Jackson Smith aka Action Jackson (30): from the USA to Prague, where he entertains crowds with his stand-up comedy show
Let me start by asking you how did you get from far away San Diego to Prague?
When I was about 25 years old, in 2016, I had to have back surgery because I got injured while working in professional theatre. I was on sick leave for about 6 months, and the fourth day after I came back they fired me, saying they didn't need me anymore. I figured I didn't want to live in the US anymore, so I shared a question on Facebook asking where I should move to if I wanted to. I kind of suspected I wanted to go to Europe, but not to Spain or France, which is where every American who travels out of the country generally goes. A friend of mine sent me a private message saying that she had lived in Prague for about four years and loved it. She wrote that I would do very well in Prague too, and even though I knew nothing about the Czech Republic, I decided to go for it. Now I've been living in Prague for four years.
What was the biggest difference between the US and the Czech Republic that surprised you?
For example, in the Czech Republic you have to say hello to everyone when you go into the elevator and take your shoes off when you go to visit someone. I find the Czech Republic much more formal compared to California. We don't have any rules like that in California. We are more open and relaxed.
You say California is more open. What was it like for you growing up gay in California?
It was weird because I remember being bullied quite a bit. I know that people think that California must be great for the gay community, but it's not that Americans are that open, it's more like there are big extremes. There are a lot of people who say they love the LGBT community, but on the other hand there are also people who are extremely aggressive and violent. But I think things are moving in a good direction, for example the mayor of San Diego is openly gay and has support.
How do you feel here in the Czech Republic? Are you free to be who you are?
I can be completely myself. I'm currently dating a Slovakian guy and we normally walk around town holding hands, we also kiss in public and I would say that people in the Czech Republic don't pay much attention to us. I even get the occasional person who comes up to me and says that we are a nice couple and that it's great that we show our love like this. Of course, there are a few people who shout abuse at us, but my boyfriend kills them right away. In the end, I feel very comfortable here and most importantly for me there is no possibility of me hiding because I am not ashamed of anything. Plus, I'm American and I have no problem saying what I'm thinking right now, and if someone doesn't like it, they don't have to watch it, I don't force it on anyone.
Jackson Smith alias Action JacksonPhoto: Foto: se souhlasem Alexandry Šnaid
It's great that you have a positive experience, because I know of several cases where that's not the case...
On the other hand, I must add that many of my Czech friends have told me that Prague is a bit different from the rest of the country. So while it is comfortable for me to hold hands with a guy, it may not be so for my friends from smaller towns and villages. You have to take into account that Prague doesn't reflect what's going on in the rest of the country.
Do you plan on staying in the Czech Republic permanently, or do you want to return someday?
The thing is that before I left for Europe I went through a battle with cancer, which I managed to beat, but in 2019 the cancer came back, at a time when I was already in the Czech Republic, so I was treated here in Motol hospital. Now I am faced with the decision of whether to return to the US, where I will have to pay an awful lot of money, or stay in Prague as long as possible, as the healthcare is much more accessible here. I hope to get Czech citizenship, but I have to wait another six years for that. It may also happen that when my mom gets older, I will move back to California to take care of her. So we'll see how things turn out.
Is there anything you would change about the Czech Republic?
You should definitely change the politicians, your politicians are really garbage. At least some of them. Take walking down the street in Prague and nobody cares if you're gay, lesbian or straight, nobody cares. Why then do some politicians have to fight so vehemently against marriage for all and some will even say that trans people are intrinsically disgusting to them? Nobody asked them about it, nobody needed to hear anything like that... I have to say, you have a really beautiful country, but some politicians are really ruining its reputation.
I've seen a few of your shows and I must say you seem very cheerful and composed. Do you think your battle with cancer helped you do that?
I had to learn that, but cancer helped me realize that sometimes I shouldn't take everything so much and that I'm capable of doing a lot more things than I think. For example, when the coronavirus pandemic started to take off, I wasn't that worried about it because I was very sick and didn't admit as much, so I got through that period with a lot of strength and didn't freak out as much. I've already won the battle with cancer twice, what could be worse?
