“For me, not being busy is like seeing a sad lion or some kind of medicated big cat behind bars in a zoo – it just doesn't sit well with me,” says comedian Tommy Tiernan. “As long as the tournament is endless, I'm happy.”
Tiernan, the Irish comedian you may know as the quiet and reserved Gerry Netflix hit Derry girlsis getting his new stand-up show, Tommy Tiernan: Tommedianon its way to theaters in 13 cities across North America. (See all his tour dates here.) If you've never seen Tiernan act, just know that his real-life persona is miles from bland Derry girls the dad you're used to: “A friend of mine said I have the comedian's version of Tourette's,” he laughs.
As he prepared to make his way across North America in a “proper tour bus,” Tiernan spoke to him The entrepreneur about the business of being funny, his recent audience with the Pope, and the push/pull of keeping control—but not too much control—when he takes the stage. “Sometimes I have my head in my hands and I'm saying: Oh God, why did you say that?!”
Between the European and North American dates, this is a pretty big tour. Is it exciting or exhausting just thinking about it?
I know it's the only thing keeping Bob Dylan alive – just seeing 45 more dates before him. I have a similar tendency in that I really enjoy seeing a long list of appointments. And I'm always jealous—regardless of the damage done to people's domestic situations—when I see people with longer shifts. A comedian is a cultural outlaw and he is protected from the street. He doesn't take anything seriously. Whatever people in a city value or demand respect for, he somehow undermines it. When you're on the road, you're protected by the company of other comedians, and then you're somewhere else the next night. If you stay in a venue after the show, you are easier to find and shoot.
Your character in Derry girls it's so soft and understated. Was it hard not being able to let go?
I liked it. And in retrospect, I longed for it. This is a safe space. You can't get in trouble when you're contractually obligated to say what you're told to say. This was a pleasure.
How are you going about writing a new stand-up show? Do you start with a theme?
For me it's not about writing a play. At first you get up on stage with enough ideas to last 40 minutes. And I always think that if the same people came to the show every night, you'd realize you're a boring husband. Your wife has heard all the stories. Oh my god, here we go again. Oh really? Are you going to tell that stupid story? So it's about talking, talking, talking and talking until it's strong, but then there's always the possibility of another phrase coming in. There are times when you just go out on a limb, and try something, and if it works, you build on it the next night. So my shows are not scripted; they develop.
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What have you learned about the business side of comedy over the years?
I've learned that if you focus too much on money, it will destroy you. And if you don't pay enough attention to money, it will destroy you. So you have to find a balance. You should always follow the fun, but also be aware if you are not being paid properly. There is no virtue in admitting this. But if it starts to dominate your life, then how do you pursue entertainment? It is very useful to know people who know different things than you. There are people who like to work with money and make deals. It's good to have access to one or two of these in your career. You need a team to look the part in order to stay focused on the entertainment and give the audience the attention and respect they deserve. Money is a restless energy – people want to pay you. What you do with that energy is your business. You have to respect the fact that your audience has given you their money and attention.
You were among 105 comedians invited to the Vatican, Pope Francis. How was that?
It was very touching when he entered the room. He walks slowly with a cane. It was very exciting. Afterwards, we went to St. Peter's Basilica. And you are looking at 800 years of European suffering in the form of statues and works of art. Everyone in the Basilica is suffering; even the horses are in agony. And everyone asks God to help. European and South American comedians, I think, felt the gravity of the moment. We totally took the Pope as an important representative of something. Americans? I think for them he was someone they had seen on TV. There was no submission to a hierarchy. It was more like, “I'm actually on TV more than you!” So that kind of energy was coming from some Americans. But this is no one's fault. We are all products of our culture. I could see some of the older Italian comedians saying to themselves, “Don't they understand who the man in the white dress is?”
So was Conan trying to do a little something with him or something?
There are no names! There are no names! There are no names! But one of them was called Jimmy. I will say as much.