Advice on comedy, pranks & banter.

How do you dry homemade pottery without a kiln?

Clay pieces don't need to be kiln-fired; they can simply be left to air dry (a kiln just speeds up the process), after which they can be painted and optionally glazed.

How can you manage anxiety about whether you've upset someone with a joke?

Message the person directly and ask if a comment landed badly or if things are okay between you, rather than letting anxious overthinking escalate unresolved.

What should creatives learn from a near-miss TV deal falling through?

Don't invest everything into one dream; diversify your opportunities and offer yourself multiple paths rather than relying on a single project succeeding.

What's the key rule for doing improv comedy?

Always say yes and add to the idea rather than blocking with 'no, but' — give one performer something they want and another who creates conflict against it.

What's a good way to drink Fireball whisky?

Put the bottle in the freezer or fridge to chill it, which makes the cinnamon flavour smoother and more palatable for shots.

Should comedians ask other comedians to perform their jokes off-stage?

Josh notes he's been told off for asking comedians to tell their jokes outside of a show context, implying it's considered poor etiquette.

How do you know when to keep grinding open mics versus focus on writing in comedy?

Capper suggests doing the 'smart grind': attend open mics while you're learning, but once you recognize a gig is poorly run or a waste of time, redirect that energy into writing instead, since the right mix differs per comedian (e.g., Nate Valvo writes heavily and skips mics, while Capper does more live mic work).

How should you deal with feeling threatened by more successful or visibly ambitious peers?

Capper advises shifting from resentment ('fuck that guy, he's trying too hard') to curiosity ('how can I learn from this guy'), noting that visible hustle (social media, extra gigs, trying new formats) is something to study rather than dismiss as try-hard behaviour.

How do you create career opportunities through networking?

Lehmo advises that opportunities often come from small, low-pressure conversations rather than formal pitches — stopping someone in a hallway and casually mentioning interest in a type of gig can lead to major, long-running opportunities.

How can you make a stage bit land better with a mixed audience (fans and newcomers)?

Josh suggests standing up suddenly to increase perceived status (citing the book Impro and Michael Bungay Stanier), and deliberately not explaining the in-joke so that fans who get it feel included while others are left intrigued rather than alienated.

What's the best process for writing new stand-up jokes?

Start with just a one-line premise rather than fully writing out a bit; test it on stage quickly, and only keep developing it into a longer routine if the audience response (the 'gauge') shows it's worth the time, so you don't waste days polishing material nobody finds funny.

How do you create an effective business pitch?

Use a specific real-world example of work you've done rather than an abstract description of your service, and lead with the problem you solve (e.g., building trust) rather than a vague industry label, so people immediately understand and can connect with what you do.

How can you get repeat corporate comedy bookings?

Be reliable, inoffensive within the client's risk tolerance, and good to work with (don't demand things, be professional with staff) since bookers often choose a merely funny-but-easy-to-work-with comic over a brilliant but difficult one, because their own job is on the line if something goes wrong.

How can I capture creative ideas before I forget them?

Max suggests using a note-taking app (he uses Evernote) to immediately jot down ideas the moment they occur, such as in the middle of a conversation with friends, rather than relying on memory, then later organising them into a full draft before formatting in proper writing software.

What's the best technique for opening a Christmas bon bon (cracker)?

Josh says he once tested around 30 bon bons while working at a radio station (KISS) to find the best method of pulling them to win, though the specific technique isn't detailed on air.

How should you MC a branded event successfully?

Favor direct banter between co-hosts rather than speaking straight at the audience, and ensure each presenter has their own microphone so comedic timing isn't lost switching the mic back and forth.

Is it worth self-funding a comedy special instead of waiting for a streaming deal?

Kidgell argues self-funding a special is a smart investment: you can recoup costs via ticket sales, it builds momentum for touring, and increasingly streaming services prefer to buy completed, proven products rather than produce originals from scratch.

How do you make a dark or controversial topic work as comedy without alienating the audience?

Check your own intent first (to entertain vs. to provoke), accept that darker material takes longer to refine, and revisit failed bits later once your skills have improved rather than abandoning the subject matter.

How do you deal with jealousy when other creators succeed?

Recognise jealousy as useful information about what you want rather than using it to lash out or make excuses for others' success; redirect that energy into self-improvement such as better marketing or rebranding instead of resentment.

Should you call out harassment or catcalling when you witness it in public?

Tommy says he actively looks out for and would verbally intervene (without physical escalation) if he saw young men harassing a woman in public, framing it as a personal responsibility despite acknowledging the physical risk involved.

How should you react when someone tells you to 'take a joke'?

Tommy's approach is to default to assuming the joke-teller isn't being malicious unless there's known prior context, and to weigh what blowing up about it is worth to the friendship or the night, rather than assuming the worst.

How can men be supportive of women dealing with safety concerns in male-dominated industries like comedy?

Ask directly if they need help (e.g., offer to walk them to their car), listen without dismissiveness when women raise concerns, generally believe women's accounts while still using judgment, and trust a person's established character rather than assuming deception.

Should offensive words or jokes be censored to avoid triggering people?

Thompson argues against policing specific words and says intent matters more than the word itself; she avoids slurs she now recognizes as harmful (like 'tranny') but believes comedy should allow saying things that might hurt because audiences and speakers alike learn from the reaction.

How can you reduce casual sexist or derogatory talk among friends/colleagues if you're not comfortable confronting people directly?

The first step is to simply not participate in conversations that are derogatory about how people look, even if you don't call it out directly; removing yourself from the conversation is a meaningful first move before working up to persuading others to change.

What's the key to being good at stand-up comedy as a beginner?

Don't stress about being funny — focus on being interesting and engaging the audience; if they're comfortable listening to you, laughs will come naturally. Also avoid putting on an artificial character unless that's intentional, and lean on personal stories you already know land well with people.