By Emma Groves, with Rosie Wang

Like famous funnymen Jerry Seinfeld and Ricky Gervais, who kick-started their careers performing stand-up, eight hopeful up-and-coming comics competed in Carnivale’s Open Mic Comedy Night at The Parrotfish Lodge on Sunday, May 19.

MC Dave warmed up the crowd and started the laughs with ad-libbed one-liners. Armed with gags, quips, yarns and wisecracks, brave contestants (some with no experience at all) Daniel Leopold, Lisa Stempart, Al Gibson, Ian Gilmartin, Joshua Sigarito, Brian Freeman, Daniel Brinklow, and Trent Miller, had the audience in stitches.

Gibson effectively used a Thomas the Tank Engine book for original material, and Freeman produced the night’s most memorable joke (Ed’s note: It’s a tad too risqué for publication, but I can can confirm - it was a hoot).

Competition honours - $400 cash and a spot in the The Big Laugh’s line-up, at Sugar Wharf on May 24 – went to Brinklow, with Gibson awarded second place. Brinklow’s timing and delivery impressed the judges, and left some audience members rolling in the aisles – no joke!

The ideal venue and local favourite, The Parrotfish Lodge provided cheap drinks and laughs aplenty. Let’s hope Open Mic Comedy Night becomes a regular event, with proprietor Mic White considering a competition every three months.