PEAKLIFE

Having has bachelor’s degree in supply chain management from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in business administration, with a focus on strategy and business analysis, from Boston University, Adnan Nalwala, an Executive Director – Investment and Strategy is responsible for identifying new business ventures and investments that can add value to the group.

Having an experience of over 12 years in operational restructuring, turnaround management, and strategic planning. He has played key roles in developing business units in the construction industry in Oman and the UAE.

Adnan Nalwala is a unique mix of management and creative skills. Besides being a professional in the construction and Media industry he also does stand-up comedy and that’s no joke. Here’s PEAKLIFE in conversation with the man himself.

From being a successful businessman to a stand-up comedian. Please tell us about your journey?

I think you do certain things as a hobby and passion that’s what I was doing, I used to do comedy on the weekends and write all my jokes after I come back from work. I’ve been doing comedy now for 12 years. I started by doing open mics in Bombay in 2009 where people would play a musical instrument and I would do jokes for 10-15 minutes and I used to perform at venues every weekend, just doing a 15-minute slot.

I used to live in Dubai or Muscat and I’d come down to India on the weekend, perform and fly back, for no cost and no money. I did this for years and over a period of time The Comedy Store which was the first standalone comedy club in India noticed who I am and my word got out and then I started getting more and more professional gigs. It’s been 12 years now and I’ve done more than 500 shows, I’ve done shows all over the Middle East, Bahrain, Oman, UAE, I’ve also performed in the US and several big cities in India, including Bangalore, Calcutta, Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

How would you describe yourself today?

I am not sure how to describe myself today, I think one simple thing is as you start growing up, I’m 41 years old now, you start realising that you are not in control many of things and also a lot of things you thought you knew were not true.

I think, I’m a lot more curious, I am a lot grounded and I am a lot more eager to learn. One of my mantras in life is to constantly learn and constantly innovate. I have been applying that to my personal life, my business and my comedy. I also think I’m a lot more grateful now.

How did your family react when you told them about taking stand-up comedy as a profession?

I come from a conservative family, I think my parents were very supportive about my comedy, it took some time for them to understand what I was doing but the moment they realised I was good at this, a lot of people are appreciating my comedy, I’m not neglecting work and I did not neglect my academics, they were very proud and very supportive.

It takes some time and once you start showing that you are not doing something because it’s easy or it’s glamorous but you are actually good at it and you enjoy it even your family supports. So there’s a huge learning curve. Sometimes in life, not everything should be done for money, if you enjoy something, eventually, people will also see that and respect you if you get good at it. For me, I’m lucky that my hobby has turned into a professional success as well.

What did you learn/unlearn in transitioning from entrepreneur to solopreneur?

I feel there is a lot of similarity between stand-up and an entrepreneur. I recently did a TED talk where I felt that the overlapping attributes of an entrepreneur are a lot similar to that of a stand-up comedian. First things first, they should have a great sense of humour because if you don’t know how to laugh at yourself, and you keep taking yourself too seriously you will get hurt.

The other thing is an entrepreneur and a stand-up comedian is creative, they’re constantly finding ways of either people joining their company or selling more stuff and the same thing for comedy, keep writing new content. The other thing is courage, you have to have courage in business because you are eventually betting on yourself, the same thing in stand up you have to have the courage to get up and talk in front of someone even if you’re not being funny.

The fact is that you have to be persistent, courageous, energetic and all these things are very similar for a stand-up and an entrepreneur. I did a TED talk on this and that is why I think to some extent I have been a successful businessman because I apply my stand-up attributes to my company and apply my business rules to stand up.

We always hear this that content is very important. How do you go about getting your content?

Content is definitely very important; I think it is probably 80% but sometimes delivery and style are also important. A simple joke can be a lot funnier if you pause in the right place. Sometimes the best content can be diluted if you don’t know how to deliver the joke but yes content is very important.

I got my content by just living my life and paying attention, most my jokes are things that I’ve gone through, my mother once called me a standby comedian in front of my friends rather than a stand-up comedian.

I had friends who said funny things that were just in my head and I just say that in my real-life story. I had a friend who said “Adnan shut up in your mouth” I haven’t forgotten that, how else can you shut up? So, I think real-life experiences, just keeping your eyes and ears open teaches you a lot.

I’ve been very blessed, I have lived in 7 countries, travelled to over 35 countries and I’ve been studying in 5, when you are forced to see and observe things that are different from all over the world and you learn to apply it in comedy. Some things in some cultures they are considered funny and some cultures they are considered taboo, so when I can place these two things, I am able to enjoy narrating my funny stories.

Who has been the source of inspiration during this journey?

I think two sets of people have inspired me throughout my journey as a comedian, one is definitely my parents and my family. They have been very supportive and the kind of role model my parents are they made me realise that if you apply discipline and hard work to anything you will succeed.

In terms of comedy in my early stages, I was extremely impressed with Jim Carrey as just a comedian, the way he moves his body and his faces and through his voices and impersonations that just made me realise that comedy has got such positive and great people. And purely in terms of stand up I have to take a couple of names one is Lee Evans, mad energy on stage, and my current favourite is Kevin Hart, I aspire to be the Kevin Hart of India.

Please share with us the most memorable gig you had?

I had many pleasant, memorable gigs and also a lot of things I would like to forget but I think my first gig, I performed at ‘Jazz By The Bay’ where there was an open mic night and I had to get people’s attention. I started talking to the crowd, they started listening to me I’ve been on my set for 10 minutes and after that, a couple of people in front of the seating area got up and came to me and said when my next show was.

As soon as I heard that I was pleasantly taken aback and I felt very happy that this is worth the effort and courage. So, I’ll never forget that. I also think about the first time I did a solo in Dubai, about 350 people came, my first show that 350 people came to, it was a big event. I felt very proud and happy about my journey as a comedian.

If not a comedian what other professions would you have chosen?

If I was not a comedian, I probably would’ve been some kind of an athlete. Of course, age does not go in my favour anymore but I would have liked to be some kind of a sportsman ideally a tennis player or cricketer that’s what I really love.

It is very courageous to leave a stable income as an Executive Director and plunge into comedy?

I haven’t left a stable income job that is a good part of being an entrepreneur. You can operate and do things, I know successful CEOs who play golf on the weekend, the only difference is they don’t get paid to do it so I am fortunate enough that my business has not left me and I’m able to do stand-up on the weekend which people pay me to watch so it’s a good fortune. The hobby that I picked up allows me to get paid for and be recognised as a professional, it is my good fortune.

What is your advice for someone who wants to take stand-up comedy as a profession?

My advice to someone who takes stand-up comedy firstly is, don’t take my advice because I still am figuring this out but just a couple of generic things I would like to say is, one, stay humble, do not give up on the first time you try and I would say three specific, go and watch as many other comedians as possible, especially establish ones, see how they behave outside also and not just on stage, not all of them will be accessible, I understand but most successful comedians listen more and talk less, they are very humble and also understand that they can sell tickets.

So, just because you got a 10-minute set, that’s fine it doesn’t make you any less of a comedian. How you are able to perform in multiple rooms, are you able to learn as you go along and most importantly are you doing it to have fun or are you doing it to make money or get fame?

If the latter two are the reasons that you want to make money and get fame, it won’t work, you won’t last. It’s like any other business or any other profession, you have to love what you are doing and sometimes you will fail but that is totally fine. So, stay persistent, stay humble and be more eager to listen than to speak that’s the only advice I’d give.