James McKegney: Stand-up Comedy, Sketches & Politics?

From stand-up comedy & online sketches, to an ever growing 'political career'; James McKegney's career is seeing continuous growth within the last couple of years.

Fresh from supporting Shane Todd on his recent Grand Opera House shows in Belfast, I got some time to ask the Maghera born Comedian his thoughts on his career thus far, aspirations for the future & The Terrace Laughs Comedy Club.

How did you get into comedy?

"I always enjoyed making my cousins laugh as a kid & then as I got older started seeing stand-up specials from people like Billy Connolly. 

But it wasn't until I seen 'Barry the Blender' videos by Colin Geddis & Shane Todd, people who are from here who are doing comedy that I really enjoy; it's possible that people from here can do that."

It was the open mic scene in Belfast around 2018 where James took his first step on stage so to speak, starting out with fellow mates Mark McCarney & Jordan Robinson.

How did your first gig go?

"My first gig was awful, it was a nightmare.

It was in the pavilion, there was about five people in the crowd & they were all comedians. They were just sitting judging me like a panel.

I was supposed to do seven minutes & I think I maybe did three & quickly fucked off the stage & got out of there. I didn't do another one for about a year. I kind of looked at it like at least I know how not to do it.

I came back about a year later, had a gig in the Black Box & it went well so I spent a year writing/coming up with jokes & it went well."

It's safe to say it did go well as Colin Geddis had saw a video of his performance at the Black Box & offered him five at Lavery's Comedy Club.

Where did the sketch idea's come from?

"Before I was actively doing gigs I always seen social media as a place to be silly & weird, I never used it seriously, I always just posted weird things" I think if you've seen James' Instagram account you would know is still the case to this day.

"I used to make really strange videos when I was younger & post them on my Facebook, I think they're still there I absolutely need to delete them...aw man they're bad!" 

Are the sketches something you plan to do more & more of in the future?

"Absolutely, I love doing stand-up but in todays day and age it's almost necessary to have an online presence as well. From that you can get a far bigger audience & get bigger & better gigs.

I really enjoy doing online content, coming up with characters & posting videos. One of the most recent videos I did I was a politician looking at the algae in Lough Neagh. 

I want to do more with that guy & see what other places there is to take him. This is only the origin story of his political career. I might run for office at some point."

That of course is the words of C.U.M Political Representative, James McKegney, make sure you remember the name at the next election.

Talking about shooting the Sundance Trailer Sketch

My favourite sketch of James' has to be the 'If being an Irish mammy was a Sundance Trailer'. 

"The idea behind that was we thought let's make this so legitimate, look so much like an actual trailer but we're going so over the top for the worst joke ever; the most common trope. It was fun as hell to do."

James likes to put a lot of 'Easter eggs' throughout his sketches mainly to make himself laugh more than anything.

"Yeah the Sundance trailer was in association with Lucky Dragon Maghera. A lot of people wouldn't even notice that but to me that looks ridiculous."

Who shoots & films your sketches?

"My mate Peter, he's a genius with the camera (@pm_picture_and_motion). I just go to him with whacky ideas or he has a new camera he wants to try out & we just put something together. A lot of the videos are shot because he's got a new camera or new component of a camera."

How did you become involved with The Terrace Laughs Comedy Club?

"A comedian, Fintan Harvey had been running it & he runs a couple other clubs & he asked me if I wanted to help out.

I knew it was such a well-oiled machine, I love the room, I know a lot of the audience who go to those shows & I love performing there so it was a no brainer to take on that opportunity. It's a good thing if you're a comedian learning how to MC or run a club. It's been great we've had some unreal nights."

The Terrace Laughs Comedy Club in Magherafelt is on the last Thursday of every month & the Christmas special on the 28th of December is a phenomenal lineup: Ciaran Bartlett headlines with Claire Corrigan, Ciaran Franco, Diona Doherty & Aaron Butler in support.

Unfortunate if you didn't get tickets as it sold out in a single day.

What makes the Belfast Comedy scene different to most?

"Everybody helps each other out, sharing each others content, getting each other on their podcasts, letting them do support for their gigs. It's a really good supportive scene & that's the reason it keeps growing."

What was it like playing The Grand Opera House?

"It was absolutely brilliant. The room itself is absolutely beautiful & for a room so big it still felt intimate, warm & the crowd was really lovely.

Although right before I went on stage some man tried to storm the stage. Andrew Ryan was MCing & a drunk man tried to storm the stage, he got refused to get served at the bar. He managed to push past security, get the whole way into the Opera House, run to the front, started slabbering to Andrew & then he got dragged out & arrested right before I went onstage.

So I just apologised to the crowd about my da & carried on"

Who would be your biggest inspiration in the Belfast scene currently?

"All them boys, I definitely will owe any success I'm having in the comedy scene to Shane, Colin, Ciaran, Dave & Mickey; they've all had me down supporting.

They put a lot of the hard graft in years ago, they've been doing this long before this scene was anything. So because they put in so much work, when we came into the scene there was so much for us to enjoy & benefit off.

They're all inspirations, they're all so different & so good that I look to them all."

I heard you're starting your own Podcast in the future with Brónagh NicAoidh, Jazmynne Sierra & William Thompson?

"Yes, we just need to get that sorted soon but hopefully that's coming soon. At this point it's looking maybe January time. It's going to be a phone-in/voice-note advice line, so people will just drop off their issues, emotional trauma's or their relationship problems & us being experts in all those fields will help them out.

I think because me, Jazmynne, Bronagh & William are also all so different it'll create a quite chaotic mixing bowl of madness."

What would be the best moment in your career so far?

"Generally where I'm at right now, I'm just really happy to be able to do it as even a hobby because it's something I've wanted to do for so long. So now to look at the gigs I get to do now, I'm super happy at the level I'm at now.

I'm also super grateful to be able to work with some of the people that I used to watch their videos & be like aw I'd like to try that & now I'm working with these people. The Opera House would probably be the singular great point."

Who's the best Comedian out there at the moment?

"I'll exclude any Belfast comedians so from a comedian I watch I would say maybe, I love Louis CK or one of my personal favourites, but he's a bit more of an obscure comic, is Doug Stanhope. He's a mental bastard."

What's the dream venue to play?

"Honestly for me, it's a tough one, but I think I just want to get to a point where if I decide to travel somewhere random even somewhere like Scotland for a week or Spain etc. Wherever I travel I could put on a gig & do a wee half hour gig. If I get to that point I'll be happy."

Who do you think is the most underrated comedian in the NI scene?

"I've a friend, Robbie McShane, he currently lives in Scotland. He purely loves just doing comedy for the craic as a bit of a hobby but all of us comedians will listen to him do stand-up & think he is fucking amazing.

He's so different from anyone you'd have seen in Belfast as well. He's like a comedy computer, it just pours out of him he can't help it."

Who's the last comedian you'd want to take a punch from?

"Colin Geddis. 

That man is built like a fucking Rhino. If he ran at me at full speed he'd kill me so I'd definitely not want to take a punch off him."

Best Chinese in Maghera, Lucky Dragon or Pagoda?

"That's a divisive one. You know what? I quite like Pagoda. We were originally a hardcore Lucky Dragon fanbase but I think we maybe have shifted. 

That will tear people apart that one, ruin communities.

Thanks to James for giving some of his time to sit down & chat about his career so far. He's 100% one of the funniest up-and-coming comics on the scene at the minute & make sure you go check him out whenever you can!

The Terrace Laughs Comedy Club is on the last Thursday of every month where you can see James MC & make sure to check out his social media platforms for any other gigs he has coming up.