When it comes to comedians in Australia, few are as beloved as Jimeoin.
For more than 30 years, he's served as a comedy scene staple, charming and delighting audiences with his cheeky smile and Irish accent.
Featuring on primetime shows and festivals, Jimeoin also became known for his extensive tours of regional Australia, bringing the arts to the country, and the unseen people of Australia to televisions around the world.
His start to comedy was unintentional. Someone unknowingly signed him up for a stand-up comedy night, but the chips fall where they may, and an Irishman in Australia found his unexpected calling, building his craft as he went.
“I just wanted to do the things that I find funny and put it into spoken word,” Jimeoin recounts. “I never really watched comedy beforehand. I loved jokes and stories, but I thought TV comedy was a wee bit sedate. The way I got into comedy was different from the way you get into it now. There were only one or two places that did it in Sydney. Randwick was where I started.”
Jimeoin is known for his observational comedy and quick-witted combinations of thought. He reflects on the importance of personal influence in comedy.
“It has to be a reflection of your own thoughts, you can't be doing something formulaic. It has to represent you as an individual and your thoughts that are unique and different from all the other thoughts that people are having. Then you can stand out.”
Social media has seen an influx of comedians posting crowd work, which, according to some comedians, has affected the way crowds expect to participate in shows. What some see as a potential hindrance, Jimeoin sees as a potential positive for comedians.
“I see how that could be something that would happen. I also feel that may not necessarily be the worst thing. Sometimes people are good at repeating something and working it into an act. But then, if somebody in the audience is a wildcard, you really have to step up your thought process. But when you see really good crowd work, it's great.”
Known for his touring ethic, Jimeoin tries to visit as many places as he can. He considers the mental health impacts of the profession, and how he fills his own laugh cup.
“Someone said, it’s more weird to hear of a comedian that doesn't have mental health issues, than it is to hear about a comedian that does have mental health issues. You spend a lot of time in your own head. I think it’s normal to have mental health issues, it's just a human experience.”
“I love going and watching different acts in different areas. I love going to the variety nights at the festival, and I always do them too. I do lots of little club gigs, because I enjoy the atmosphere of the night out, the camaraderie of doing the gigs with other comics, hanging out and having a drink afterwards.”
“I did Istanbul recently. Through the internet, you realise you’ve got a following in these places. I did Amsterdam on a Tuesday night and the theatre was packed. Same at Antwerp and Budapest. It’s been amazing to see.”
Jimeoin is bringing his new show ‘Pandemonium’ to the comedy festivals, alongside a host of comedians sure to give Australia a bellyache from too many laughs. The show promises a look inside Jimeoin’s mind. Whether the audience will learn anything useful is another story, but it’s guaranteed to be frenetic and hilarious.
“'Pandemonium' summarises what it is that I do, which is just a bit daft, and you don't know what you’re gonna expect. There could be everything in it. Bob Franklin worked with me, and it’s as daft as we could make it. It’s a reflection of absolutely nothing and anything else.”
Amid his tour of the country, Jimeoin plays The Concourse Chatswood and Enmore Theatre (Sydney Comedy Festival) on 10 May, and Brisbane Powerhouse (Brisbane Comedy Festival) 20-25 May.
