7 lessons from funny man Felix Hlophe

7Business | BM

7lessons from funny man by Xolani Dlamini Hlophe Felix

Who would have thought making people laugh could be a career. It took a while and a lot of guts from many talented people to make the South African Comedy industry one that create stars with no limits. Nowadays the essays “when I grow up” could easily include “I want to be a comedian,” Now, unfortunately, comedy needs talent, because it's never what you say, it's how you say it. Comedy veteran Felix Hlophe has got it and more. He has become more than just a comedian; he has also groomed and nurtured a number of talented comedians all over South Africa including our May/June issue cover star Siyanda Maphumulo.

Family man, Hlophe, has four siblings including his three sisters and a brother. His parents have passed on and he is blessed with a wife, three daughters and one son. Right here is where his strength comes from. “I want to leave a legacy for my children” He's become a go-to man if you're an up-and-coming comedian trying to make it in the industry, for good reasons. If you want to be in the industry learn from him.

Lesson 1: Make people laugh the first minute you're on stage. According to Hlophe – who is also on Gagas FM Midday Shandis Show every weekday between 12 pm and 3 pm – the first rule of becoming a successful comedian is simple; you have to be funny from the start. “Go out there with one thing on your mind – I've got to be funny! I've got to get the audience laughing. If you can do that in the first couple of minutes, you've got a winner on your hands. But if you don't win in the first minute – forget it and try another career.”

It seems not only does one need to be talented to be a comedian but you also need to be born with it. “My passion for comedy started in the early stages of my life.At home, we used to sit around the table and fight for a chance to be heard. I grew up in a funny family with my father being the craziest father ever. After that, I became that guy who was always surrounded by pupils at school sharing jokes even at varsity, there were always students in my room enthusiastically waiting to hear jokes.

Lesson 2: when an opportunity presents itself, don't be shy and give in to doubt but go for it, you will never know until you try. Hlophe's story of his first day on stage proves that when it's time, it's time and no one will stop you, not even crafted event programs, flights will leave people who will stand in your way, maybe all you need are two stiffs and you're on.

“While working at Quest Company, I hired a SABC 1 sports presenter Tsepo Mabona to be MC for our Gala Dinner and he missed his flight. I was struggling to tell the boss that Mabona had missed his flight. I then summoned all the courage and told him the truth. He told me that was not his problem; so I had to do something and the only thing I could think of was that I was going to be MC for the night. I proceed to the bar and drank two stiffs and the rest is history”

Lesson 3: Recognise yourself for what you are, a comedian, it does not matter the league but the fact is you are a comedian. From that night client companies that were present started calling Hlophe to MC. To Hlophe, it was not clear yet what he had become. When Zulu Comedy was established he turned down the offer twice because he didn't see himself as a comedian and on the third time he took the opportunity and became number one and never looked back since then.”

Lesson 7: Be diverse and be able to fit in different environments On whether the Felix on the radio is the same as the one on stage, he says the Felix on the microphone is a very toned down one guided by Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa. The Felix on stage is a cooperate one because he plays a professional MC and the Felix on stand-up comedy is the Felix that people know and love with jokes bringing smiles to sad people. "I am that annoying guy," he says

His word of advice to people who look up to him, Hlophe says; set your goals, if they don't succeed the first time, get up and try again with a smile, then the world will smile back at you. Take the good things and not the bad ones.

Hlophe's career soared from there. The community of uMlazi Arts and Culture recognized him with an award for being the most popular comedian from the township. When he was retiring from comedy – much to many people's surprise – he hosted a show called “Last dance with Felix” where the venue was packed to capacity and did two hours of laughter comedy.

Lesson 4: Have inspirations and ambitions Felix says his career opened doors for him and offered him an opportunity to meet people from different spheres of life from icons to international superstars. However, he still has a wish of meeting international comedy icons DeRay Davis and Kevin Hurt from the United States of America.

Lesson 5: When you make mistakes, own up to them, learn from them and move on. Comedians should not always think it's going to be a smooth ride. Human nature says we all at some point make a decision that we will regret and Felix is not immune to regrets. “I do have many regrets, including the choice of some material that I used and the timing of it maybe it was premature. I remember I did a Sifiso Ncwane's Joke. And I will never touch alcohol before I get on the stage again," says Hlophe

Lesson 6: Don't wait for opportunities to knock on your door, go out and make them then own them. Hlophe says opportunity in KZN is immense. They have a comedy club called Egagasini they are starting soon at MVG Lounge. Comedy is growing in KZN and they have people knocking on their doors for the opportunity. Even other provinces want them because they are different. There are, however, challenges in terms of gate-keeping, one finds that those ahead will view upcoming comedians as threats.

“the first rule of becoming a successful comedian is simple; you have to be funny from the start”