Meet the Team Series Is Back! 🤗
Hello hello! With how busy the last couple of months have been, I haven't had the chance to do another Meet the Team post - but tonight you're in luck. I asked our Co-Founder and Creative Director, Kenny, some questions so you can get to know him better. Here's what he had to say...
What’s your role at NextUp, in normal human terms?: Creative Director - I look after the brand and the brand direction including when we launch new aspects or create new things.
Why did you start NextUp?: A genuine love of comedy and the general scene. I’d worked heavily in music, but my passion has always been in comedy. There was an opportunity to create something new as the internet evolved and video became more possible.
Who/What got you into comedy?: Monty Python without a doubt, but after that, I began writing and performing silly skits etc in school and at one point (prior to podcastsing being what it is today) had a pretty popular video podcast. This was way back in 2000 - 2002 so very early days.
Who’s your favourite comedian (or one you keep coming back to)?: I’ve always been a sucker for the absurd and the surreal. I love performance based comedians especially those that also subvert the genre. My all time favs from the well known are Sam Simmons, Paul Foot, Tony Law, and then probably not as well known would be Dr Brown, Elf Lyons, Jordan Brookes, & Anna Mann.
Besides comedy, what are your other interests/hobbies: Anything RPG or fantasy or role play related. Naturally that puts me in the gaming category, but more so I love worldbuilding, writing stories within imaginary worlds, playing D&D and any other complicated table top board games.
When and where were you born and raised?: 1984, in Jersey, in the channel islands.
What’s your most used emoji?: Sly look, for so many reasons.
Do you have any pets?: I have 3 miniature dachshunds, Einstein, named after Doc Brown's dog from Back to The Future Part 1, Copernicus, named after Doc Brown's dog from Back to the Future Part 2, and Merlin, who i didn’t name and we have inherited. They make up the trio of the most barky dogs in the world.
Tea or coffee?: Tea, always tea, but with 5 sugars in the morning, gradually tapering off throughout the day until an evening tea only with 1 sugar.
Ideal night in activity and ideal night out activity?: Ideal night in activity, dim lighting, chinese take away, good fantasy, sci fi or horror movie, followed by a drink and good disseminating chat, followed by late night solo gaming. Ideal night out, a D&D session. Pizza, drinks, friends, a good story and terrible dice rolls.
Who is your favourite singer at the moment?: Nick Cave
Hope you guys enjoyed learning more about Kenny! In a world full of AI, know that there are REAL, passionate humans behind this platform. So looking forward to continuing this series! 😁
