JRE 1334 · August 14, 2019

Fahim Anwar

comedybusinessentertainmentstand-up

Who is Fahim Anwar?

Fahim Anwar is an actor and stand up comedian. Check out his special on Amazon called "Fahim Anwar: There's No Business Like Show Business".

Topics and Timestamps

01Fahim Anwar discusses his comedy special 'There's No Business Like Show Business' available on Amazon
02Conversation covers the challenges and realities of working in the entertainment industry as a stand-up comedian and actor
03Fahim shares insights into his journey breaking into comedy and navigating the business side of show business
04Discussion touches on the differences between stand-up comedy and acting work, and how they complement each other
05Fahim talks about the grind of touring, performing, and building a career in comedy
06The episode explores what it really takes to make it in entertainment and the misconceptions people have about the industry
▶Fahim introduces his special on Amazon and discusses the title's meaning0:00:00
▶Discussion about the actual economics of stand-up comedy and touring0:12:00
▶Fahim talks about balancing acting work with stand-up comedy0:28:00
▶Conversation about the mental challenges and rejection in entertainment0:45:00
▶Fahim discusses how social media has changed comedy careers1:15:00

The Show

Joe sits down with comedian and actor Fahim Anwar to discuss his work in entertainment, particularly his special 'There's No Business Like Show Business' on Amazon. The conversation centers around the realities of trying to build a sustainable career in comedy and acting, which is far less glamorous than people imagine.

Fahim opens up about the grind that most comedians don't talk about publicly. It's not all sold-out shows and Netflix specials. There's a lot of grinding it out in small clubs, dealing with terrible sound systems, hostile crowds, and the constant hustle to book gigs that actually pay enough to live on. He breaks down how the economics of comedy actually work and why so many talented comedians struggle to make a decent living doing what they love.

The discussion gets into the difference between stand-up and acting work, and how Fahim navigates both. Stand-up is where you own your material and your stage time, but it requires constant touring and performing. Acting gigs are more lucrative per day but less consistent. Most working comedians need to do both to piece together a viable income.

Fahim also talks about the mental toll of comedy, the rejection that's inherent to the business, and the way social media has changed how comedians build audiences and careers. He's honest about the parts of the industry that are broken and how difficult it is for comedians to actually own their success without being dependent on platforms, networks, or promoters who take huge cuts.

The special itself becomes a vehicle for discussing what he's learned about the business, the title being a wry commentary on the misconceptions people have about working in entertainment. It's not actually glamorous, but it's what he loves doing, and the conversation explores what it takes mentally and physically to sustain that.