I have worked with a great many comedians as opposed to comics, although I have worked with comics as well, I make the distinction.
It's totally mistaken to suppose that an armed escort is going to give a journalist any protection - on the contrary, journalists who turn up surrounded by armed personnel are just turning themselves into targets and in even worse danger.
I was an open, smiley and gregarious child. I could make friends in 30 seconds wherever I went.