Standing Ovation

Count yourself lucky if you have turned your passion into a flourishing career. Award-nominated comedian, Jason Goliath, did just that and is taking the funny world in South Africa by storm.

Known to be more than just a solo entertainer, Jason co-founded the award-winning entertainment agency, Goliath and Goliath, along with his cousin Nicholas Goliath and close friend Donovan Goliath. In the same year, he was proud to be nominated as Best Newcomer in the 2012 SA Comic’s Choice Awards. However, life has not always been smooth sailing for Jason.

In 2017, he admitted he was one of the many comedians who struggled through a dark battle with depression, which was made worse when business plans fell through and he was left with financial troubles.

PREMIER spoke to the “Larger than Life” comedian about some of the biggest troubles he has faced and how he managed to turn his love for comedy into a successful career.

PREMIER: Let us start at the beginning. Tell us what was it about comedy that made you think, “This is definitely where I belong?”

Jason Goliath (J.G): I always loved to laugh and make people laugh, so I naturally enjoyed comedy. But the real love affair started at the Underground, which in my opinion was the first proper comedy room by western standard. I saw how a comedian on stage could control an entire room and have the audience hanging on each sentence, just waiting for the punch line following the room erupting with laughter. After witnessing the euphoria on the audience’s faces, I knew that I wanted to create that type of happiness.

PREMIER: What is the driving force behind your passion for this industry?

J.G: I believe that we should be chasing our “happy” instead of money or things. Money gets spent and things get old, but nobody can ever take your “happy” away from you. When you take responsibility for your own happiness, it automatically makes your “happy” bullet proof. So, make better choices based on the lessons that you have learnt, because the only true rule in the universe is choice and consequence. If you understand the consequences of your choices, you naturally start making better choices. These better choices will help you get the things that you want.

PREMIER: Be honest, have you ever been met with silence during a performance?

J.G: Well, sometimes I have to work the room a bit harder. But, no, I have never been met with silence.

PREMIER: How would you describe your brand of comedy – what makes it unique?

J.G: Just a ridiculous amount of energy! With a set that is character-based and focused on making the audience laugh at some of life’s uncomfortable truths. With that in mind, I speak my truth and most of my stand-up is based on life experiences.

PREMIER: This year you spoke openly about your battle with depression. Please explain why and how laughter was the best medicine for you?

J.G: When I discovered comedy I experienced true happiness for the first time. Happiness that I had been craving all along. I was good at comedy and it fed me with something that I cannot explain, which indirectly made working hard much easier for me. Comedy allows me to do my favourite thing all the time and it fuels my drive at the same time. Comedians who have been in the industry for years still die on stage, though. Great comedians such as Dave Chappelle speak about how he still dies on stage after being in industry for over 25 years – the best of the best have not mastered it yet. I will never beat this thing called comedy and that is the romantic beauty about it. I will never beat it, but I get to enjoy it every day.

PREMIER: We are counting the days until the New Year. What does the future hold for you?

J.G: Well, I am opening two more Goliath Comedy Clubs and I will be touring my one man show. Not forgetting, I am a few months away from getting married!

The Goliath Comedy Club provides opportunities for new and experienced comedians. For more information, visit www.goliathandgoliath.com.

I speak my truth and most of my stand-up is based on life experiences.