HAVE you ever told a joke and had people stare at you blankly?

Aspiring comedian Pablo Mashiloane had a taste of that while starting out in Johannesburg in 2012. But he didn't abandon his dream of being a funny man; he went back to the drawing board and worked hard to refine his lines.

He realised that there is a thin line between being seen as a clown and being a comedian.

Mashiloane, 22, who has performed at the Soweto Comedy Festival and Tshwane Comedy Nights, has since grown to know how to tell jokes that make people laugh.

Born in the Far East Rand township of KwaThema, Springs, he admits that it was hard when he started out.

Last year was smooth sailing for Mashiloane and, last week, he was crowned the First King of Stand-up on The Freeway - a comedy battle segment in The Freeway, DJ Mo Flava's show on YFM.

Now that he understands how things work, Mashiloane is taking comedy to the township with his concept Comedy Begins at Home.

The show will be held at his home in Chris Hani Street in Extension 7, KwaThema, on Sunday.

Mashiloane believes it's time township folk enjoyed comedy right where they live. At the show he will perform stand-up for an hour and then share the stage with some upcoming hip-hop musicians.

"People have now grasped that there is comedy. But those who do not have their own transport find it hard to get to places where they can enjoy it."

Unlike many stand-up comedians who rely on a staple of swear words and insulting others, Mashiloane keeps it clean.

He talks about people, perceptions and draws contrasts between the lives of township dwellers and suburbia residents.

His favourite joke is how jogging is treated differently in the suburbs and in the townships. He says in the townships people will judge you, while in the suburbs they get to encourage joggers.

If comedy did not take over Mashiloane's life, he would be doing his third year in accounting at Wits University.

He dropped out in the first year after realising that accounting was too serious for him.

He then joined Kedibone Mulaudzi's South African Comedy Academy, graduated, and has run with it.

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