Comedy membership for femmes of color adjustments the sport

PinkNews journalist and comic Asyia Iftikhar talks to Kemah Bob about their Femmes of Color Comedy Membership, FOC IT UP.

Once I first carried out at FOC IT UP, an LGBTQ+ inclusive comedy club, it was the primary time I’d ever been in a line-up of completely non-white folks as a comic.

I felt a heat I’d seldom skilled in comedy areas earlier than – a testomony to the laborious work founder Kemah Bob has put into making a vibrant and inclusive area for femmes (together with girls, non-binary and trans folks) of color in comedy to thrive.

Kemah was impressed by their pal Sadie Sinner, who runs cabaret firm The Cocoa Butter Club, after being given a one-hour comedy membership slot.

“I knew that I wished an area for ladies and non-binary performers, and trans males as effectively,” Kemah tells PinkNews.

Since its humble beginnings in 2018, FOC IT UP has develop into a refuge for numerous comedians, hosted exhibits at Edinburgh Fringe, began a podcast and – most significantly – constructed a group.

“I used to be chatting with somebody not too long ago, and we had been speaking about limitations to entry for trans and non-binary performers they usually mentioned one barrier is having a spot to go up and observe, having locations to gig the place you’re feeling protected and welcome. I positively assume and hope that we’re part of offering a spot,” they add.

Kemah additionally touched on the challenges marginalised comedians have confronted lately with the rise of “cancel culture” discourse in comedy areas.

“It’s an honour to tackle the accountability of being a spot the place folks can really feel welcome,” they are saying after some deliberation. 

“I can’t assure what comics say after they get on stage – I wouldn’t wish to make them say or not say something.

“However what I can do is e book individuals who I feel can be respectful of what the area is. I feel that the phenomenon of individuals in comedy, saying no matter they wish to say with out going through any penalties or being held accountable isn’t new.”

They imagine wholeheartedly that the folks being focused by excessive profile comedians are additionally being “empowered” and “introduced collectively” by those self same assaults.

Kemah mirrored on the anti-trans route comedian Dave Chappelle has taken, as somebody who had been “massively inspiring and hilarious” after they had been rising up.

“It’s actually disappointing,” they are saying, “and it’s additionally scary as a result of I hope to be creating for the remainder of my life and I hope I stay in a mindset of studying and humility and development.

“It terrifies me that some folks hit a sure age or degree of success and simply disengage from their skill to take heed to different folks and study their experiences.”

For Kemah, they imagine FOC IT UP is an area to get away from the discourse and “facilitate an area that centres one thing else fully.”

FOC IT UP is adapting post-lockdown and mid-cost of residing disaster

In the course of the pandemic, theatre and dwell efficiency had been hit laborious as every thing went on-line. Kemah is aware of all-too-well the existential gloom of performing stand-up comedy alone in your room to a display screen of silent black packing containers.

Though lockdown has long-since ended, Kemah is obvious that the influence of the pandemic hasn’t – one thing they’ve seen in themself, and in audiences.

“I wished to return again but in addition understood that not everybody feels protected to return out and be in a crowd. I feel all of us have been put able to handle our personal dangers.”

It was in tackling this that the FOC IT UP! Comedy Club podcast was born in 2022.

“Individuals aren’t popping out the best way they had been earlier than,” Kemah says.

“A few of us discovered quite a lot of pleasure at house. And it may be tougher to get us to get out and go to issues. Even quite a lot of comedians, together with myself, truly take pleasure in not being out and gigging on a regular basis.

“[There’s also the] value of residing disaster so the quantity of individuals shopping for tickets to dwell exhibits has actually shifted, so it’s simply being conscious of that, and making an attempt to make the most effective choices for the FOC IT UP group.”

‘What we’re doing is efficacious and wanted’

Regardless of the shifting nature of the trade, Kemah has grand plans for the way forward for FOC IT UP. They hope to deliver again workshops to assist new comedians of color develop their stand-up abilities, create extra group haunt areas and have extra common gigs. 

“I do know that what we’re doing is gorgeous and beneficial and wanted,” they are saying.

“Once we’re facilitating the area we have to keep true to our intention, which is to create a joyful and empowering expertise for folks on and off stage.”

Regardless of my very own and different femmes of color’s experiences in some comedy venues, Kemah desires to encourage folks to think about comedy and be part of a motion of like-minded comedians.

“I’m very massive on girls, non-binary and trans folks of color giving comedy a go,” they are saying.

“I really feel like each individual has one thing distinctive to share and I at all times wish to encourage folks to seek out it, and to specific themselves.

“If it clicks for you and if it clicks for the viewers then I at all times need folks to return in and provides it a go. As a result of I feel if individuals are getting paid to speak about their opinions and experiences, then it needs to be folks of color.”

You’ll find particulars on dwell present dates, podcast updates and extra on the FOC IT UP! website.