One of the most common questions asked by Hard Knock Knocks comedy students is “How much do stand-up comedians make?” It’s a valid question, but unfortunately one that is hard to answer. Firstly, the industry is not regulated by an Award rate, unlike other jobs within The Arts. While the Australian Government’s Fair Work Ombudsman’s ‘Pay Guide – Live Performance …
There’s no quick answer to this question. In short, “It depends.” Facebook and Instagram ads can be a powerful tool to sell tickets for your comedy show, but they’re not a guaranteed success. Before you commit your hard-earned cash, consider these five important factors: 1. Is this for a festival or one off show? Timing plays a huge role in …
The Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School is coming up to our tenth year of coaching stand-up comedy, and one thing we know for sure, graduates are super keen to perform at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, ASAP. But are they ready? Performing a ‘tight five‘ at a Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School graduation is one thing. Performing over multiple nights …
⚠️ Alert! Joe White is the guest celebrity comedian for the November comedy course in Melbourne. Comedian Joe White has made significant strides in the comedy world, establishing himself as a unique voice in Australian stand-up. Known for his ability to weave cultural insights with humour, Joe has become a favourite at major events, particularly the Perth Fringe, Melbourne International …
Photo: Eddie PerfectPhoto Credit: Melbourne International Comedy Festival / Jim Lee Photo So how do you get to perform at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) in 2025? Is it invite only? Do you need to know the mayor? Is a bribe required? The good news for Australians and New Zealanders is that anyone can perform – without a bribe. …
Each year close to 1000 amateur comedians compete in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Raw Comedy competition. Getting past a heat is an accomplishment, but winning a State Final to get into Raw Comedy National Final is incredible. And Hard Knock Knocks graduates have done just that. Six times! Stella Wu – Graduated May 2023 Stella Wu graduated from the …
Two of the 12 finalists of Australia’s Funniest Boomer were Hard Knock Knocks alumni. But this should come as no surprise. After all, the comedy school, which has over 700 graduates across the country, had three alumni reach the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Raw Comedy national final this year. That’s an impressive record, and one reason the Hard Knock Knocks …
(Updated 23 April, 2025) We’re going to go with 175. But answering how many stand-up comedians there are in Australia is tricky, given the transient nature of this performing art. Comedians often take a break from ‘gigging’ to jump on jobs in theatre, radio, TV and even writing books. Here’s our ‘living document’ our ‘Stand-up comedian list’ of current list …
What do Tim Urban, Sir Ken Robinson and Amy Cuddy all have in common. First, they are the most watched presenters on TED, having each been watched by over 60 million! And second, they all include humour in their presentations. And since close to 50,000 talks have been given at 10,000 events since TED launched in 2009, it’s fair to …
