Get Yourself a Proper Job

Some bitesize best bits from fabulous guests in season 2 including: Adam Bloom Anna Nicholson Andy Riley Kate Smurthwaite More snipets to follow next week. 

Welcome to the final interview of Season 2. Enjoy my friends . Season 3 is in the works and will be released in 2022.  Until then I will be popping up some best bits, and comedy snippets around the theme.  Phil has been a friend for more than a decade; he is a marvellous, warm and engaging man and all round good egg . We talked about lots of thing from his pathway into theatre writing, what he enjoys about writing comedy, the ups and downs of self employe life and much more. He also gives some fabulous advice to anyone thinking of starting as a writer. Phil Porter is an award wining, Olivier nominated,  British playwright, screenwriter and librettist. His plays include Vice Versa (2017), The Miser (adapted 2017), The Man With the Hammer (2016), The Christmas Truce (2014), Blink (2012), and Here Lies Mary Spindler (2009).

Welcome to episode 15 you lucky people. Today I've have been mostly talking to Anna Nicholson.  I saw her one women character comedy show Woman of the Year in 2018 and was blown away by her confidence and funniness, which is why I was surprised to her of her lack of confidence when she was a child.  We also talk about theatre in the community, where Anna began her performance career, the New Review show which semented her love of comedy, drama schools and much more.  Anna Nicholson is an actress, comedian, voice over artist and writer.  Originally from Newcastle upon Tyne, she specialises in comedy and playing multiple characters.She has written for BBC’s Crackerjack.  and was in the top 3% for the BBC’s Caroline Aherne Bursary for character comedians.​Her solo show, Woman of the Year developed with James Cary (Bluestone 42, Miranda) played at the Brighton Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe and Adelaide Fringe where it won a Best Comedy award. 

Friday the 10th September 2021 brings us the 14th EpisodeThis episode is with cabaret performer and funny woman Fiona Coffey.Fiona started as a performer in her early 50s.  She has done two sell out shows, A touch of Mrs Robinson and Honey's Happening, both wonderful interactive shows. We chat about starting performing a little later in life.  How empowering it is to create your own work.  The benefits of knowing ourself more regarding performance and how to make audience participation as fun for the participant as it is for the crowd watching and much more.

Friday the 3rd September2021 brings lucky episode 13.This episode is with comedy writer, teacher and novelist Dave Cohen.Dave has many thing on the go.  You can book on a sitcom writing course, buy his novel, Stand Up, Barry Goldman or simply listen to his fabulous Podcast, Sitcom Geeks. We chat about how lucky he has been to be in the right place at the right time, several times; his founding of and firing from the Comedy Store Players, Britain's best know comedy improv outfit; How his brief career as a journalist set him up to write effectively for comedy and much more. Dave Cohen has been a constant presence on the British comedy scene for more than 35 years.He has written for some of the most successful TV shows including Have I Got News For You, Spitting Image, BBC sitcoms Not Going Out and My Family, and dozens of radio shows including News Quiz, and Dead Ringers.He has written nearly 100 song for the multi-BAFTA BBC hit, Horrible Histories.

Friday the 20th August 2021 brings the third of 8 consecutive Fridays were I release interviews that I have done with other professionally funny people where we talk about how they got their start in the industry they love.This episode is with comedian of 27 years, Adam Bloom.  Adam Bloom is a whirl wind.  His frenetic delivery makes me tired just watching it.  He tells one of my favourite oner liners, it's about how to deal with pet hair. Adam is one of Britain's most inventive comedians. He has performed sell-out solo shows at the ‘96, ’97, ’98, ’99, '01, '04 & '07 Edinburgh Festivals as well as performing a sell-out tour of Britain. He has also sold out theatres at festivals in Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, Wellington & Cape Town. In July '13, Adam made his fifth appearance at ‘Just For Laughs’ in Montreal, including being part of 2004 'Just For Laughs Comedy Tour', playing to 42,000 people in 17 cities across Canada. He has also written three series of ‘The Problem with Adam Bloom’ for BBC Radio 4.

Friday the 13th August 2021 brings the second of 8 consecutive Fridays were I release interviews that I have done with other professionally funny people where we talk about how they got their start in the industry they love. This episode is with comedian and all round good egg, Sally-Anne Hayward.Sally-Anne once has the indignity of having to play my partner in a comedy sketch.  She has not yet fully recovered. We chat about all manor of things including how she started in the business, how is was great in the old days, why don't people know who Les Dawson is anymore and much, much more.Sally-Anne is a fabulous comedian with over 20 years of experience.  Amongst other things she has supported Sarah Millican on tour and produces the very funny Spit or Swallow Podcast with fellow comedian Lou Conran. 

