Welcome to the NZ Comedy Guild - we represent the interests of the professional comedy industry in New Zealand.
Photo credits: Elisa Bonnafous
The Guild
The NZ Comedy Guild is the association representing the interests of comedy professionals in NZ. These professionals include performers, writers, producers, venue managers and more.
Our History, as penned by Michèle A'Court
The NZ Comedy Guild was established in 1999 with the mission statement, “To promote and protect the interests of professional stand-up comedians and live comedy performers in NZ’s entertainment industry.” According to my diary, the first meeting was held on Saturday 27 March 1999 at the Classic. We were a fledgling industry then – very few people were making a fulltime living out of comedy, but it was starting to happen. There was a feeling that comedians needed to represent themselves with one voice to the Festival, to the Classic, and to people who produced live gigs and also television programmes (Pulp Comedy, the Festival Gala and so forth.) After a bit of discussion, we called ourselves a “guild” (rather than a union) to recognise that comedy is craft (rather than a trade) and because some people were uncomfortable with the word “union”. Pfft. The membership fee was set at $30 a year.
In large part it was about establishing pay rates (we set a Rate Card for Guild recommended minimum rates in March 2001 – which haven’t changed very much) and sharing information about what we were earning for corporate work (so we weren’t undercutting each other); representing ourselves in disputes (with knob-ends who ran gigs in random bars and might have refused to pay); negotiating with the Festival and TVNZ (in the early years, for example, comedians weren’t paid for their appearances in the televised Gala, hence the Great Gala Boycott threatened in 2002); and professional development – running workshops, sharing skills, talking about our experiences in the industry.
So advocacy, but also “pastoral care” – providing a place for open discussion, the chance to bitch and moan with the possibility it might lead to change, and a growing sense of community as we all attended each other’s weddings and christenings, and some funerals. And we created the annual comedy awards – “The Guildies”.
The inaugural Guildies were held at 7pm on Thursday 13 December 2001 at the Silo (now the Basement) Theatre. There were 6 awards: Best Achievement by a Male Comedian; Best Achievement by a Female Comedian; Best Tour, Best Show Concept, Best Media Outlet for Comedy; and Best Person to Share a Greenroom With.
In large part it was about establishing pay rates (we set a Rate Card for Guild recommended minimum rates in March 2001 – which haven’t changed very much) and sharing information about what we were earning for corporate work (so we weren’t undercutting each other); representing ourselves in disputes (with knob-ends who ran gigs in random bars and might have refused to pay); negotiating with the Festival and TVNZ (in the early years, for example, comedians weren’t paid for their appearances in the televised Gala, hence the Great Gala Boycott threatened in 2002); and professional development – running workshops, sharing skills, talking about our experiences in the industry.
So advocacy, but also “pastoral care” – providing a place for open discussion, the chance to bitch and moan with the possibility it might lead to change, and a growing sense of community as we all attended each other’s weddings and christenings, and some funerals. And we created the annual comedy awards – “The Guildies”.
The inaugural Guildies were held at 7pm on Thursday 13 December 2001 at the Silo (now the Basement) Theatre. There were 6 awards: Best Achievement by a Male Comedian; Best Achievement by a Female Comedian; Best Tour, Best Show Concept, Best Media Outlet for Comedy; and Best Person to Share a Greenroom With.
Executive Board of The Guild - 2022/2023
The Comedy Guild's Executive Board contains six members who work voluntarily to represent the interest of members and meet regularly to discuss issues and opportunities for Guild members. To connect with any or all of the Executive Board Members, email admin@comedyguild.org.nz
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Darran Lees (Chair & Upper North Island Rep)
Darran joined the board in 2021 as Secretary and was elected to Chair in 2022. Darran is based in Auckland but has performed comedy all over New Zealand and in Australia, most recently at the Whangarei Fringe Festival. Darran also has 25 years of experience in executive teams across the world and brings a wide range of experience in change and financial management. 
Finn Nicolas (Treasurer & Upper North Island Rep)
Mike Fowler (Lower North Island Rep)
Mike Fowler has performed regularly in the Wellington Comedy scene for 5 years, appearing in Fringe festivals throughout NZ, and also twice in the New Zealand International Comedy Festival including his first solo show in the 2021 season. His performances have gained him several awards, Best Debut - NZICF 2019, and Best Up and Comer - The Wellies 2020. Off stage Mike is the owner of Cavern Club Bar, a comedy venue and home of the NZ Comedy School and has helped run and produce regular comedy shows over the last 10 years. |
Todd Hopkins (Secretary & South Island Rep)
Todd is a veteran kaiako and American expat who has lived in Aotearoa for the past five years (Tamaki Makaurau, Te Whanganui-a-Tara and now Te Waiharekeke). He began his journey into the dark world that is stand-up in 2019 and has yet to escape. Todd looks forward to representing Te Waipounamu with a focus on bringing comedy to the motu outside the big cities, especially Takatāpui and POC perspectives. The Comedy Guild has been supportive and safe space for Todd and will continue providing that for his comedy whānau. Arohanui! 
Andra Jenkin (Upper North Island Rep)
Andra has written books, songs and a bunch of jokes. She has been on the comedy circuit for 6 years, 4 as a spec writer for 7 Days. She is committed to equity and anti-racism in comedy and all industries in which she operates. She brings experience from her work on other boards, with creating fair and inclusive processes and writing process manuals. She also has degrees and experience in creative writing. 
Brandon Wyatt (South Island Rep)
Residing in Ōtautahi, Brandon has been in and around the comedy scene for the last 4 years. In this time he has built great relationships with people across Te Waipounamu, making him an ideal representative for its continually growing scenes. Aside from performing, Brandon produces shows under the PHUCK Entertainment banner, including the weekly Church of Comedy Sunday Mass. |
To connect with any or all of the Executive Board Members, email admin@comedyguild.org.nz