Martin Durchov has never done any podcast interview - not until this episode popped his podcast cherry. You can find his Instagram profile, but be warned there’s not a single comedy-related content on it.
The Bulgarian native is one giggly and happy chap, described by your host Kuan-wen as a very “settled” immigrant in the UK. Even his accent mellowed over the years he stays in the UK - a fun fact your host found out when he checked Martin’s stand up clips in preparation of the interview and noticed the accent shift pre- and post- Covid.
Martin talks about the wider “East European” brand, how Bulgaria often gets lumped together with its neighbour Romania, what national stereotypes he incorporated into his comedy routines and how he gradually edit down the percentage of jokes based on his nationality. He learned early on that it is better as a performer to address the obvious, for him that is the accent and the hairs on his arms.
For listeners who are gigging comedians, Martin also shares why he Is not set on pursuing the comedy career progression even though he had a very promising start pre-pandemic (winning the Comedy Store gong show, getting into the final of So You Think You Are Funny and getting paid work within a year or two)
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You can find Martin on Instagram, but there might not be any comedy-related content there….
Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram
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Intro
Citing his accent and foreignness as the opening joke but unaware of the accent at the start
“It’s good to mention obvious things”
Bulgarian stereotypes as an East European country and why it tends to be bundled with Romania
Bulgaria Searches For Talent
Getting requests to do certain jokes
Between jokes and portraying your own country’s image
A gentler and silly stage persona
Martin’s accent mellowed over the years
Not pursuing comedy career progression and not into the social media game
On being the face of one’s own small country
Foreignness does not weigh much on Martin’s mind
Without hearing Martin accent, others not able to work out where he’s from
Not having too many connections with Bulgaria in the UK
Martin’s (non-)used social media
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Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe
