5 Minutes with Haris Khan: The Canadian comic talks about his rise from class clown to touring performer

Canadian comic Haris Khan. Courtesy of Haris Khan

My first funny memory was in grade one. I was copying an essay about myself from my classmate and she was a girl.

The first stand up show I ever saw I really can't remember, but I know it must have been be on video.

My first gig was back in school. I was always the class clown, that's why I was an "Out-Standing-student". My first real gig was in March 2010 at the Pass The Hat show in the city of Regina, Canada. I hardly did a four minute set but since then I did well as an amateur comic and I never stopped making people laugh.

My live show now is fun and full of racial humour. Bringing people from different ethnicities under one roof, my shows can be called a United Nation comedy show. Most of my shows that I produce are fund-raising shows and I have raised more than $15,000 (Dh55,000) for charitable organisations in Canada.

My favourite comics are Katt Williams, Russell Peters and Mitch Hedberg.

If I wasn't a stand-up comic I would have become a petroleum engineer. I would still be making people laugh but instead of the clubs and bars it would be at the oil rigs.

• Harris Khan performs on Wednesday March 4 at the 1Up Champions Bar, Boutique 7 Hotels and Suits, TECOM Dubai at 8pm. Free entry. For details go to www.facebook.com/funnyharis