I talk to famous people

This is what everyone wants: to talk to a famous person, over a cup of coffee or a beer. And it all came true; after the beer admittedly and mainly because he was kind of hoping I'd buy his CD. Whatever. I can say I know Justin Hazelwood; and he is famous. I know that because I found this postcard advertising a gig he did at the the Art Gallery of New South Wales. When I last talked to Justin he said "see Andrew Lawrence" at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. I checked him out on You Tube. He's totally weird!!!

Good News Week

This is why I love being in the audience of Good News Week.

Paul McDermott, I love you

How did I become obsessed with comedy? That's easy I fell in love with Paul McDermott. What was it about him? The rapid fire jokes, the hairy knuckles or his spikey hair? Probably a combination of all these and more. I must have seen hundreds of shows with him in it, both Good News Week and with him just doing his thing. I was one of the desperates seeing his comedy festival show so many times that I knew every word and waiting outside the theatre for him to come out; in the rain. I've kicked back a little bit now but I still think Good News Week rocks (I even watch the repeats on Saturday night) and Paul is still the king!!!

Living the Dream

Tuesday Night and I went down to Comedy on the Edge at the William Hotel to see Jarred Keane do his show The Call of the Mild. I went along ready to be kind but I had no need. Jarred has come a long way since we died together on stage before sleepy backpackers at the Paddy Maguire's Hotel. He has his own style of story telling which takes you into his weird little world, full of people you can almost see. He asked the question "why do people want to do comedy?" I think the reason is, it makes people happy. Jarred certainly did. Go see him.

Flow Chart of Stupidity

You can take the girl out of the obsessive situation but you can't take the obsessive behaviour out of the girl. Monday night and I switched off the T.V. thinking: I wonder if tickets for Good News Week at the festival are on sale yet? I switched on the P.C. and searched for the festival website. What followed was like a flow chart of stupidity. Answer these questions for me:

1. Do I want to see one or two shows?


2. Where is my credit card?


3. How do you use the Ticketmaster site?


4. Why didn't I notice that there is only one show on sale?


5. Do the Good News Week guys want a new audience for the second show?


6. How do I get that hour and half of my life back?


7. Why all these questions?

Nivana at the Comedy Festival

The holy of holies at the Melbourne Comedy Festival is the upstairs lounge at the Hi Fi Bar on Melbourne's Swanston Street (across the road from the Town Hall, you Can miss it, I definitely did). You have to have a pass to go in there. It's where comedians go to schmooze prospective employers, and journalists go to get a story. Forget about a beer they're pretty pricey. Downstairs in the Hi Fi Ballroom they have a smorgabord show most nights, this is incredibly good value as you get to see a lot of the hot comedians preview their shows. Remember to take your ticket stubs from the shows you see that evening for a discount on week nights. (Hi Fi Bar. 125 Swanston St, Melbourne, VIC 3000).

Give yourself some time

I know you love Dave Hughes (Daniel Kitson, Good News Week, or who ever is big this year) but so does everyone else. That's why they are playing in the main room at the Town Hall. If you know the show you're seeing is going to be busy, go early to avoid the rush. Or even if you go to "boutique" shows like I do, get there on time. No one wants You making an entrance in the middle of Their show. That's why they say "can we help you with something; like a watch!"