10.00

   Forum Registration

10.30

Welcome

How I Started and Why I'm Still Here

Keynote speaker to be announced

10.45 - 11.45

Panel

Material Matters - is it all funny?

Comedians, writers & performers will explain how they choose their material, who they make fun of and why and where to set boundaries (or not if you dare).

Morning tea break

12.15 - 1.15

Workshop (beginners)

Joke writing 101

or

A beginners guide to getting your funny ideas on paper and on stage. Discover where your comic talents lie and utilise them.

Workshop (slightly more advanced)

Get Out of the Comfort Zone

Be creative in your comedy and develop your skills- using music, characters, voices, physical clowning in your act. Hands -on workshop to help you get out of the comfort zone and push your performance to new levels.

Lunch

2.15 - 3.00

Panel

Managing the Media

An experienced publicist and member of the media heads this practical discussion on how to spin doctor your own media and how to improve your interviewing skills.

3.00 - 4.00

Workshop (beginners)

Joke Doctor

(byo copies of your own material)

or

One of the most successful workshops of 2002 (Get to the Friggin Point) is back. An expert comic (The Joke Doctor) will find the jokes in your material and show you how to target the laughs in your act.

Workshop (slightly more advanced)

Concepts People!

Got a decent 15 minutes of material? Expert writers / performers will show you how to develop your material and turn that 15 mins into a full show concept.

Quick arvo teabreak

4.15 - 5.00

Workshop

A Show on a Shoestring

and

How to produce your own show, be your own manager and push yourself to be a success when you're just starting out. Long established producers will explain their successes and failures, the highlights, low lights and what they look for in a top show/act.

Hit the Road, Jill

Expert advice on how to sell yourself locally and internationally and take your act/show on tour. Invaluable info sharing from Festival directors, venue managers and artists on being funny further afield.

CLOSE, DRINKS AND THEN OFF TO A FESTIVAL SHOW!

10.30 - 11.30

Panel

It's Just a Joke Joyce

Living the Comedy Lifestyle: A practical occupational health discussion on dealing with the hours, the drinking, the ups and downs, absences from family. And the big question - when do you give up your day job?

11.30

Brunch

12.30 - 1.30

Workshop (beginners)

Stage Techniques & Confidence

or

How to stay cool when everything goes wrong on stage - from no sound to no voice, how to handle a microphone to an awkward audience. Experts on stage techniques will provide practical advice on how not deal with dying on stage. A must for beginners wanting to participate in the Faux Show.

Workshop (slightly more advanced)

Getting Paid to be Funny

Accomplished writers and performers of newspaper columns, tv comedy, radio presenters will present this workshop designed to help to take the step from amateur to professional and start making your funny make money for you. Current successful comedians will explain why, where and how they got there.

1.40 - 2.00

WRAP

Any Last Questions?

Forgot to ask? Short sharp and to the point Q&A session will close the day. Need contacts, specific advice - ask now. Including invaluable tips for RAW comedy finalists from last years joint winner Nelly Thomas.

Head off to the Hi Fi Bar for the...

2.15 - 4.00

FAUX SHOW!!

A carefully selected, sympathetic and friendly audience will assemble at the Hi Fi Bar to calm the nerves and turn the big lights on the Forum's newest acts. We've got ourselves a show laydeez! A chance for participants to put into practice what they've learnt over the weekend. Bite the bullet and give it a red hot go!