The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is back! One of my favourite times of year. It's just cold enough to bring out the cute scarves and jackets, but not so cold that you refuse to leave the house. The streets are full of happy people, and Melbourne seems a little bit more shiny, reminding us why we love it here.
If, like me, you haven't seen Josh Earl's stand up before, apparently there is usually singing, a guitar, and a screen, which sounds really fun. This year, Josh has chosen a more pared back version, just him, a microphone, and some of his funniest stories from his life. It's classic stand-up storytelling at its best, a hilarious journey through Josh's life, from his early childhood growing up in Tasmania, to awkward sexual encounters in his teen years.
I'm hoping that next year will be a sequel, where Josh will explore his life post-high school and his first foray into stand-up comedy. I would also be really keen to see some of his more musical comedy. I know, I'm so late to the party, I can't believe it's taken me this long to see one of Josh's stand-up shows, but I know I'll definitely be getting tickets next year.
I first found Josh through his podcast, Don't You Know Who I Am? which is one of the funniest podcasts I've ever heard. Josh invites four guests on (usually other comedians) and, using stories from their lives and things they have written on social media, quizzes them to see who knows the other guests the best. I recommend starting with episodes with guests that you're familiar with then branching out, you'll get to know comedians you haven't heard of before and discover some new favourites. If you can get along to one of the live shows as well, you definitely should. It's a great atmosphere, a lot of fun, and it's great to put a face to a name of the guests you're unfamiliar with.
The absolute best part of Josh's show was the ending, which is one of the best stories I've ever heard in my life. Even if for some reason you hate Josh, or you hate stand-up, or a friend dragged you out even though you're depressed/sick/tired, you will love this story. It's worth every cent of the ticket price.
If, like me, you haven't seen Josh Earl's stand up before, apparently there is usually singing, a guitar, and a screen, which sounds really fun. This year, Josh has chosen a more pared back version, just him, a microphone, and some of his funniest stories from his life. It's classic stand-up storytelling at its best, a hilarious journey through Josh's life, from his early childhood growing up in Tasmania, to awkward sexual encounters in his teen years.
I'm hoping that next year will be a sequel, where Josh will explore his life post-high school and his first foray into stand-up comedy. I would also be really keen to see some of his more musical comedy. I know, I'm so late to the party, I can't believe it's taken me this long to see one of Josh's stand-up shows, but I know I'll definitely be getting tickets next year.
I first found Josh through his podcast, Don't You Know Who I Am? which is one of the funniest podcasts I've ever heard. Josh invites four guests on (usually other comedians) and, using stories from their lives and things they have written on social media, quizzes them to see who knows the other guests the best. I recommend starting with episodes with guests that you're familiar with then branching out, you'll get to know comedians you haven't heard of before and discover some new favourites. If you can get along to one of the live shows as well, you definitely should. It's a great atmosphere, a lot of fun, and it's great to put a face to a name of the guests you're unfamiliar with.
The absolute best part of Josh's show was the ending, which is one of the best stories I've ever heard in my life. Even if for some reason you hate Josh, or you hate stand-up, or a friend dragged you out even though you're depressed/sick/tired, you will love this story. It's worth every cent of the ticket price.
The important questions:
How long? 55 minutes
Should I be scared to sit in the front row? No
Is there a bar at the venue? Yes
Will I enjoy this? Yes, especially if you love classic storytelling
You can catch Josh in his stand-up show until April 21, tickets here: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/josh-earl-talk and at his live podcast shows for the next two Sundays, tickets here: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=447533&
More Comedy Festival tips:
If driving, book your parking before you go, most of them are only about $10, and there's lots of options, so you're likely to get something close to your venue: https://www.wilsonparking.com.au/book-a-bay You can also earn some Velocity Frequent Flyer points, which is a bonus.
See someone new! It's fun to go and see new comedians, why not take a risk and see someone you've never heard of? They're also usually a lot cheaper than the big names! Why not try something a bit different too, as well as stand-up there's lots of improv and other types of comedy to see. Head to Town Hall and you'll be handed lots of flyers and be able to grab some last minute tickets.
Support Light The Way Home, a program that allows performers in need a safe way home from the festival. Many performers are new and have late shows, and aren't earning heaps of money, so the cost of an Uber or taxi every night can really add up. Light The Way Home is collecting donations, which the Festival is matching up to $10,000. It's a great idea, especially for the more vulnerable members of the comedy community. You can donate here: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/light-the-way-home
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