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Johannesburg – If you’re an up-and-coming comedian trying to make it in the industry, who better to get advice from than comedy veteran Cyril Green?
The legendary comic had a chat with The Juice at the Savanna Comics' Choice Awards nominees lunch in Johannesburg on Wednesday where he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Speaking about being honoured at the event, Cyril says it was a very humbling experience. “Proud, yes. Very proud. Humbled by the audience that you’ve got. You’ve got top comics here. And to be in front of them and receiving it is a humbling experience.”
And on the subject of the talented crowd of young comedians he found himself in the company of, he says they have something he was not privileged to when he started in the industry all those years back. “We never had freedom as it is known today by the comics who can go out on stage and just make it fun. Because it is; it’s a fun business,” he tells us.
Of course we could not be in his presence and not ask for tips on how an up and coming star can reach the heights he has. About how to make it as a comedian, Cyril says it’s simple – you have to be funny from the start. “Go out there with one thing on your mind – I gotta be funny! I gotta get the audience laughing,” he advises, adding: “If you can do that in the first couple of minutes, you’ve got a winner on your hands. So if you don’t win in the first minute – forget it.”
