The Show Must Go Wrong

What does it take to become a headlining comedian after starting stand-up at just 12 years old? In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong , I'm joined by Canadian comedian Kyle Lucey to talk about the long road from childhood open mics to touring internationally as a professional stand-up. We discuss dealing with difficult audiences, the brutal process of becoming consistently funny, and why p...

What happens when a bad opener makes a show go completely off the rails? In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong , I'm joined by comedian Nya Yeanafehn to talk about bombing, bad openers, and the differences between American and European comedy audiences. We discuss how one poorly chosen opener can derail an entire show, whether Germans are really harder to make laugh, and how comedians proc...

What does it take to quit your day job and go all-in on stand-up comedy? In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong , I'm joined by comedian Rogier Bak to talk about getting started in stand-up, surviving the difficult early years, and making the leap to full-time comedy. We discuss bombing in front of people you care about, building a first hour of material, and the challenges that come with p...

What’s the difference between a bad dance show and a bad comedy show? In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong , I’m joined by Berlin-based comedian Žana Fejzić, who tours Europe performing stand-up comedy entirely independently and previously toured professionally as a belly dancer. We talk about bombing in very different art forms, performing comedy across languages and cultures, and how audien...

What’s the difference between North American and European comedy audiences—and what happens when corporate improv gigs go horribly wrong? In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong , I’m joined by comedian Dan Belkin, who grew up in Canada, started in improv, and now tours all over Europe doing stand-up comedy. We talk about the differences between North American and European crowds, throwing peopl...

What does it take to build a stand-up comedy career independently in Europe? In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong , I’m joined by Romanian comedian Dragos to talk about tough crowds, touring Europe, and building an audience from the ground up. We get into performing crowd work in Romanian, shared Eastern European experiences, and how Dragos approached comedy early on with a clear plan for suc...

What does it really take to survive in stand-up comedy? In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong , I’m joined by comedian Tamer Kattan to talk about hecklers, life on the road, and the philosophy behind stand-up. We get into whether comedy is a blue collar art form, how comics deal with difficult audiences, and what performers actually learn from open mics. Tamer also shares insights from winning...

What happens when you perform comedy all over the world—and things don’t go to plan? In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong , I’m joined by Australian comedian Elena Gabrielle, who shares stories from performing across Europe, the UK, and beyond. We talk about bad gigs, horrendous Edinburgh Fringe experiences, and what it’s like performing for different audiences around the world. Elena also op...

Do bad gigs ever stop—even after 20+ years in comedy? In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong , I’m joined by American comedian Andy Haynes, who stopped by in Berlin during his European tour to talk about bombing on stage, bad shows, and what actually gets harder (and easier) over time in stand-up. We talk about political comedy, opening for famous friends, finding your voice, and the reality of...

Why do stand-up shows go completely off the rails—and why do comedians keep coming back for more? In the first episode of The Show Must Go Wrong , comedian Dave Adams shares stories of bombing on stage, chaotic gigs, and the strange overlap between music and stand-up comedy. We talk about: – The last bad gig that sticks with you – Starting stand-up and finding flow on stage – The difference betwee...