Sometimes comedy is the gift that keeps on giving! Where comedians will attempt to sell the audience extra merchandise après gig. Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts talk about the CDs, DVDs, books, t-shirts and other tat toted by the Gift Shop Comic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes a promoter will tell a comedian that their booking depends on them not doing other performances within a certain area or at other nearby promoters gigs - it's called a Barring Clause! Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts discuss the variations and the validity of this sometimes contentious practice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guy Thomas runs successful comedy nights for over the last decade in North West England. He talks to Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts on what he thinks is crucial in putting a great comedy show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To paraphrase Rihanna sometimes comedians have to '"find laughter in a hopeless place". Comedians Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts list their 5 favourite and 5 most hated venue spaces to perform comedy. From theatres, hotels, night clubs, pubs, hairdressers or the top deck of bus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Multi-award winning comedian and UK TV fixture, Ria Lina, is not only very funny, but also extremely media savvy. Here she talks to Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts about how to tour a show around UK theatre venues. Something which comics, even without her TV credits are now doing in greater numbers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Bloom is one of the UK's most respected comedians. You might've seen him perform on stage, screen and radio, or heard other famous comics use material he's written over the last 30 years. No better person to produce the ultimate guide to the art of stand up and talk to Steve and Paul on how to find you comic genius. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew O'Neill, vegan, transvestite, nonbinary, occultist, guitar welding, award winning comedian... and promotor of fellow weirdo performers on nights in London and Oxford. Andrew, Steve and Paul talk about acts who are strangely entertaining - from the past, present and future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

''Ring out the old and ring in the new' with the annual experience of New Year's Eve comedy gigs. You get paid more and suffer more too! Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts raise a glass to old acquaintances and countdowns to 'Big Ben's bongs'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts send reports from the Christmas comedy gigs front line. Interviews with UK comedy favourites Tom Wrigglesworth (BBC R4), Alan Francis (BBC R4), Cerys Nelmes (BBC), Abigoliah Schamaun (Comedy Central), Steve N. Allen (BBC 1), Neil McFarlane (Channel 4), Mat Reed (BBC) and Chris Kearns. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christmas comedy gigs - sounds like a lovely experience, but is it? Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts talk about pitfalls and joys of performing stand-up and spreading yuletide ho! ho! ho! Answering the questions: What are Christmas gig like? How do you survive them? And who the hell enjoys them? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Interview with Rob Riley of Comedy In A Van promotions - a comedy institution in North-West England. Rob's a stand up performer, booker and promoter. Lefty. Veggie. Passionate about overuse of the word 'passionate'. Plus Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts explain the comedic meaning of 'Millican's Law'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People think they know what's 'black comedy', but what's 'alternative black comedy'? Che Burnley explains the ideas behind his showcase for black and minority acts that he promotes in Liverpool, across the North West and the Edinburgh Fringe since 2017. Plus Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts discuss comedian's car sharing etiquette. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedy for parents with their babies or shows involving hilarious tarot readings - all new live comedy formats invented by comedian and promoter Carly Smallman over several bottles of wine! Carly tells us the whys and the wherefores on this and the safety of female comics on the UK circuit. Plus Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts talk about a crucial talent all comics must master - getting to the gig on time! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this show Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts interview Maureen Younger, pioneering promoter of Laughing Cows - the UK's first all women comedy night. Plus sought after performer on the mainstream, urban, Asian and gay/lesbian circuits! Steve and Paul also talk about the ways of getting paid the 'wages of sin' in comedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The stand-up comedy year starts post Edinburgh Fringe every September! So, in this first episode of a new season, Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts interview Joss Jones, who's worked in the UK comedy industry since 1987 as a renown booker, agent, consultant and director of Cosmic Comedy Management. Plus Steve and Paul define a 'comedy death'. If you're interested in getting involved or finding out more about live promotion or performance, then this show irreverently pulls back the curtain on the world of professional comedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last interview in our Edinburgh Fringe season. We talk to Karen Koren, founder of Gilded Balloon, the only Edinburgh based comedy promoter among the 'Big Four' ticketed venues. Plus, Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts discuss what is an "Edinburgh Fringe Act"?If you're interested in getting involved or finding out more about live promotion or performance, then this show irreverently pulls back the curtain on the world of professional comedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Second interview in our Edinburgh Fringe season with Kate Copstick, chief reviewer at The Scotsman newspaper and known as the UK's scariest comedy critic. A position cemented after her appearance on ITV's short-lived stand-up talent competition - Show Me The Funny! Plus, Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts explain how useful is a "three stars... reads like a four" Edinburgh show review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back after our holidays! Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts interview Peter Buckley Hill, performer and the main man behind PBH Free Fringe - which is now the biggest producer at the Edinburgh Festival. Plus Paul and Steve discuss the Edinburgh Fringe terms '50 minute hour' and '40 minute dip'. If you're interested in getting involved or finding out more about live promotion or performance, then this show irreverently pulls back the curtain on the world of professional comedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They say doing stand-up is the hardest job - so how hard is promoting a comedy show? In this episode, Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts interview performer, writer and promoter Stephen Grant, a Brighton institution with his Krater Comedy Club - now relaunched as the Forge Comedy Club. Plus Paul and Steve discuss the term 'comedy literate' and what the heck does it mean? If you're interested in getting involved or finding out more about live promotion or performance, then this show irreverently pulls back the curtain on the world of professional comedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They say doing stand-up is the hardest job - so how hard is promoting a comedy show? In this episode, Steve Gribbin and Paul Ricketts interview semi-retired performer, but fully active promoter, booker and agent Adam Rushton, proprietor of A Rush Of Laughter Comedy Management & Co-owner/Director of Rum Tab Media. Adam talks candidly about how it feels when another booker competes to get a gig in the same venue. If you're interested in getting involved or finding out more about live promotion or performance, then this show irreverently pulls back the curtain on the world of professional comedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.