Mini Interview: Joe Starr In Holland

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on September 20th, 2004

We asked JOE STARR a few questions about his experience performing at a comedy festival in Holland.

1. How did a comic from the states wind up at a festival in Holland?

While performing at this years Just For Laughs festival, I was approached by Marcel Haug who is the talent scout for the Amsterdam Comedy Festival. He asked me if I had a passport and would I like to perform in Holland? A quick “yes” to both questions and I was on my way in late August.

2. Do many U.S. and Canadian standup comics perform at the festival?

Oh sure. This year was a heavy line up: Ben Bailey, Jimmy Dore, Drue Franklin, Romont Harris, Courtney Gee, Maria Bamford, Paul Provenza, Kyle Grooms, Robert Kelly, Debra Terry, and Tony Woods, all from the U.S. Mike Wilmott and Ron Vaudry came from Canada. And three more from the UK: Stan Stanley, Nina Conti and William Sutton.

3. Are most of the shows in English? Were you concerned about having to overcome any language barriers?

All of the shows were in English. Being that English is their second language, there was a translation lag between the punchline and the laugh. Much longer than usual. But once you got the rhythm down it wasn’t a problem. After the shows people would taught me curse words and stuff. Now I am bilingually crude.

4. What kind of schedule did you have to maintain? How many shows? How much press?

I did four shows in three days. One of which was a television spot done in the evening. We didn’t have any press to do. No radio, no interviews, nothing. The days were pretty much open.

5. Did you have much of an opportunity to do any sightseeing and enjoy the country?

Oh yeah! Loved the country. We were actually in Rotterdam which is an hour from Amsterdam. I toured through Rotterdam, Liden, The Hague and Amsterdam. Everyone was
beautiful, in shape and healthy… it was annoying. After the third day I couldn’t wait to get back to the states and see a fat, ugly person just to reset my reality meter. It was my first time in Europe but it won’t be my last.

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