Has fighting cancer changed you personally in any way?
I've always been very optimistic, but I've definitely realized that life is too short to worry about what others think of me. I realized that I need to focus more on myself and do what I think is right. I need to take care of myself first and foremost, and when I understood that, my artistic career improved a lot because of it.
You currently have several shows regularly, not only in Prague. Did you do hosting and performing back in America?
I started singing at a young age when my mom signed me up for singing lessons. In high school I switched from singing to acting and then went to university. When I graduated, I started working in professional theater and pursued improvisational comedy. Until then, though, I had never done stand-up comedy. But when I came to Prague, I had a Czech friend at the time and he told me that I was funny and that I should do it, so I started and everybody liked it. Then I started doing more and more and I'm still doing it today.
If I'm not mistaken, you started Gay Agenda in 2018?
Yes, that's how we started and over time all the shows started selling out. Then I met Melancholia Blackbile, who is a Czech drag queen, and she told me that she wanted to get more involved and focus on some events and production. Melancholia introduced me more to the world of drag and burlesque and we hit it off. She was just looking for someone to help her with producing different events because there is an awful lot of work behind every event. We've been working together for over a year now and it's been great.
Do a lot of Czechs come to your shows or are they more expats?
The Gay Agenda show started primarily with expats, because I didn't really know anyone else here. It was mostly Americans, but now the audience at our show is always half Czechs and half people from abroad who live here. A lot of the things I talk about on stand-up are just stories I have from the Czech Republic, which is the best way to go because the audience can relate to it. If I talked about my life in California, the audience wouldn't be so into it.
What about the artists you work with?
It's varied, but I really enjoy discovering Czech artists because they often talk about themselves as if they don't have enough talent, but they're often wrong and I enjoy discovering them and then working with them. In the last two or three years, there have been a lot of new young artists on the scene and I love being a part of the literal drag explosion because a lot of young people are starting to get into drag. I regularly host the Melancholie Blackbile Boudoir Macabre event, which among other things allows emerging artists to perform who need more opportunities to better themselves. The only way drag culture will be uplifted is if aspiring artists have somewhere to perform.
Which of the local drag queens do you enjoy the most?
I really enjoy Dima Arrest, who I live with, but our living together is actually a bit of a problem. When a drag queen and a stand-up comedian live together, there's not enough room for costumes. (laughs) I also enjoy Hayley The Strange, who along with Dima is one of the best in the Czech Republic for me. Although Chlorophyll von Needle doesn't identify as a drag artist, I like her a lot and her work is of a very high standard. These three are TOP for me. I have to say that even in the US you don't see artists as good as here, at least I haven't seen as many.
Are you trying to bring some performers from America to the Czech Republic?
I don't want it to be too American, because it's too bad for everything...
Burlesque, stand-up show Gay Agenda... are you planning any other events?
I had a lot planned, but then the coronavirus hit us all. For example, I was planning a giant comedy cabaret show where there would be burlesque, stand-up comedy, and drag, and everyone could find their own thing. I see it as a huge show and I would have loved to invite major artists, but the coronavirus dealt a blow to that because I would need a big venue and a lot of people for such an event to pay for everything. I hope that maybe next year we can make this event happen.
Have you ever thought about taking your show abroad?
I'll put it this way: the worst thing was that I started my show in April 2019, was diagnosed with cancer in June, finished treatment in November 2019 and the coronavirus hit in March 2020. So the plans were huge, I've been wanting to start this for a long time and I hope that one day it will happen and our brand will spread across different European countries. I hope to make it a show that travels around Europe. I'd like to focus on European pride festivals.
And what's happening in the near future? Where can we invite people?
The next Gay Agenda stand-up comedy show is on November 13 at A Maze in Tchaiovna in Prague 6 and we're doing a Blackbile Draglesque show with Melancholia on November 20 at the same venue. Readers can find more information on my Instagram @actionjacksonprague.
