comedian from Canada. I have been thinking about eat spider webs and I have gone from owning no cats to owning two cats.
How would you describe your show?
Best show at the fringe. Everyone knows that. Buy a ticket and if you do not like it YOU ARE WRONG
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
What else am I gonna do in August? You gotta get that magic in your veins of 100,000 twenty-somethings all trying to piss on each other while making art. That is something I love doing comedy near. Not next to the pee pee but close to pee pee.
What differentiates it from other festivals?
I think it’s the fact that any festival of this kind came after, so there is an authenticity to the fringe. Also I saw the actor who played Joffery in Game of Thrones get called a cunt by a drunk woman in the morning. Just doesn’t happen other places.
What first motivated you to enter the industry? Who were your inspirations?
I was bullied middle class white kid and its either politician or comedian. Unfortunately I am not trying to end the poor's lives for the purpose of "eating poor people" so it was comedian for me. I was inspired by the poets James Cameron McGhie and Dylan Cornelius Gott, as well as Scottish joke man Billy Connolly.
How has your background, upbringing and education had an impact on your artistic career?
I was raised right so I am a polite boy with a clean nose and well-maintained core, so I am welcome into all shows because I do not smell literally off-stage or figuratively on stage. I went to theatre school which definitely helped me when it came to comedy. That said, I do not like the idea that background, upbringing or education hurts or helps someone become a comedian or any other artistic profession. If you have a passion for something enough you want it to be your job – pursue it. What is in the brains of people that they want to narrow the opportunity for people to start doing something that could better themselves and the world!
All three have had an impact, I guess, in that I experienced them but the biggest impact to my artistic career was that I started and slowly went from horrific to serviceable to my current EPIC LEVEL OF FUCKING AWESOME. So don’t go to school, just be me.
What is your earliest childhood art memory?
I did a painting that was all black, so I had to see a therapist.
If you didn’t have your current job, what would you probably be doing?
Improv Teacher/MLM Company owner (same thing)
Did Covid-19 change the way you create work? Do you approach shows with a different mentality now?
What is Covid - 19? I stopped following the news post Brexit. Also yes I do. I do not understand the question but the answer is YES.
Describe the last year in 5 words or less?
Nobody has done any research.
Do you subscribe to the idea that art should be exempt from ‘cancel culture’?
I think the phrase 'cancel culture' should be thrown in the fucking sea. It props up a false culture war that only exists on Twitter in most of the world. Stop engaging in this nonsense. It's bullshit. People that do fucked up shit that hurt other people should be accountable, I do not give a cunty fuck if they paint a nice landscape. Anyone engaging in that distraction – that stops us from discussing how the wealthy are slowly destroying the arts, culture and society – can take a long drink out of my buttcrack.
If you could work with anybody, from any point in history, who would you pick and why?
The person who invented the term cancel culture, I think they are a gem!
What advice would you give to someone who wants to take a show up to the fringe?
You are gonna cry, don't talk to me about cancel culture and Urban Herbivore for soup.
When and where can people see your show?
8:15 Carniovre One Monkey Barrel
And where can people find, follow and like you online?
@thejohnhastings on everything
John Hastings new stand-up show ‘Do You Have Any Ointment My John Hastings?’ is at the Monkey barrell Carnivore 3 for the month of August for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
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