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 comedy company, the 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 in …
Have you asked yourself, “How do I become a stand-up comedian in Australia?” There’s no one pathway to learn stand-up comedy. Dave Hughes took over four years on the open mic scene, whereas, some, like Chris Franklin and Matt Okine rose to fame quickly. But what is absolutely universal is that there is no substitute for practice. The more often …
“The mind works in mysterious ways” – and the stand-up comic utilises this to reach deep into his or her psyche to find something that will make us laugh. So what happens when comic relief comes from someone with a mental illness? Often, it’s highly inventive. A mental illness can often take its sufferer to places that the sane never …
Never has there been more important time to laugh. News and social media are bombarding us with doomsday predictions, nuclear annihilation, and societal chaos. Not that the kids have noticed. The average kid between 3 and 6 will laugh around 400 to 600 time’s a day, whereas their ‘miserable’ parents only chuckle between 12 to 15 times. It’s not surprising …
Stand-up comedy is no longer a man-only affair – and rightly so. Today Australia is blessed with an abundant choice of female comedians – appearing on stage, panels, news platforms, and sitcoms. We’ve gathered a smattering of performers in the list below, and would like to ask, “who is your favourite?” Know your Aussie comedians: Cal Wilson – The late …
We Aussies know that our land is girt by sea, and filled with hilarious talent. While some of our comedians have stayed home, others have gone for far-off locations – and made their mark. Here’s three of the hottest Australian comedians in the UK right now. ADAM HILLS Most people in the UK have heard of this Australian legend. The disabled …
YOU LIKELY REMEMBER THE STAND-UP GENIUSES Billy Connolly and Bill Bailey. Chance are you have DVDs of their performances to catch over and over again. But UK comedy has changed over the years. There are now TV shows and comedy news programs bringing more UK comedians to the limelight. Here’s a look at three top UK comedians today. Sarah Millican Sarah …
