Comedian Ari Shaffir On Bogan Watching, Dealing With Hecklers, And His Latest Show 'Heretic'

When did you first figure out you were funny?

Like, Grade Nine. I think we all thought it was just learning disabilities until then.

Where do you get comedy inspiration and how did you develop this show?

Inspiration is a big word. I developed the show about my religious Jewish upbringing. It's been in there since I started comedy but I was never good enough to figure out how to make all that shit relatable and funny. And then the right mixture of mushrooms and depression got me to figure out how to make it work.

Melbourne is a bit of madhouse during MICF. What are you looking forward to when you arrive on the mean streets of Melb?

I've never been to the Fest before. But I'm looking forward to all the bogans coming in. Bogan watching is my favorite pastimes when I visit Australia and the fish-out-of-water bogan is one of the best. Watch them look in amazement at all the big city folk wearing their crazy sleeves. I like when their Oakleys fall off in the congestion of the city and they get scared and have to chug a VB just to calm down.

It can be pretty competitive during the fest as well. So, who would you fight at comedy fest fight club and why? 

If it was a legit fight I would fight someone weak spirited or someone whose body is failing. John Hastings would be a good choice. I've seen him freak out on mushrooms so that would be a great weapon. Just knowing one of his weaknesses while he knows none of mine is a huge advantage. And I think his mom sold his muscles to a Chinese doctor when he was born, so he's got the strength of gravity behind him and that's it. That's if it were a legit fight, though. Also, even with those advantages, I would try to fight dirty right away. Dirty fighting is a skill that has to be honed. And to ignore it because you're in a seemingly easy fight, that's both an invitation to lose and a wasted opportunity to work on your craft. To get better for when it's important to be experienced in, say, blowing dirt in an enemy's eyes.

Now for some comedy pointers for our readers:

For you, what's the secret to a really great punchline?

Oh, man. How are the other guys answering this kind of question? Do they get all deep? I don't know. I personally like stuff that catches me by surprise. But everybody's different. You gotta ask Jeselnik this kind of shit. He's the one with the great punchlines.

How do you deal with hecklers?

Tell us about the first time you bombed on stage, and your top tips for avoiding stage death!

Oh, fuck. I hate reliving this stuff. It's like asking a soldier to tell you about the first time he lost a friend in battle. Actually, it's worse. Bombing on stage is far worse than losing a fellow soldier on the battlefield. To be clear. I'm saying the worst experience of soldiers in wartime is preferential to when a comic bombs. Reliving this is a horror. I have blacked out entire months of my life to protect myself from reliving the things I've gone through. And that's the best way to avoid it. Have it happen so many times that you don't get used to it at all. That you'll do anything in your power to avoid having it happen ever again.

In five words or less, your ultimate top tip for comedy noobs:

"Forget life and enjoy yourself." No, wait! How about, "Eat pussy, make money." Either that or, "Only the good die young." Something deep like that, you know? To make people think and shit. Oh! "Smoke weed every day." What was the question? Oh yeah. "Smoke weed an hour before."

Ari Shaffir presents Heretic from 17 Apr at Comic's Lounge, part of the 2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival