Welcome to the NZ Comedy Guild - we represent the interests of the professional comedy industry in New Zealand.
Photo credits: Megan Blackwell of Blackwell Photography and Jason Fell
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 - 2020/2021
The Comedy Guild's Executive Board contains nine 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
Brendon Green (Chair)
A full time comedian who has been in the industry for over a decade, with experience of everything from producing, performing, to tutoring Class Comedians. Brendon has been on the board for 3 years, with 2020 being his first as Chair. 
Josh Davies (Treasurer)
Our treasurer Josh Davies is a rare find: a working comedian with sound financial skills. He works for Blind Low Vision NZ as a grants fundraiser which entails grant writing and charity research on a daily basis. 
Ben 'Tito' Caldwell (Lower North Island Rep)
Founder and primary producer of The Comedy Hub in Palmerston North, Tito has been instrumental in the rise of comedy around the Lower North Island region. He is a great advocate for performers and producers in the area. |
Patrick Davies (Secretary)
The now Wellington based Patrick Davies is a mainstay of NZ live performance, having started out in the early days of the Dunedin Comedy Scene. He is passionate about the governance and admin side of the Guild, and brings his extensive experience of NFPs NGOs to the team. 
Donna Brookbanks (Female + Non Binary Rep)
A former Chair of the Guild Exec Board, Donna is now focusing her attention on the vital issue of Women and Non Binary representation in the comedy industry. Her work in 2020 will bring about lasting positive changes in making the scene safer and more inclusive than ever before. 
Li'i Alaimoana ( Lower North Island Rep)
The Wellington based Lower North Island representative has built a strong rapport with performers all around the country through his extensive touring and open personality. A strong voice for Pacific Island representation in the NZ comedy industry, Li'i is a fantastic new addition to the Guild Executive Board. |
Tim Muller (South Island Rep)
Wanaka based comedian and producer Tim Muller has been key in creating a co-ordination and community in the many South Island comedy scenes. He helped the Guild navigate their Covid-19 response, and has been active in disputes resolution work since becoming the South Island rep in 2019. |
Natalie Samy (General Exec)
2020/2021 is the first year on the Exec Board for Natalie, who has built a strong foundation of relationships during her time as a comedian. As a woman of colour she represents a very important voice for the comedy community. She actively represents and celebrates the upcoming immigrant talent in NZ, and is committed to making everyone in the industry feel welcomed and safe. |
Corin Healy (General Exec)
An essential worker on the Guild Exec Board, Corin has been responsible for a lot of the recent work the Guild has produced (Lockdown Challenge, Community Zoom Calls, Guidelines for Level 2 Shows, the list goes on). He is the spearhead of the new Mentoring Programme in partnership with The Comedy Trust. |
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To connect with any or all of the Executive Board Members, email admin@comedyguild.org.nz