And finally...

How did you get started in comedy?

I was heckling Mike King at a mate’s work function in 2013 and then spoke with him after the act about how to get into comedy. He gave me a phone number on the back of a coaster for an open mic night at The Classic, the home of NZ comedy in Auckland. The rest is history.

What do you enjoy about it?

Outside of plumbing, my passion is comedy. My taste in comedy is a very wide range. From clean to deadpan, to props to roasts, to rude and crude. That’s the good thing about comedy—there is so much variety. I enjoy making people laugh and filling my social cup.

Where have you performed?

I have performed in Auckland and at the Palmerston North Fringe Festival. You may also find me in Hamilton at my side business, Underground Comedy.

Do you use real-life stories in your sets?

Yes, my life is a joke. But seriously, I love the storytelling aspect of comedy. I don’t just stand there and tell jokes; I tell stories that people can relate to, bringing the audience along on a journey with me.

What’s the biggest challenge?

Getting the first laugh from the audience. And getting paid. I have discovered it’s also a real business of ‘who you know’, so it’s harder to break into the scene if you don’t know other comedians on the circuit to help you out.

What’s your most memorable moment from a gig?

I did a fundraiser for a local Girl Guides, and 20 minutes before I was to go on stage, I found out the Girl Guides were performing too, so I had to change my whole set to something more PG.

I’m fairly clean with my jokes anyway, so I did the same set, but without the swearing and the exaggeration that appeals to adults. That’s a skill that you learn with stand-up— you have to play to your audience, whether you’re in a pub or an organised event.

Another time, I had a clothing malfunction. I do a joke where I wear a pair of jeans with holes in the knees, and I rip them into shorts. One time they ripped right up the seam, and I was left standing on the stage in my boxers, which thankfully ended up getting a good reaction from the crowd, but was not the plan.

Who would you love to share a stage alongside one day? If so, why?

I would have loved to have done another gig with Ewen Gilmour, one of New Zealand’s comedy heroes and the MC at my first show. Dai Henwood is another Kiwi comedian I would love to share a stage with.

Which comedians make you laugh?

Jim Breuer, who was on Saturday Night Live. I’ve been a fan of Robin Williams since I was a little kid when I started watching his movies. Then, as I got older, I found his standup sets on YouTube, which were great. The movie Good Morning Vietnam incorporated a lot of his stand-up humour. Have you ever had stage fright?

Yes, if I know everyone in the crowd and I forget a line, it can throw me off. A room full of strangers is easier as you’ll never see them again. I always have a beer on stage (naturally representing with a Waikato Draught!), and if I forget a line, it gives me a chance to have a sip and get my train of thought back on track. It also makes the event feel as though I am just having a chat with friends.

Check out Underground Comedy on Facebook www.facebook.com/ UndergroundComedy1

Hidden Talents

Know someone with an interesting hobby or skill, who’d like to appear on these pages? Email the Ed: bsellers@masterplumbers.org.nz

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2- 11th March 2023

Trade against trade, company against company, mate against mate – the measure-only fishing comp built just for tradies

$10,000 OF PRIZES TO BE WON

Plumbing fails

Thanks to Jarrad Marlow for sending in these photos of a sorry HWC installation fail.

Vent jungle

We love this photo of vents resembling a mangrove swamp, sent in by Daniel Paterson.

What the?

“This one had me shaking my head,” says Sean Crockett. We’re not surprised to hear that!

The latest collection of dodgy fails our readers have come across. Keep ’em coming!

Unhappy camper

Darrin Gower of Climate+Plumbing sent in this photo of a non-compliant and dangerous gas installation in a camper van. The van owner, a lady in her eighties, had complained that her gas alarm was going off.

“I attended the job only to find out it was her carbon monoxide alarm,” says Darrin. “There were products of combustion in the sleeping area coming from the fridge due to its bad installation. The picture shows rubber gas pipes criss-crossing and LPG bottles next to an ignition source (fridge). Below the fridge are wires and cables, also an ignition source. The fridge and LPG bottles weren’t sealed from leaking into the sleeping area or vented to the outside.”

Darrin reported the installation to Energy Safety as an immediate threat to life.

Reporting Your Concerns

If you come across dodgy work that concerns you, let the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) know. Email complaints@pgdb.co.nz or fill in their online complaints form at www.pgdb.co.nz/trade/make-a-complaint

A few quick turns of Dux AdjustaPit’s patented screw system enables fast fine tuning to finished ground level. Less time fussing about = time saved.

Dimensions

2 grate options availABLE

Once you’ve selected the pit and riser that best suits your installation, choose your preferred gratealuminium or cast iron.