Sam Smith

Well, the NZ International Comedy Festival has finished for 2013. It’s been a great festival; I’ve seen some great shows, met some great people, and caught up with some people I haven’t seen in a while.

Samantics went well. We sold out the season, which is awesome.

And I won an award for it! Best Wellington Newcomer. I’m pretty stoked about it, despite having done the comedy festival in 2003, 2010, 2011 and 2012. But it’s mine now – you can’t do anything about it.

My solo show. An hour of me, a microphone, a guitar, a bass, a recorder, and an easel.

Serious chat show satire. Hard questions, hilarious answers.

Line-up show that sold-out in 2012. This is a hilarious format of comedians reading out their own fan fiction. They’ve just come back from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and will feature guests (like me) and super special guests like the UK’s Josie Long.

Improvised romance, featuring Wellington’s finest and funniest improvisers, and myself on the musical keyboards.

Line-up show from the Class Comedians of 2012. I’m MCing and have been amazed at how much funnier these kids are than back when I did it 2003.

New comedians trying out stand-up for the first time, and older comedians trying out never before seen material.

Panel show, loosely based around the UK’s 8 out of 10 Cats, with me in the presenting role. Comedians telling you topical facts and figures in new and exciting ways.

Line-up show with all my mates from my university days in Dunedin. We all started doing comedy in the South Island, and this show celebrates the mainland. This is also the only show where you can win a kilo of mince.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is 3 weeks until the Comedy Festival. There are heaps of awesome shows this year. Check out the website.

I’m in three shows; my solo show Samantics, I’m hosting a cool game show called 8 Out Of 10 Ngerus, and then I’m reuniting with a whole heap of my Dunedin mates for Southerners – a show featuring comics who started their stand-up careers in the South Island.

All are conveniently at Kitty O’Shea’s which is conveniently across the road from Cafe Eis which is my favourite late-night dessert-snack place.

I also have an exciting project starting up for after the festival. I’m going to be playing drums for a production of Footloose.

I’ve never had a quote to put on my posters. For a while I used “Outstanding” – Johnsonville Library. It’s a joke quote. Then I bribed Michael Palin for one. Admittedly it is one I am going to use forever.

But now I have one. “Genuinely hilarious plethora of talent”. Prepare to also be used forever, quote. You can check out the full review here.

It’s almost April. I’ve got five or so gigs before the opening night of Samantics. I found out this morning that it’s listed under Hot Picks for the festival, as are my boys Jonny Potts and Adam Wright and Rick Threlfo.

Make sure to check out their shows, as well as James Nokise, Jarrod Baker, TJ McDonald and Nick Gibb, and especially Brad Zimmerman.

The countdown is on!

On April 30th my first solo show kicks off. It’s called Samantics. I’m piecing it together as we speak, and will be trying a section of it out on March 20th at the Comedy Lab at Cavern Club. Come check it out!

There are a whole heap of great shows in the fest this year. Have a look at www.comedyfestival.co.nz for more info.