In a follow-up interview with stand up comedian Sharup Karim, it becomes clear why he has been heavily booked this March.
Sharup Karim has been doing stand up comedy for the past five years. His sets are related to the treatment of other cultures. “It was the most natural for me to make jokes about culture]” he said. Karim was born in Bangladesh and at a very young age, moved to Oklahoma. He had a unique opportunity while growing up to occasionally return to Bangladesh. He had the experience of witnessing the duality of two different countries.
Forbes reported in 2019 that “Forty percent of those questioned said they’ve never left the country.” This statistic supports some of the limitations Americans face when consuming other cultures.
Cultural representation and identity are unique. This is an opportunity for a comedian because race is an intense topic in 2020 and has an impact on our current society and can provoke a lot of mixed responses. Many Americans recognize racial stereotypes and the behaviors attributed to different groups of people, so it makes it relatable to anyone who has faced, observed, or acknowledges an instance of prejudice and injustice in our country.
Karim explains that comics have the tendency to base their material on things that they observe the most. For minorities and people of color, a lot of it is racial because they have to endure these kinds of injustices, subtle nuances, and prejudice scenarios on a regular basis.
Historic comedians such as Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers, and Margaret Cho have pushed boundaries of racial and gender disparities in the field during their time. Disproportionate social representation is not just a matter of a few countries, rather it is a global matter. With his experience, Karim is helping remedy this imbalance with his unique perspective.
About five years ago, when pitching a sitcom submission to NBC, he recorded himself doing comedy at an open mic. He had never performed in front of a large audience before. The performance went well and sparked interest
Since then, Karim has learned that a lot of comedy comes from conversation. It is easiest when making a play off of something that someone has said. Often turning inside jokes among friends into a joke for a whole audience can be a puzzle for some comedians, but he shares: “…if they react or laugh, then you know you have something”. On stage, you have to set up the joke and hope they understand the reference.
He says he was never formally trained with comedy, but self-assessed and experimented with his jokes. He often analyzes each show as a method of improving his performances and creating content that is well received by the audience.
He explains that when he performs on stages internationally, some of the jokes can be missed because the cultural references are different in that country. When there is an understanding of the nuances of the audience, it can help the comedian create a more engaging set.
When you are in the room with an audience that is filled with energy, it cannot compare to watching a clip on YouTube. Karim says, “A live show is very different. It’s not the audience’s fault if you lose them.”
He explains that many comedy clubs have servers that can occasionally become a distraction to the audience. If the people are distracted, it becomes a balancing act to stay on track with the delivery of the joke. Karim stays motivated with the pockets of people who are enjoying themselves the most.
Amid hardship, the best remedy is a good laugh. Stand up comedy is a great way to leave the present and listen to a new narrative. You can learn more about Sharup Karim by visiting his website and following him on social media.
It is important to closely follow performing artists on social media, as they may experience difficulties with the scheduling of upcoming performances in response to health concerns. If you are uncertain and need more information about a particular event, it is suggested to contact the hosting venue for more details.
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