BUSINESS PROFILE

NAME: DIRK DENOYELLE
AGE: 43
COMPANY: GRASMUS PRODUCTIONS
CURRENT POSITION: MULTILINGUAL COMEDIAN

DIRK DENOYELLE IS ONE OF BELGIUM’S TOP COMEDIANS, SPECIALISING IN TAILOR-MADE PERFORMANCES FOR COMPANIES, CONFERENCES AND EVENTS. HE STUDIED MICRO-ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUVAIN IN BELGIUM, BUT HAS BEEN A COMEDIAN SINCE 1991. OBSESSED WITH LANGUAGES, HE PERFORMS IN DUTCH, ENGLISH, FRENCH, GERMAN, SPANISH AND DANISH.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO RELAX?

I enjoy reading what I call ‘youth’ books like Mary Hoffman’s Stravaganza. I don’t like the philosophical stuff – it shouldn’t get more complicated than Agatha Christie. It has to be entertaining!

I also build Lego heads. About seven years ago I had the fantastic idea of asking Lego to sponsor me. They sent over some Lego bricks and I built the heads of famous people like Joe Cocker and Elton John. They have toured Belgium and Holland, but now they’re stored in the Toy Museum in Mechelen.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST INDULGENCE?

Playing Die Siedler von Catan, a superb board game by Klaus Teuber. I have every version of the game. The idea is that you have to colonise an island; it involves at least three people and takes about an hour and a half to complete. I usually play with my family and some friends. I also can’t resist bookshops. The Germans have a good selection of ‘youth’ books which I discovered two years ago, so now every time I go to Germany I come back with a pile of books.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY?

My Apple computers. I’ve been using them since the late 1980s and all my creativity is shaped in front of an Apple screen. I’ve always felt that they are more user-friendly than PCs.

WHERE DO YOU GO FOR INSPIRATION?

My office. I switch on my computer and I start. At the end of the day, I terminate. I don’t believe in visiting a beautiful spot or taking holidays to get inspiration – I don’t need it. I also don’t have time for that. I have to personalise my shows for every company I work for, and with up to 15 jobs a month that means I have to work very fast.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?

It was a PR job for IMEC, the world’s largest independent research centre for micro-electronics. I worked there for two years, which I liked, but the problem was I wanted to be an entertainer, and working there I felt I was only half an entertainer.

DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST BOSS?

Sure! He was the person who told me I should become the first European comedian. He was a very driven man. I still keep in touch with him and every three years we meet for lunch and he fills me in on what’s going on at IMEC.

WHO DO YOU MOST ADMIRE?

Tough question. Probably my wife as I don’t think I’m easy to live with. There’s also a tram driver here in Antwerp whom I know and respect a lot – his name is Jan Gillis. What I like about him is that he’s extremely friendly and always has the right approach for difficult passengers. He really loves his job and was even elected employee of the year for the whole of Belgium once. He is also much liked by the African population, who call him ‘Papa Africa’. I suppose he is someone who treats everyone as an equal, which has to be an example to us all.

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?

To focus! About eight years ago, I used to perform for many different public markets – theatre, radio, student associations, as well as companies. I felt something wasn’t quite right with my business, so I went to see a friend, who is knowledgeable about marketing. His advice was to concentrate on one market and create one act appropriate for that market. So I bought a suit and focused on the educated business market. Since then, business has been booming.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

Telling a joke and seeing a thousand people laughing. I also love learning new things. I attend many conferences and perform in domains I’ve never even heard about before. I also get to learn about the psychology of company life – that’s great fun for me.

WHAT DO YOU FIND DIFFICULT?

Finding the exact tone a client wants. With companies there can be sensitive issues – each company is different and it can be very tricky.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FINEST MOMENT?

Performing my first show in Danish and learning afterwards that people loved it – I’ve never been so nervous in my life. The ideal joke to begin with in a Danish performance is to tell them you don’t speak very good Danish, but that you speak it better than the guy their queen is married to! (Prince Henrik who is French). If you start with that one they think you’re a good guy.

WHAT HAVEN’T YOU DONE THAT YOU’D LIKE TO DO?

Professionally, I haven’t performed in the USA yet. I’d love to do that. Personally, I am very eager to visit Australia and New Zealand.

www.dirkdenoyelle.com