Read on Twitter
I'm only peripherally in Irish comics and long gone out of Irish comedy at this stage but recently I've been thinking about how to manage my own influence responsibly even if it is small. I don't usually tweet, but, a thread.
Earlier this year I almost screened my short film at a Galway venue at the request of an old comedy acquaintance, until another woman filled us in on the owner and we pulled out.
idk my acquaintance's motivations for screening there or remaining silent, but that clout-by-association was working FOR the predator + his venue, both financially and by putting filmmakers + performers in danger. And if we screened there, we'd be doing that work too
And that's connections from comedy, which I was barely involved in about 7 years ago, spilling into film. Because Ireland is small, and connections are crucial + lots of the time you have no choice but to trust people
When considering my 'influence' in Irish comics, I initially thought, what power could I possibly abuse? The Jam is just a website, a spotty newsletter and some people drawing in a pub. But if it hadn't been a safe place for me, I wouldn't be in comics today.
The @DublinComicJam is thankfully now just a tiny part of a growing scene, but it's still some people's first introduction to comics, just like a shop or a con could be, and we have to take that seriously - and be AT MINIMUM a SAFE introduction.
Anyway idk what this all means but I don't want to be providing cover for predators either by action or inaction + I want comedy and comics to be places for joy and creative expression. Consider the influence you have on your audience+friend networks and listen/speak accordingly
And I'm so so grateful to the people that have shared their stories, both publicly and with me in the past.
