Jarlath Regan, comedian
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND ON THE INTERNET?
All day. I get up at 8am and I'm immediately online.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH ALL THAT ONLINE TIME?
Well, principally compiling jokes. I like to do topical jokes, so I go to news sites - Google News , BBC news , RTÉ , and of course the brilliant ireland.com. And then I use Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org). For example, I was surprised that people were shocked by Jade Goody's racist remarks given that, according to Wikipedia, she has been quoted as saying she thought Saddam Hussein was a boxer, the Portuguese spoke Spanish and Rio de Janeiro was a footballer who plays for West Ham United. I also use the internet for promotion, booking shows, and trying to find opportunities for what I do.
SO WHAT SITES DO YOU USE TO PROMOTE YOURSELF?
Principally I do it through my own site, www.jigser.com. Then there's my almost-monthly newsletter, which I send out to subscribers, and which links to different things that I've found on the internet. In the course of the newsletter, I hyperlink words - for example, the words "gross stupidity" in the last newsletter linked to Kramer from Seinfeld. It's for people who regularly use the internet, really.
I also use myspace . I initially used it as a signpost to the website because I didn't want to be sucked into the black hole that is myspace. But then I realised that you can accumulate contacts through sites such as that. You broaden the number of people who get to know what you're up to. I also have a Bebo site , because as your "friends" accumulate, it's easy to keep them up to speed with what you're up to.
HOW HAS THE INTERNET CONTRIBUTED TO WHAT YOU DO?
In terms of exposure for comedians worldwide, the internet really is massive. It's been a big factor in the climate of change in comedy - now if people want to see a comedian, they can go to YouTube . When you get up on stage, you have to accept that someone will film you. I was discussing this with another comedian recently because of what happened to Michael Richards (Richards, who played Kramer in Seinfeld, was filmed making racist comments to a heckler at one of his shows). But I think if you're going to get up on stage, you should be sincere, first and foremost, and you should believe in everything you say. So, in a way, YouTube is raising the bar for us comedians.
WHAT COMEDY SITES DO YOU VISIT MOST?
The site for the comedy circuit in Ireland, www.comedynight.ie, is a fantastic website with news and links to all things comedy-related. I also look at www.chortle.co.uk, the UK resource for comedians. Any comedian in the world who is worth his salt is reviewed there.
ANY BLOGS?
I read Simon Munnery's blog at the New Statesman's website (www.newstatesman.com/blogs/simon-munnery). He's an incredibly funny man. I also used to read Eugene Mirman on the Village Voice website (www.villagevoice.com). There are links of his conversations with telemarketers, which are hilarious.
DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERNET VICES?
My internet vice is that I have a fantasy premiership league team. With fantasy.premierleague.com, I will easily spend a good hour a day mulling over transfers and upcoming games. It's fair to say that I'm an anorak.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT THE INTERNET?
Slow access. My internet is very slow at times. And there's no reasoning with it. You can't just say, "Would you ever hurry it up there?"
Jarlath Regan is a Kildare-born comedian. A Gorgeous Evening of Comedy and Rock with Jarlath Regan and the Gorgeous Colours takes place at Crawdaddy on Harcourt Street, Dublin 2 on March 6th at 8pm. Tickets available from www.jigser.com/gorgeous