Proving Moreton Bay residents have a taste for comedy, comedian and business owner James O’Connell continues to bring his showcase Straight Up Stand-up to The Komo on a regular basis.
With his last show held in May and the next scheduled for August, James has gained fresh insight into performing for the local scene and building a comedy following in the region.
According to James, Redcliffe crowds are welcoming and have a generous sense of humour, where “you don’t have to worry about being politically correct – they understand it’s just comedy.”
However, he did indicate boundaries in that “they don’t go for unnecessary swearing or dark material, but if it’s a good joke, they’ll give you a good response back.”
James, who is Brisbane-based, only recently discovered not just a dedicated space for live comedy at The Komo but also a local audience eager to embrace it – turning what are typically quieter mid-week nights into opportunities for locals to gather, laugh, and be entertained.
Behind the Scenes of a Growing Comedy Scene
“I had dinner there one night and later reached out to see if they’d be interested – I had no idea there was a function space upstairs,” he said.
“I do feel like Redcliffe is a great place for comedians and entertainment overall, demonstrated by the fact we’ve had crowds of 100 or more on a Wednesday night, and they’ve been good crowds up for a laugh.”
James said his showcases, which run for around an hour and a half, feature a mix of emerging talent alongside comedians at different stages of their careers, helping keep each lineup fresh and engaging.
He said one of the factors about taking the show to different regions is that each performance shifts depending on the crowd’s energy, and “you never really know until you get on stage.”
One of the biggest misconceptions comedians face, he said, is the expectation that they’re funny all the time.
“Most comedians are introverted people, and you wouldn’t even know they do stand-up comedy,” he said.
For more information, find Straight Up Stand-up on Facebook. Get tickets for the August show here.
Stand-Up Comedy in Redcliffe by Straight Up Stand-Up
- Wednesday, 12 August, 7:30pm-9pm (doors open 7pm)
- The Komo
- 99 Marine Parade, Redcliffe
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