Welcome to the first episode of the second season of Get Yourself A Proper Job. This season consists of 8 more episodes released once a week for the next 8 weeks. This episode I talk to Andy Riley.  Andy is a comedy writer, illustrator and children's book author.  His credits (along with co-writer Kevin Cecil) list like a Whose Who of British comedy, writing for the likes of Harry Enfield, Armstrong and Miller, Tracy Ullman, Little Britain, Veep, Matt Berry and many, many more. We talk about his comedy beginnings, his love of comics, the competitive nature of comedy and how to start a comedy writing career.  It's a lively chat, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I hope you do too. 

In this episode, recorded at the end of 2019, I chat to Marisa Carnesky about working class beginnings, her being compelled to be a Show woman from the age of 10 and how hard it can be furrowing out a career when you can't be pigeon holed easily.  We have a good rant about the "Good Old Days", when arts funding was more readily available and discussed how important it is to have diverse voices in the arts.  We all talk about the catharsis of performance. Marisa is an Olivier award winning show woman  interested in the use of spectacle; fairground rides, magic illusions and grand ritual as a means of creating highly accessible provocative work, rooted in popular culture that promotes cultural and political discourses.Find out more about here fascinating work here:  Carnesky Productions

This episode of Get Yourself a Proper Job I talk to Michael Fabbri.  Michael has been a stand up for over 15 years and tours the country as a top club comedian.  Here we talk about being funny at school and the consequences of that, how school shapes you and how his dyslexia has affected the way the thinks creatively (or not).   We also talk about how he didn't have a clue how to break into the business and the focus that is need to make it your living.  We also chat about the civil service jobs we've both done to make ends meet and how bad has been held up by his bad decisions.  Additionally there is a delightful interruption from Michael's daughter about Narwhals, which is the podcast highlight. Michael Fabbri made his mark on the UK circuit by appearing on Channel 4‘s ‘So you think your Funny competition’. And has a superb reputation on the comedy circuit. He regularly performs at major comedy clubs throughout the UK and all over the world. Michael has supported some of the biggest name in comedy including Micky Flanagan, Lucy Porter & Stephen K Amos. He is also an active writer for TV & Radio show. Fabbri manages to effortlessly slip between some harsh, controversial topics to light-hearted silliness to make for a refreshingly eclectic and brilliantly funny act, which has taken him to the Edinburgh Festival and beyond.

In this episode I chat to Liz Peters about finding the joy of improv comedy, the brutal feedback we have received as performers.  Also we talk about the "character building" jobs she has done, about no being leading role material and how not getting what you want sometimes turns out to be the best thing that can possibly happen. Liz is an award-nominated performer who has spent the last decade helping people feel relaxed and playful in the spotlight.She teaches improvisation around the world and works with organisations and individuals to improve human communication; both in how we connect and collaborate with each other and how we deliver in front of an audience. A regular contributor on leadership programmes, Liz helps build presence and agility in the change-makers of tomorrow, and has brought her innovative approach to communication training into countless organisations, from social enterprises to global corporations.With 20 years experience in the entertainment industry, Liz is co-Artistic Director of The Maydays – one of the UK’s leading improvisation companies –  and tours worldwide, creating musicals live in the moment, without a script.She is the author of ‘Own it!’ out now.

In this episode I talk to Aidan Goatley about good gigs, bad gigs and really poor gigs. Aidan talk about a disastrous Cruise Ship performing experience, how he was initially put off stand up by an early knock and how his desire to get back on stage was rekindled by participating in the Jill Edwards comedy course in Brighton; a course which has spawned the careers of many top flight comedians over the past 20 years. We also chat about the odd jobs you have to do along the way, the importance of having very understanding partners, as well as the need to be adaptable and resilient. Aidan has been performing since 2011 and has had huge success with his debut show '10 Films with my Dad' which has been performed in the UK, Dubai, Istanbul, all over Europe and even Guildford. His other shows include The Vicars Husband, The Joys of Retail and Travels of a Happy Man. He's also been tour support for Hal Cruttenden as well as headlining gigs all over the UK. 'Charmingly Funny' - The Scotsman‘Proper comic gold’ – Chortle‘A blend of Jerry Seinfeld and Hugh Grant, Riotously funny' - Broadway Baby'A definite star in the making.' - Latest 7'A Brilliant Raconteur...Amazing' - Fringeguru 'Had the audience in stitches' - Three Weeks 'A singular wit, highly recommended'- Edinburgh Evening News

