‘Comedy income is feast or famine — usually the latter’
COMEDIAN Julie Jay won the Forbidden Fruit Comedy Talent Search in 2017. She and fellow comedian Emma Doran are touring nationwide with The Emma & Julie Show. That show, which runs until mid-December, will be in Chaplin’s Bar in Dublin on October 28, in Kavanagh’s Bar & Venue in Portlaoise on November 9, and in various other locations. Tickets are on sale from the venues and venue websites.
What’s the most important lesson about money which your career as a comedian has taught you? When it comes to regular income in comedy, it’s a case of feast or famine — usually the latter.
What’s the best advice you ever got about money? ‘Sur,e we could we be dead tomorrow’ — from my mother when I’m thinking about buying something in an outlet centre. The problem is, I’m usually not dead and end up driving back to Kildare Village the following day to return yet another geometric top I’m never going to wear.
What’s the most expensive country you ever visited? Scotland, during a recent festival. I had to pay €400 to cover new flights for my housemate when I accidentally took her passport across the water. I shouldn’t blame Scotland for this — but I will.
What’s your favourite coin and what do you like about it so much? When I’m owed 3c and they round it up to 5c, it always feels like a triumph of David and Goliath proportions.
Apart from property, what’s the most expensive thing you have ever bought? I recently treated myself to a car with five doors. I spend all day weaving in and out of them like a one-woman Benny Hill film.
What was your worst job? Slicing pizza in Sydney. It still remains a mystery to me how I always ended up with seven or nine slices. It came as no surprise when I was demoted to phone orders.
What was your biggest financial mistake? Buying an iPod Shuffle on eBay in 2001. I got it for the bargain basement price of €20 with only one button broken. Turns out it was the ‘on’ button.
What was your best financial killing? Selling a broken iPod Shuffle on to someone in Wolverhampton for £25 plus postage.
Are you better off than your parents? Yes, but only because I am constantly eating away into their pension funds with requests for money for things I couldn’t have possibly seen coming — like rent.
If you won the Lottery, what would you do with the money? Keep it under my mattress.
Have you ever made an insurance claim? I’d love to, but for legal reasons I can’t — also, this whiplash makes it so hard to talk.
iTunes or Spotify? Mix tapes.
What was the last thing you bought online? My boyfriend, Fred.
Would you buy Irish property now? Yes, but only so I can charge my loved ones’ rent.
If you could design your own euro note, whose face would you put on it? Emma Doran, my comedy wife. She has always dreamed of fronting a fiver and I’ve always dreamed of carrying her around in my back pocket.
Do you ever haggle? I once haggled on eBay and got a boyfriend and an iPod Shuffle with just one broken button. That was a good day.
What three things would you not be able to do without if you were tightening your belt? Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser; mushrooms on toast in Pantri, Dingle; and books.