Not funny, no pay: Douglas Lim on why today’s comedians need more than open mics to make it big

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 — Malaysian comedian Douglas Lim believes the biggest difference between today’s rising comics and his generation is simple: pressure.

While welcoming the growing number of young comedians on the local stand-up scene, Lim said many newer performers are missing the kind of high-stakes experience that helped shape comedians like himself and Harith Iskandar.

Speaking to Malay Mail in a recent Zoom interview ahead of his Vital Stats show at Istana Budaya on August 15, Lim said corporate performances early in his career taught him lessons that open mics could not.

“Earlier comedians like myself and Harith Iskandar started with corporate shows, which were very high-pressure.

“If you weren’t funny, you simply didn’t get paid.

“That built a very tough foundation.

“Today, many comedians start with open mics, which are great for learning.

“They are low-pressure and very supportive, but the jump from open mic to paid, high-stakes shows is big,” he said.

According to Lim, the real challenge comes when comedians leave the safety of open mics and perform for paying audiences with much higher expectations.

Even so, he said open mics remain an essential first step for anyone interested in stand-up comedy.

“Many people want to perform without actually understanding how comedy works.

“In Kuala Lumpur, there are places like KL Comedy Corner and KL Comedy Club where open mics happen regularly.

“Go watch a few shows first.

“Then talk to comedians or organisers.

“Most of them are friendly and willing to help,” he said.

“After that, try writing a short set, maybe three minutes, and go up on stage.

“Learn through experience,” he added.

Lim is currently touring Vital Stats, with performances across Australia, New Zealand, Sabah and Sarawak before wrapping up at Istana Budaya on August 15.

The show adds another milestone to a career that has seen him become one of Malaysia’s best-known stand-up comedians.

In 2024, he became the first stand-up comedian to stage a solo performance at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas.

Beyond comedy, Lim has also built an extensive acting career, appearing in stage productions such as P. Ramlee The Musical and Ola Bola The Musical, as well as television series including Kopitiam and films such as 1957: Hati Malaya.

Despite his packed tour schedule, Lim revealed he is also attached to a new acting project, although details remain under wraps.