The Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) is the largest stand-alone comedy festival in the world, and the second-largest international comedy festival on the planet. Typically running for four weeks from March through April, it plays host to thousands of the best local and international comedians. A good chunk of those comedians are alumni from our very own Hard Knock Knocks …
When it comes to becoming a stand-up comedian, not much has changed in the last 30 years. Turn up to a pub that runs an open mic night. Perform five minutes of embarrassing jokes. Then repeat. Do that for three or four years, night after night, and you might have a shot at the big time. Maybe. That’s how Christine …
The School of Hard Knock Knocks is a stand-up comedy school. Of course it is! The Lord of the Fries makes great, well, fries. And Splashdown is in fact a real portable toilet rental service – made famous by actor Shane Jacobson’s movie, Kenny. These are some of Australia’s funniest business names. These names also stick in our minds. Humour …
This special of article on public speaking was written by Michelle Bowden, presentation and persuasion coach. Speaking in public is something that’s becoming more and more difficult to avoid. Whether you’re a C-suite leader, a middle manager or a team member, at some stage you’re going to have to report on the progress of that project you’re working on, update …
We’ve all been there. It’s new years eve, and armed with one too many chardonays we announce to complete strangers that this year we’re going follow our dreams! *hick* And this year, our new year’s resolution is going to be…perform stand-up comedy! There’s one of two scenarios at this point. ONE Your friends start laughing at you (notice: not with …
It should be a joke, but it’s so successful. One Aussie company, the School of Hard Knock Knocks, has turned the traditional business model of suppliers being paid by customers on its head. Instead they pay their customers! So what is their business? They teach stand-up comedy. The business model flip isn’t a marketing fad either. The school was established …
If you’ve ever wanted to learn stand-up comedy, but don’t have the time to hit the late night open mic nights, or undertake a stand-up comedy course, then an online course might be for you. Here’s a comprehensive list of online stand-up comedy courses to choose from: Hard Knock Knocks Online Course Price: AU$199.95 | Learn more If you don’t …
So you enjoy comedy, eh? The question is, “how well do you know your comedians?” Take this 2 minute comedy quiz to find out. Powered by
Guest post by public speaking guru, Michelle Bowden. Many of the students that undertake a School of Hard Knock Knocks stand-up comedy course do so to improve their confidence, timing, and comedic edge as keynote speakers. And one of Australia’s most experienced trainers of keynote speakers is Michelle Bowden, and she’s happily shared her advice on public speaking – of …
