BIN BAZ: THE PRINCE OF COMEDY
City Times speaks to Emirati comedian and social media influencer Bin Baz about being the comedic voice of a millennial generation
In the past (which in all fairness, in this context anyway, wasn’t really that long ago) people used to go to comedy clubs to laugh. Sometimes they’d flick through TV channels to see what new sitcoms, what stand up comedians managed to get a special, what new film would have a funny sidekick that could potentially turn into the next Jim Carrey, Eddie Murphy or Robin Williams. But times have changed since the digital revolution even for comedy. We live in a world of memes, gifs and although the platform may not be as popular anymore, Vine has completely reshaped comedy and comedians. As can be expected of millennials, and to be honest people in general, attention spans are limited. Skits, spoofs, comedy routines, and stand up sets – we don’t have the inclination or the motivation to watch over ten minutes of something even if it can potentially make us laugh. It would just take too long and there are better things, shorter things to watch on our news feed.
The rise of social media comedians over the last ten years is mind-boggling. Videos lasting from 10 seconds to three minutes poking fun at pop culture, politics, relationships, culture, the mundane everyday and the bizarre have been going viral and turning otherwise normal people into comedic superstars. Yes, that’s right, we used the word superstar.
And one superstar we can’t stop laughing with is Bin Baz. Haven’t heard of him? Well, you need to get on Instagram and like another 4 million people click follow on his profile. That wasn’t a typo, we wrote 4 million. How? It’s really simple actually. Bin Baz’s humor appeals to the masses. That’s the trick of a good comedian.
No matter where you’re from, what your background is, the reason why some comedians are more successful than others isn’t just because they are funnier. Well, that can help. But because the commentary they are making strikes a chord with a large number of people, poking fun at or making light of a particular issue or situation that we can all relate to. That’s what Bin Baz has managed to do through his short videos on Instagram. In a superman costume. Yeah, he’s obsessed with it. Although his videos are mostly in Arabic, there are subtitles in English and given their short nature in everyday scenarios, you’ll see a lot of non-Arabs, liking and commenting on his skits.
As one of the most popular young Emiratis making a name for himself in the world of
entertainment, he’s been using his influnce to help promote postive ideas and actions.
Recently, Bin Baz was involved in the #DontSettle (#LatMasheeha) campaign which is all about “not settling for less than a 100% solution” with Head and Shoulders. We are loving the purpose of this campaign and the possible results it could reap with younger people living in the country. Arabs have a tendency to settle with small everyday problems with an indifferent attitude, best described as “Mashi’l-hal” or loosely translated to “oh, well”. But often or not these smaller problems become bigger problems or they recur when we don’t address them. Bin Baz has been a main advocator for this type of social change and has been an active ambassador for the cause.
City Times spoke to Bin Baz about his comedy, his rise in the world of social media and his advice to young Arabs.
How did you start a career in comedy and social media?
As a child I was very creative and was always thinking outside the box. One day, a family member posted something creative I did on social media, and this was the beginning. The post received so many likes and comments that I decided to start sharing content on social media.
Did you ever think you’d be one of the top influencers in the region?
Not at all, I am naturally a shy person. I always want to make people happy and give them a good laugh, but I definitely never expected or planned this.
We’ve seen you endorse products on your social media accounts. When you choose a product to endorse what is it that you look for?
I am always selective when
I am choosing a brand to work with. I like global and iconic brands but they also have to reflect my personality in some way. I like to meet with the brand teams first and work together on a creative brief to make sure that it expresses who I am as a person. I have an adventurous and energetic personality and I like that to come through when I work with any brand.
Tell us about #LatMasheeha and personal situations when you decided not to settle?
As we all know, life is full of compromises. With every such situation something inside us assesses whether to accept or tolerate a compromise; whether to let something slide or not. And, when we finally decide to not to settle and instead do something about it, we usually feel good and look good. So yes, #LatMasheeha all the way.
What advice would you give to young Arabs?
My number-one advice is not to settle. Many people might not support you but if you stay focused and work hard, everything is possible and achievable.