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You might not have picked it, but according to Nik Bruce-Smith law and comedy have an odd sort of ying-and-yang about them.

“I’ve learnt that being a lawyer and doing stand-up comedy have a lot in common; it’s all about understanding people.”

Tell us about your day job?

I have been a lawyer at Chapman Tripp for just over four years now in the Wellington Litigation team. What I love the most about being a lawyer is your job is essentially to take big and tricky problems, and solve them. No two days are ever the same.

Tell us about your creative work when you’re NOT doing your day job?

I got into stand-up comedy a few years back as a dare, and it has just taken off since then. I have been fortunate enough to perform all around New Zealand alongside top national and international comedians. The best part is seeing that moment a joke connects with an audience member.

How do you manage juggling both?

I struggle and don’t sleep much. The key to making it work has been that work, and in particular my bosses, are extremely supportive of my comedy aspirations. I’ve learnt that being a lawyer and doing stand-up comedy have a lot in common; it’s all about understanding people.

Tell us about your creative background.

Theatre, speech and drama were all big parts of my life growing up. My mum is an English teacher and did quite a bit of theatre growing up, so I have always been a bit of a Shakespeare nerd. I even managed to have a brief cooking segment for a while on What Now when I was 11. 

What has inspired you? Who or what keeps you going?

Hands down my mum has been my biggest inspiration, both in terms of my creative pursuits and my other career aspirations. I think it is easy to have someone say to you “go out and do what you love” but hard to really listen to that message. Knowing that my mum would be proud no matter what I did has really given me that go explore the ‘what ifs’ in life.

Would you like your creative work to be full-time?

For now, I like the balance between the two worlds. I think one of my real strengths in both is that I can draw from my experiences in the other. Law and comedy have this odd sort of ying-and-yang about them in my life. But maybe ask me again when I am really tired and stressed.

If you had the chance to start your creative career or path again, what would you do differently?

Nothing. I like that it was random and unplanned. It made the start feel organic and I could just let it grow from there.

What advice would you give to someone pursuing a similar creative career or pathway?

Think about your life as being one big story. The chapters in it you are always going to remember and tell people about are the ones where you went on the adventure. I guess what I am saying is embrace the ‘what ifs’ in life, don’t dwell on them.

Tell us about your recent or upcoming creative projects.

My big project on the horizon is my first ever hour-long solo show in the 2016 NZ International Comedy Festival. I have held out until now putting on my first solo show, as I wanted to wait until I had that instinctual kick that now was the time to pull the trigger and do it.

What’s your big idea for 2016?

Plan not to plan.

• Nik Bruce-Smith performs his show Taylor Swift, Will You Marry Me? at the Cavern Club in Wellington 03 May – 07 May as part of the 2016 NZ International Comedy Festival.
• Nik also performed at the First Laughs showcase at the Wellington Opera House, hosted by Rhys Darby, as part of the 2016 NZ International Comedy Festival.