Online to Offline - Social Media Influencers

Online to Offline: Why social media influencers need stand-up comedy

Across all of his social media platforms Australian comedian Reuben Solo has over 800,000 followers. His Instagram sits at 235,000 followers, YouTube at 19,000 subscribers and over 560,000 followers on TikTok. He chooses not to be on Facebook. He’s Gen Z after all. Reuben has attracted this enormous following by filming skits, where he often plays all the characters. To …

Hard Knock Knocks Knocks Students

Australian comedians building the next generation

Some of the Australia’s funniest stand-up comedians coach the Hard Knock Knocks comedy courses around Australia. Actually, that’s not entirely true. We also have funny Brits (Jeff Green and Glynn Nicholas), Japanese (Mayumi Nobetsu) and did you know that Greg Fleet is actually an American?! These hilarious comics provide advice, give feedback, and share their comedic journeys. They also perform …

Dark Comedy

Australia’s Top 5 Dark Comedians

Australia is home to some stellar dark comedians. Before we get into our top five however, let’s answer the question, “What is dark comedy?” As a somewhat controversial topic, it is often misunderstood. What is dark comedy? Mental health struggles, addiction, divorce, death, you name it. If’s clearly not reminding you of rainbows and unicorns, then it’s most likely ‘dark’. …

Generating Ideas for Comedy

Generating Ideas for Stand-up Comedy

Generating ideas for stand-up comedy is difficult at the best of times. Just about any topic is open game, but that freedom doesn’t make joke writing easier. If anything, the brain needs constraint to help focus the creative muscle. Here’s four constraints that we use at the Hard Knock Knocks comedy school to help our students generate ideas for stand-up …

Raw Comedy - Melbourne International Comedy Festival

How do you enter Raw Comedy in 2025?

Are you thinking to enter Raw Comedy 2025? Registrations aren’t open yet, but read on in preparation. Got no idea what Raw Comedy is?  Well, what you should know is that Raw Comedy is Australia’s largest amateur comedy competition for, well, raw comedians. And by ‘raw’ the competition’s organisers mean you’ve not earned more than $500 total from comedy – …

Why do stand-up comedy clubs have red curtains and brick walls

Why do stand-up comedy clubs have red curtains and brick walls?

Google the term ‘stand-up comedy clubs’ and you’ll be presented with images of comedians in front of red curtains and brick walls. But why? Why are these backdrops so ubiquitous with the comedy industry? Quite simply, it’s the combination of utility and humble beginnings. Red Curtains Stand-up comedy originates from the stages of Vaudeville. Borrowed from the French and modified …

open mic versus curated comedy rooms

The difference between open mic and curated comedy rooms

Developing your comedy career requires a commitment to stage time. The Hard Knock Knocks comedy school is first to say rehearsal is vital to a successful comedy career. That’s why we encourage our graduates to produce their own comedy rooms. So what’s the difference between open mic and curated comedy rooms, and just as importantly, how do you get gigs? …

Comedian pointing by Jena Friedman

A Guide to Melbourne’s Comedy Rooms

So you’re after a fun night out, and watching stand-up comedy in Melbourne is at the top of the list. Well, you’re in luck, because Melbourne, and its neighbouring inner suburbs, has some of the best comedy clubs, pubs and rooms in the world! Really! Lonely Planet writer, Tim Richards, ranks North Melbourne’s The Comic’s Lounge as the world’s number 7, …

Jimmy Carr Comedian

Is it a dumb idea to teach stand-up comedy?

Comedian Jimmy Carr has made a bold statement regarding teaching stand-up comedy. In his first interview with Joe Rogan on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Carr not only said that you can teach stand-up comedy, but that it should even be taught in schools. “I don’t think it’s a dumb idea to teach stand-up comedy and to say, everyone should …