Interview: Jim Smallman
Jim Smallman is an elaborate, complicated and colourful piece of art on the surface. As a person, however, he is straight up, personable and a pleasure to chat to.
When you’re sitting with Jim, it’s hard to take your eyes away from the intricacy of all the ink lacing his arms, and I’m tempted to continually ask him about the story behind each design. Body art, although now breaking away from the stereotypes that had it pinned to a certain kind of person, is still a big matter of opinion that provokes heavy judgement, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s art, pure and simple. What’s hard to miss is the face of Ron Burgundy, played by Will Ferrell in the film Anchorman, on Jim’s right arm. Definitely a sign he has good taste in comedy.
Where it began
Jim was brought up in Leicestershire, and jolted straight into the comedy circuit in 2005, because of one of the requirements of his previous employment in retail. “I used to have to do big presentations, but I had really bad nerves, so a friend challenged me to go and do a comedy workshop in Leicester, and that was it, I started doing gigs from there. I’m not good at doing a regular job,” he admits.
The nerves faded from there, and Jim says he now rarely gets anxious about being on stage, with his stand-up performances currently taking him across the UK, and abroad. Last year, Jim performed at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, where he won Best Comedy Performance and Best International Show. He was also an LA Theatre Review winner, getting the award for Best International Show in the same year.
“You start off with nothing, travelling hundreds of miles to get to a gig, often with my dad driving me around, and performing for no money. But I always believe good stuff will happen if you persevere, and it has,” says Jim.
A family man
The importance of Jim’s family is completely evident, as he peppers his stories with references to his daughter, and his mum and dad, who have supported his transition to comedy star and purveyor of multiple tattoos. He plans to make one of his next tattoos a series of paper planes along his arm, to remind him of his daughter singing the song Paper Planes, by M.I.A. He’d also like to fit championship wrestler Mick Foley in there somewhere, and cites his autobiography, Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks, detailing Foley’s rise to wrestling fame, as the most inspirational book he has ever read.
Jim’s show Tattooligan, which he is currently performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival until the end of August, deals with people’s reactions to his tattooed appearance. “I was at a restaurant in Edinburgh, and before the waiter had even asked me what I wanted to drink, he was rolling up my sleeves and examining my tattoos. He was brilliant. People do seem to think it’s more acceptable to come up and touch me because I’ve got tattoos – it’s not,” laughs Jim.
Dedication
Jim had the show’s name tattooed on his stomach, in what he says was one of the most painful experiences of his life. “With so much comedy at the Fringe, it’s difficult to set yourself apart, but as far as I know, no one has ever advertised their Fringe show through a tattoo. A lot of people don’t think it’s real.” Jim also has a bet going with fellow comedian, Martin Mor, who is performing at the festival. Whoever sells the least tickets has to get a new tattoo. For Jim, it would be a tattoo of a bearded Martin, and for Martin, a tattoo of a topless Jim. “Martin and I are really good friends, and he’s my comedy uncle, and we just thought, wouldn’t it be funny if we did this?”
Jim jokingly refers to himself as a “heavily tattooed idiot”, but I would kindly disagree. Discussing body piercing, Jim says, “My dad has officially banned me from getting both of my ears pierced, so I’ve got to respect that, and wait until he changes his mind.” I would go for less of the idiot, more of the perfect gent.
Show details: Jim Smallman: Tattooligan. Gilded Balloon, The Turret. 7:45pm. 10-28 August (not 17th)
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