Mark Angel shared his experience during a recent interview with Teju Babyface, recalling how a friend who worked at Shell Nigeria used to insult him during his early days as a struggling skit creator. The friend questioned if Mark Angel intended to feed his family with his skits.
He began making sketches in 2013 but only gained significant recognition in 2015. However, financial success didn’t come until the next year. Despite the challenges and discouragement, Mark Angel persevered in his comedy career. He even employed the friend who once mocked him.
This story highlights his journey from a struggling skit creator to a successful and influential figure in the world of comedy.
During a recent interview with Teju Babyface, Mark Angel reflected on a time when a friend, who worked for Shell Nigeria, ridiculed his pursuit of a career in skit-making and questioned whether it could provide for his family. Mark Angel began creating skits in 2013 but only gained significant recognition in 2015. It wasn’t until 2016 that he achieved a breakthrough financially.
Mark shared, “I started making skits in 2013, but it wasn’t until 2015 that I began to gain recognition. My true breakthrough came in 2016 when I decided to fully commit to comedy. Before that, I was doing part-time photography and videography. I eventually let go of those to pursue skit-making full-time. It took three years for me to establish myself in this industry, and there were many moments of doubt and discouragement. But my unwavering vision and belief were stronger than any naysayers.”
He continued, “I even had a friend named Alloy who once nearly discouraged me from this path of skit-making. I remember a day when I was heading home from a shoot with my laptop and camera, and Alloy, who was employed by Shell Nigeria at the time, stopped me and said, ‘Mark, you plan to support your family with skits? Is this ‘foolishness’ your way of providing for your family? Walking around with your laptop and camera without any clear direction? At least, hire a motorcycle taxi!'”
“At that time, I was investing every penny I earned into my craft. Back then, the only way to get ahead was to pay bloggers to promote my skits. I even had one blogger on a monthly retainer, paying them N30,000 every month. Interestingly, Alloy, who once discouraged me, now works for my construction company. It’s always a fun topic for teasing, remembering how he mocked me during my early days as a struggling skit maker.”
