by Evan 'Buddah' Hocking


Australia Day, one of the greatest days on the Aussie calendar. A day where everyone celebrates what it means to be an Australian, with a few beers a barby, and this year a few laughs.
 
Over the last few months i'd been trying my best to get an open mic comedy night going in Port Douglas. A lot of people had said to me ' That's a great idea', 'That's what Port needs'.

That's all well and good but if people don't get behind it and support it, a good idea can fizzle and end up being nothing more than that - an idea.
 
The Court House Hotel beer garden was the scene, decked out to resemble (as much as I could) a comedy club given the open surrounds. As the crowd built the number of comics had risen to eight, which was great considering a week before the event i had four confirmed.
 
As show time approached the beer garden was buzzing. I came on to MC the day not entirely sure how receptive the crowd would be, given it was 2.30pm in the afternoon on Australia Day. But from the start I could tell the crowd were ready to support the new comics having a crack, that's the Aussie way isn't it.
 
I brought on Colin first whose set went for a good 10 minutes and probably was more suited to a 9pm time slot but everyone was having a good laugh at some of Col's impressions and impersonations.
 
Our only female comic was up next and Toni got right into it, even if at times she forgot she had to talk into the mic for people to hear her. But the first one's always the hardest and she did a great job.
 
Our third act came up to me on the day and said "I wanna have a go Buddah", so I said '"No worries". Well once he grabbed the mic you couldn't get it off him. Johnny Liddell had the crowd roaring with little quips about how he wished he wasn't married after two younger girls walked in front of the stage. Eventually after wrestling the mic off him, we were all set for a 10 minute break.
 
Unfortunately the barby took a little longer than that and probably right next to the stage wasn't the ideal spot to set it up. Throw in the band turning the stage into a walking minefield and an hour later the comics had to deal with dodging guitars and drum kits while delivering punchlines.
 
Matty G had been talked into having a go the night before and I think he's hooked now he had a ball. Mat 'The Saviour' Churchill came up next and had some great material stemming from his days travelling overseas, a good tight set.

We were pushing through the comics a bit quickly given the hour delay but Walley came up next and we all know a lot more about Walley now. In fact we know everything and his boys now know the answer to the question "Where did I come from?"
 
Tommy performed a piece of Australian comedy gold called 'Australyana'. Not his own material but he didn't claim it to be and the crowd enjoyed it. Worney finished off the day and handled a group of four female hecklers very well and probably was some of his best stuff.
 
Overall the day ran alright with just a few minor hiccups, barbies, bands and the bikies which must have decided to roar past as soon as I grabbed the mic. How good am i going?, getting heckled by motorbikes. But from the response I think we can say an Open Mic Comedy Night in Port would be a great addition to the entertainment scene.
 
Now the focus is to turn it into an actual show and upstairs in the Sunset Lounge is the perfect spot. This will give us a more intimate comedy crowd, with no outside distractions so the comics will be everyones focus.

Throw in a time limit for the comics and a few other bits and pieces and we can have a very smooth professionally run comedy night right here in Port Douglas. Stay tuned for more updates but around mid March would be a great time to fire it up again.  
 
A huge thanks to all the comics who got up and had a go, well done all of you. Thanks also to everyone who came and supported the eight comics, great work.
 
If anyone has any feedback or wants to be involved in the next night please feel free to get in contact with me on 0438 005 146.