From basement bars to the Sydney Opera House – Connor Burns’ success has soared since he stepped into comedy.
Having cut his teeth at open mics and performing to almost empty rooms, the comic is going from strength to strength as one of the most popular acts of this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Connor, from Gilmerton or ‘Trainspotting Edinburgh’ as he describes it, has recently returned from his third and most successful tour of and amassed millions of views online.
He recently announced his newest UK tour and his debut comedy special of his show Vertigo was released worldwide yesterday by prestigious label 800LB Gorilla.
Now Connor has a monumental 32 shows lined up for the World’s biggest arts festival, with more than 8,000 tickets sold so far.
It is a far cry from the 60 seater venue where he made his Fringe debut.
For the 31 year-old is ready to take his new show Gallus to the stage and enjoy working in his home city for a month.
Speaking exclusively to the Scottish Daily Mail, Connor recalls the early days of comedy, the advice he gives to new talent and the highlights of his career so far.
He said: ‘It’s funny to see the whole industry relocate to your home city for a month.’
Since stepping on to the stage in 2017 he has been propelled to stardom. He gave up a full-time job fixing washing machines to take the leap into comedy.
With some television performances under his belt and travelling the world for work, Connor is now looked upon for advice by new stand-ups.
He said: ‘It’s odd, new acts come up to me and ask for advice and I’m always thinking “I don’t know, I’m still making it up and flying by the seat of my pants!
‘But it’s really cool and I always try and give as much help as I can.
‘My advice is not to worry too much about this digital world that we’re living in.
‘A lot of new comedians rush to have an online presence, which is really important, you do need it and it has changed my career.
‘But, spend the first three years in the shadows getting really good.
‘The last thing you want to do is in five years’ time when you’re a good standup is look back at all the stuff you can’t get off the internet.’
He also advises not to give up part-time work too soon so there’s a steady income while trying to secure work in comedy and to practise
Connor added: ‘I waited until I was always asking to get shifts covered to do gigs, then made the jump.’
And he is someone who knows a thing or two about practising in the shadows.
Before solo shows were par for the course, he too honed his trade performing anywhere he could.
He said: ‘I started the way everyone does, grinding away in the open mic club circuit and doing gigs to the back of peoples’ heads when the football was on.
‘All the character-building experiences. There’s absolutely no substitute for that.
‘It was hard labour at the start, but I think you need that and it makes you bulletproof.’
Now Connor is reaping the rewards. Playing to audiences all over the world, he has built up a loyal fan base and gets to work with other greats in the industry.
He said: ‘I got to play the Opera House in Sydney. I can’t wrap my head around that because there’s also the big Billy Connolly connection there.
‘I got to play in New York this year too and go on stage in some of the legendary comedy clubs.
‘It’s terrifying, there’s picture of Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Bill Burr and I’m a wee guy from Gilmerton. Shows like that are really surreal.
‘I get to occasionally work with people like Kevin Bridges. I had his DVD before I did stand up.
‘When you get a message from someone like that who wants to work with you, it’s brilliant.’
His Fringe debut was in 2022 and the following year was a sellout even with another 2,000 seats added.
In March this year he sold out two solo performances at The King’s Theatre in Glasgow, a show his family were there to see.
That was a proud moment for the comedian, who largely doesn’t take himself too seriously.
He said: ‘My family will usually come see me one night every Fringe and they were at the Kings as well.
‘The Fringe is the one I’m always more nervous for because they’ve not heard the new show and I say “There’s a couple of jokes about you…”
‘My dad loves whenever I talk about him on stage.
‘For me, there’s always the thought if anything happened to them I love that they’ve been there to see me in a position in my career where they say “He made it”.
‘I got that feeling at The King’s. They’ve always been so supportive but that was really special to have had them see me do so well.’
Last year Connor’s Fringe show moved to The Nucleas and remains there for this year.
He said: ‘I’m back in the same venue this year, the big church at The Pleasance and there’s a lot of shows.
‘I’m doing 32 shows over the course of the Fringe – and it’s brand new.
‘This year the show is Gallus. I called it that because I think in Scotland we’re very aware of not being full of ourselves and it’s something I like about us.
‘We don’t let people forget who they are. A lot of it is comparing my time spent in America to here.
‘We can be a bit dour and I don’t think it’s all good, but it’s about how quite often the people who love you most will give you the hardest time.
‘But the Los Angeles mentality is different, the people who will step over you in a burning building will tell you you’re the best.
‘A lot of the show it is that, and me getting the chance to be a little bit…gallus.’
See here https://linktr.ee/connorburnscomedy for limited Edinburgh Fringe ticket availability.
Connor’s new comedy special is also available via the hyperlink as well as links to all his social media pages.