How did a grumpy table magician find a way to turn “being pathetic” into 400 shows a year in his own theatre at Las Vegas? Only Piff The Magic Dragon knows!
We’ll discover how a shop-bought dragon costume flicked the switch from sackable corporate table guy, to deadpan bulletproof performer and self-styled “loser of America’s Got Talent”. Along the way we’ll find out why the perfect show will never happen, and why a fear of failure turns most magicians into “hack copycats”…
30 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Piff on the invention of his own tricks, and how something new with a block of jelly has already cost him two and half years and over $70,000; how own bad magic and guilty shortcuts; his evangelist uprising; and what comics can learn from magicians.
Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.
Energetic, elastic and totally committed to being “the toughest kid on the estate” when it comes to his ability to get laughs, Russell Kane has firm ideas about his precise place in the comedy firmament.
We talk about the creative power of his exceptional on-stage energy; his surprising reaction to Stewart Lee’s material about him; his unerring ability to mind-map a topic and see the central idea immediately; and learn about the hour-long preview which he scripted in just eight words, moments before walking onstage…
25 minutes of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes Russell’s incredible advice for comics considering performing live standup on YouTube, and thoughts on his possible over-commitment to showing one particular critic who was boss…
The single confidant who suggested that his experiments with image were driving away his long-term audience…
@russell_kane
www.russellkane.co.uk
And subscribe to his channel on YouTube, home of the “Kane-ing”
Everything Stu's up to:
Stu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.
“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!” - Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)
The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott, (SVP at Merkle)
For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.virtualofficeparty.co.uk
Stu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.
“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)
Find out more at www.comedyinsights.com
This podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagram
The co-host and co-creator of Dara O Briain's Go 8 Bit, Steve McNeil started his career in sketch comedy, and has enjoyed an invigoratingly twisty journey through multiple genres, currently specialising as a twitch gamer and host, with new project #WiFiWars gathering momentum online as we speak. We talk about his pivot away from TV, the single most agonising factor that led to the demise of "Go 8 Bit", his new special "Hey Listen!" and his recent battles with his mental health.
30 mins of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club focuses Steve's tips and tricks for growing an audience on Twitch, and what comics can expect to find when trying to explore that fertile territory! Sign up now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders
As the live comedy circuit undergoes a painful transformation into some unknown new form, there HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME to keep the podcast alive and get hold of oodles of sweet extra content (including the new special episode about The Great Pivot with ComCom Consultant Pete Dobbing) with a regular subscription. Join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders
And join Stu Goldsmith for a Working Lunch! Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/lunch to book your one-to-one social, or professional, online lunch date with Stu!
"America's Funnyman" Neil Hamburger is the disturbing comic creation of Gregg Turkington; deeply funny, vile and poignant in equal measure. Ordinarily reluctant to talk about his alter-ego, Gregg gradually uncovers his love for outsider art, and the qualities he considers genius. We learn about the origins of Neil in prank phone calls and fake live shows, the comedy he can't stand and why, and the utterly original concept behind his live albums.
Over 30mins of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Gregg on being booed onto the stage supporting Tenacious D at Reading Festival, and how it meant no more to him than a crowd at Madison Square Garden chanting his name! We also learn the surprising basis to whom he won't attack and why, and find out why he considers interviews pointless... Support the show today with a recurring donation and receive your access to the Insiders Club private podcast at www.comedianscomedians.com/insiders
Multiple international award-winning physical comedy duo The Kagools are an explosion of pure silliness, that don't conform even to the "rules" of contemporary clowning, let alone straight standup. Double-act Nicky Wilkinson and Claire Ford describe their amazingly supportive relationship, and outline the highs and lows of a life under lightweight waterproof material...
Sign up for the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to get access to all the extra content from any episode that has it, plus loads of extra stuff on a special private podcast!
An exclusive conversation with the man behind (and underneath) "Randy", a searingly honest, multi-layered and genuinely brilliant standup comedian who happens to be a purple felt puppet. A multiple international award-winner and nominee, Heath has never felt comfortable talking as himself, but finally gave into Stu's overtures at Just For Laughs Montreal. We talk about the gap between truth and fiction, vulnerability and addiction, and what it feels like to expose your true self whilst staying hidden.
30mins of extra content available to members of the Insiders Club include Randy's secret origins (fictional and actual), how Heath writes a show in a week, the confessional element of his show "Randy Is Sober", and what it looks like under whatever Randy is appearing on top of... Join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders
Rob Auton is a revelation; a comic like no other. His superbly funny and intensely thoughtful shows take a single topic like "Hair", "Time", or "Sleep" and dig for real meaning in those concepts, to hilarious and even profound effect. We talk about his love of thinking, the poetry in a football pass, the collaging skills of Kanye West, and why comedy really does mean the world to him.
30 mins of extra content available to members of the Insiders Club include some emotional reflection on mental health, masculinity and sensitivity. Not to be missed, and available only to subscribers at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders, along with all other extra content from every episode that has it...
A multi-media artist, fascinated with language, rhythm, and combining jokes with drawing, Markus Birdman also isn't above a dick joke. Aiming for “high octane and no gaps”, with routines composed like a drum solo, we uncover his volatile relationship with his father and his father's God, the stroke that he almost mistook for a hangover, and wanting to be angry as a means of self-definition.
30 mins of extrasfrom this episode are availableat www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders,including Markus on survivor's guilt, the shot at the top that he might have missed, whether you can fake greatness in comedy, and a short sharp strategy for overcoming writer's block...
Fin Taylor and Caimh "CK" McDonnell are the last guests in this burst of episodes, then I'm on a break for August to record more content at a mystery festival somewhere past Berwick Upon Tweed... If you're reading this check @comcompod for more updates!