"YOU should look at people and bring them out. This is comedy. Comedians should act normally," said renowned American comedian Sinbad, who came to Egypt a few days ago for an open discussion, which was organised by the US Embassy in Cairo and was held in el- Sawy Cultural Centre, Zamalek. He doesn't tell jokes. Instead, he stalks the stage telling real-life stories. His comedy is large and physical. Ranked by Comedy Central as one of the top 100 standup comedians of all time, Sinbad has built a loyal following by taking the painful trials or embarrassing tribulations of audiences' daily trails, throwing them back in their faces, and causing hysterical comic uproar. "Comedians should learn about people and find something related to them. That's the way their jokes are born," he added. David Adkins (born in Benton Harbour, Michigan on November 10, 1956), better known by the stage name Sinbad, is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He became famous in the late 1980s and 1990s, from being featured on his own HBO specials, appearing in several television series, and starring in the films “Houseguest”, “First Kid” and “Jingle All the Way”. He's also starred in the movies “Necessary Roughness” and “Coneheads”, as well as in the television sitcom “A Different World” and his own series, “The Sinbad Show”. Most recently, he has appeared on the FX Television series “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and in his own one-hour Comedy Central special. Sinbad has redefined stand-up comedy and turned it into a family affair. He has an amazing ability to tell profound stories without being profane. For him, comedians are the only voice in their society. "They can make fun of everybody like politicians and other famous figures," he explained. Sinbad doesn't write down his jokes but rather tells them spontaneously and ends when he feels that he should end. For him, it's a matter of feeling. To get attention, he performs all kinds of wacky stunts. He has also developed a sharp wit. That's why he uses the name Sinbad on stage. “I renamed myself Sinbad because Sinbad is bad. He could hang with rogues and with kings. He didn't have the strength of Hercules, but he could outwit anyone,” he said. An unusual-looking figure in his teens, young David Adkins attended the University of Denver on a basketball scholarship and was named ‘Red Chamberlain' for his amazing height and even more unusual red hair. He switched from sports to comedy in 1983, when he began touring. “I prayed, ‘Please Lord, this is hard work. So if I'm not funny let me know right away'.” The event last week in Cairo, entitled “An Evening with Sinbad: Learning the Business behind being Funny”, focused on emerging comedians in Egypt and their questions about beginning and advancing in the entertainment industry. Sinbad advised comedians to go for it. He suggested they go to any club and ask the manager to let them perform, even if it's just for one night. "Invite your friends, your family, everyone. Who knows, it might be a hot night." Sinbad added that there were no rules for comedians; the only rule is to be funny. “There are no books to teach you comedy. "If you are funny with friends, take this fun onto the stage. If you analyse your comedy, you'll never be funny," he stressed. Being a comedian may urge people not to trust you or take your feelings seriously. But this notion is gravely erroneous, as comedians are the most serious and sensitive people in the world. This was very clear when Sinbad shared his views on comedy with members of the public on June 20 in the Sawy Culture Centre. It was the first time for Sinbad to come to Egypt but he seemed to like it, while many Europeans liked his act. "When I said I'll travel to Egypt, they told me don't touch people, watch your hands, don't drink water, don't… But the people are very kind, I love this country. The people have great faith, crossing streets full of rushing cars. I'm really glad I came here," he explained. "Many Americans think of Egypt as consisting solely of camels, deserts and pyramids. I never knew that the Giza Pyramids were so close to the city," he said in his funny way, making people laugh.