In this episode we talk about how Brodi Snook landed into the UK by herself and with no connections and, after thinking she was not even the funniest person in her own family, she worked hard to rise to become a successful gigging comedian and Chortle's best new comer in 2020.  We talk about how lots of comedians are introverts and how best to take your opportunities when you can.  We talk about the determination, focus, resilience and graft you have to have to make it, while remembering that there will naturally be ups and downs along the way. Hailing from small town Western Australia, Brodi travelled to the UK and began her comedy career in 2014 by becoming a two-time RAW Comedy state finalist and in the same year made her mark on the international stage, reaching the final of the prestigious So You Think You’re Funny competition at the Edinburgh Fringe. Brodi has since performed sold out solo shows at festivals across both hemispheres, most recently enjoying a successful debut at the Edinburgh Fringe with her latest show ‘Handful’, making it onto the UK Telegraph’s list of Best Comedy Shows for 2019 and in addition being named in their Top 40 Jokes of the festival. In 2019 Brodi also completed a run of shows in Norway and supported Ardal O’Hanlon on his spring and autumn UK tours. In 2020 she was named Chortle Comedy Awards Best New Comer‘Snook could well be going places’ – The Telegraph‘A sharp comic with an astringent wit & jagged attitude’ – Chortle (UK)‘Lovely, smart, understated stuff from a future star.’ Ardal O’Hanlon

Dan Evans first appeared on the comedy circuit in 1994, shortly after leaving a promising career as one of East Anglia's leading office menials.Since then he has played clubs and universities throughout the UK and gigged in Holland, Germany, Dubai and Ireland as well as being part of the sell-out Screaming Blue Murder Cabaret and Avalon Comedy Zones at the Edinburgh Fringe.Dan's TV and radio appearances include Brain Candy (BBC3 & 2), Channel 5 at The Store, Channel 5 Comedy Zone and the Radio 2 Stand Up Show.He writes too, with many credits including The Very World of Milton Jones (R4 - Sony Award Winner), Rory Bremner Who Else? (CH 4), The Eleven O'Clock Show (CH 4), The Live Floor Show (BBC 1), Revolver (BBC 1) and The Joan Rivers Position (CH 5).'Skilful and surreal' The Scotsman'Original and inventive' The TimesHere we talk about Dan's childhood, how he loved to set a fire and the fine art of messing around.  Dan talks about his career, how to get yourself into a good frame of mind to write comedy well and why having a few drinks before you get on stage rarely makes you funnier. You can find out more about Dan at:  www.DanEvans.info

Elf Lyons is an award-winning comedian, writer and theatre director. She has gained a reputation as one of the most innovative performers on the UK comedy circuit - through her dynamic high spectacle comedy shows Swan (2017), ChiffChaff (2018), Medusa (2018)Â and Love Songs to GuineaPigs (2019)- which have each performed to sold out audiences throughout the UK and beyond.In the last few years Elf has been nominated for BEST SHOW at the Edinburgh Fringe, the Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality,Fringe World Perth's Best Comedy Show and in 2018 Elf won Pick of the Fringe at the Adelaide Fringe, Australia.Here we talk about her origins as a comedy performer, wine drinking as a marvellous form of pain relief, her training at the Gaulier Clowning school, about us both being extroverted introverts and the importance of water, amongst other things. The interview was recorded just before one of her gigs, last year, at the Brighton Komedia, one of the UK’s finest small arts venues.  Support it now if you can.  In these hard times it is in need of all the help it can get.   You can listen to Elf on BBC Radio 6, BBC Radio Worldwide, BBC Radio 4 among many others alongside an array of highly rated podcasts. You can watch Elf on The Dog Ate My Homework (BBC),The Stand Up Sketch Show (ITV2) and Comedy Against Living Miserably (UKTV).

In the first episode of Get Yourself A Proper Job, Simon Topping talks to top cooking comedian George Egg. George has done 3 sell out Edinburgh Fringe shows about food, Anarchist Cook, DIY Chef and his latest creation, Moveable Feast.  He had also appeared on This Morning, Chanel Four's "Bake Off : An Extra Slice and presented an episode of BBC Four's Food Programme. Here we talk about how he stated as a stand-up, including his days as a street performer in Covent Garden.  We touch on how he tours all over the world as a physical comedian, chat about the perils of being self employed and George gives some sound advice to anyone looking to make a start in the world of comedy. 

Friday the 27th August 2021 brings the half way point of 8 consecutive Fridays were I release interviews that I have done with other professionally funny people.  We talk about how they got their start in the industry they love.This episode is with feminist comedian and political activist. Kate Smurthwaite.Kate has a fabulous Patreon page of news satire you can support here: https://www.patreon.com/newsatkate.We chat about how, after almost a decade working for banks and hedge funds she made the switch to comedy and how you have to diversify, epsecially in a pandemic, to survive.  We also talk about her mum, going to the doctors and much, much more. Kate performs stand-up comedy all over the UK and around the world​In 2013 she won a Three Week's Editor's Choice Award naming her one of the ten best things about the Edinburgh Fringe. In 2014 she was nominated for the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize for campaigning against violence against women.​Kate has appeared as a panelist on Question Time as well as The Big Questions, This Morning, BBC News, Sky News, Woman's Hour, The Today Program, The Moral Maze and Newsnight.  Internationally she is probably best-known as the star of a viral video circulated under the name Atheist Bitchslap.Kate's campaigning work has included almost a decade as spokesperson for Abortion Rights UK and working with female asylum seekers through Women For Refugee Women and Women Asylum Seekers Together.