English Stand-Up Comedy in Szeged turns one year old - meet founder and organizer Péter Takács

Péter Takács is the founder and organizer of Stand-Up Szeged, a comedy promoter bringing monthly English comedy nights and open-mic events to the city of sunshine. Now, after one year of successful events, we take you a little bit behind the scenes to learn about Péter’s inspiration and experiences.

How did you first get interested in comedy, and what inspired you to become a comedian?

My dad is a funny guy, so I always wanted to emulate him growing up. We used to listen to a lot of Hofi on tape when I was a kid. As far as stand-up comedy goes, I was first introduced to it by a classmate during my SZTE University years in the American Studies BA program. He showed me a Chris Rock HBO special, and I was instantly hooked.

Can you tell us a bit about your experience performing English stand-up comedy in Hungary? Are there any unique challenges or opportunities that come with performing in this country?

So far, I have performed at open mics in Budapest and our own shows in Szeged. Both crowds here and there are very similar as they are mostly made up of foreign students and expats with some Hungarians in the mix. It is always very rewarding doing these shows because this type of crowd doesn’t really have other cultural events aimed at them, just the occasional dance parties. So, they are always very eager to participate, and a good audience makes all the difference.

What made you decide to start organizing English stand-up comedy nights in Szeged? How has the response been from the local community and your fellow comedians?

When I moved back to Szeged after living in Budapest for 2 years, I already did a couple of open mics there and figured this type of stuff (stand-up in English) could work very well in Sun City too, given that there are a lot of foreign people living here as well and, as I mentioned previously, there aren’t a lot of events aimed at them. Also, I have always loved organizing stuff so I thought I’d give it a go, and see what happens. So I asked my comedian friends from Budapest if they would like to come down and do a show to “test the waters”. They were in, and we did our first show, where a 100 people turned up far surpassing all our expectations - the rest as they say is history.

Can you describe what a typical open-mic night is like? How do you decide who gets to perform, and what advice would you give to someone interested in trying out stand-up for the first time?

Open mics are a lot of fun. It’s usually a smaller crowd (20-30 people) so quite the welcoming and supportive atmosphere, which is ideal for trying out new material or doing stand-up for the first time. Anyone is welcome to perform at these events. If they want a spot, they will get it. The only limit is a maximum of 10 performers/show. My advice for those who want to try their hands at stand-up is: DO IT! Try it on for size. It’s always a fun experience.

Who are some of your biggest comedic influences, and how have they shaped your approach to comedy?

This is a tough one. I mean there are so many… Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, the late great Richard Pryor, George Carlin & Robin Williams, and the more current ones: Christopher Titus and Bill Burr. Also, the Hungarian comedy legend: Hofi. They all shaped my sense of humor for sure and taught me to observe the world around me and find the funny bits in everything.

What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as a comedian and comedy organizer, and how could you overcome them?

Happy to report that so far (knock on wood) it has been pretty smooth sailing. Sure, you have nights when you bomb and difficulties while organizing but you just have to power through those and trust that it will all work out - and usually, it does.

How do you come up with new material for your comedy performances, and what is your process for refining and testing your jokes?

I come up with my best jokes under the shower, then immediately forget them as soon as I step out of the shower, then spend days trying to remember them and piece them together again. I should really find a solution to this. Anyway, in terms of refining, that’s what the open mics are for.

What advice would you give to aspiring comedians who are just starting? What are some of the most important things to keep in mind when trying to make people laugh on stage?

Watch a lot of stand-ups and take notes. Once you have a handle on how to construct a joke, practice your delivery. Delivery is everything. You can even make a bad joke work with good delivery. And finally, try to find your own voice. Talk about the things that you find funny, and draw on your personal experience. The audience recognizes and rewards authenticity.

Editor's Note: Géza Hofi (1936-2002) was a Hungarian actor and comedian legend of the 70s and 80s.

Photos and featured image by Szilvia Molnar / Szegedify