Comedy is often not an easy career path, if it even gets enough momentum to be called a career. Sometimes female comedians have a particularly difficult time getting the support and respect they need to take off. As such our ability to support one another means a lot. Hence the need for proper professional networking.

Each table at our brunch will have a seasoned professional. People beforehand can list their preferences as to which table they would like to join. In this way our women can gain insight about the industry from the stars. We can also form friendships with people who share our sense of humour. We have Denise Scott and Catherine Deveney interested in attending. So right now, we have two tables.

During the brunch we can also make resolutions and organise further events. One idea we have is creating an exchange program. One of our comedians is flown to the US where she can perform at the Women in Comedy Festival in Boston, and one of their comedians will fly out here for performances and give a talk at our brunch about the industry in her country. This and other ideas are the sorts of opportunities we can give ourselves.

When we create and participate in things such as Cath Style’s phenomenal Girl’s Night Out, we make ourselves more visible, we show people what we can do, and we get them interested in more. Making friends and forming ensembles, as can be done at a networking brunch, helps us lift our game.

If you are interested in joining us at this brunch or helping in any way, please contact me, so I can put you on our mailing list. My email address: muse at glasswings.com.au

Peace and kindness,

Katherine

Funny Females Networking Brunch Facebook page.

Be sure to participate in this world event to raise awareness about the need for peace. Fifty-six clubs worldwide will be participating.

Here in Melbourne the event will feature comedian Ben Lomas and be at-

The Comic’s Lounge
8pm Wednesday 21st September
26 Errol Street, North Melbourne,
Tickets are $15.

Peace and kindness,

Katherine

A number of you have been asking about what gigs I’m booked for in 2011, and specifically if I am in the Melbourne Comedy Festival.

Currently, I have no engagements because I’m working on a television comedy. Woohoo! I’m also out drumming up day-job type work.

To participate in the comedy festival scene you have to have sufficient funds to properly market your show. Word of mouth can do a lot, but you still have to bring enough people in the first week of your show to ensure that this effectively happens. When you are also competing with more than three hundred other shows, marketing can mean the difference between succeeding, breaking even, or taking a hefty loss. Hence, the continuing need for a day-job.

I will probably start making myself seen again a little later this year with some new material. In the meantime I am helping a friend with marketing her show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival and I will be back to my reviewing. So stay tuned.

Wish me luck with the tv show and with my finances, so that something magical can form.

Peace and kindness,

Katherine

Dancing Dog Cafe is the up and coming venue for all sorts of performance arts.

Come along and watch me do my silly poetry reading thing. This will be something of a retrospective with the majority of my spoken word from last year, plus the poetry aspect of my comedy festival show this year, and a few new poems. Oh and I couldn’t leave out the balloon twisting.

Katherine Phelps and More Strange Blessings
Westword Poetry
2pm Sunday 28 November
Dancing Dog Cafe
42 Albert Street
Footscray

Peace and kindness,

Katherine

The fast approaching gig is one I have with the Melbourne Fringe Festival. No, it’s not Spacerella, though my heart breaks over that bit of comedy fluttering off into the distance. I’m bringing Mbulu and Kiki to the Comedy Beast Magazine nights! Then, only a month later I’m being paid to read my doggerel at a cafe in Footscray.

Katherine Phelps and The Terrible Tikis
Comedy Beast Magazine Night
8:30pm Friday 01 October
Hotel Discovery – Velvet Underground
167 Franklin Street
Melbourne CBD

Book at the Melbourne Fringe site.

Katherine Phelps and More Strange Blessings
Westword Poetry
2pm Sunday 28 November
Dancing Dog Cafe
42 Albert Street
Footscray

Peace and kindness,

Katherine

The comedy festival has begun and I am in it!

Strange Blessings is the story of the Blessington Community Variety Show. Every year Blessington holds a show where the citizens strut their stuff: the librarian reads her saucy poetry, the plumber shows off his skills at air guitar, and Lord Mayor Frank the Bunny-Eared Angel demonstrates that his toes are indeed twinkly, performing a dance number with the mistress of ceremonies. This year something special happens when two of the performers discover true love.

Please be sure to join me at POP Restaurant and Bar 68 Hardware Lane, Melbourne CBD, 24 March–17 April 6-7pm Tues-Sat. Tickets through Ticketmaster outlets or call 1300 66 00 13, Comedyfestival.com.au.

You can find more information on the comedy festival site or my own Strange Blessings site.

Katherine and Mbulu in Strange Blessings

Peace and Kindness,

Katherine

PS: Kiki and Mbulu are back!

Thursday 18 February 20:00 (maybe)

The Courthouse Readings
728 Main Road, Eltham
Cost: $5

Tuesday 24 February 20:30 (definitely)

The Dan
225 Canning Street, Carlton
Cost: Free

Friday 26 February 19:30 (maybe)

Falling Angels Competition
State Library, Latrobe Street, Melbourne CBD
Cost: Free

Sunday 28 February 14:00 (probably)

Westwords
Dancing Dog Cafe, 42 Albert Street, Footscray
Cost: $2.50

So, far I have done everything I have listed, but it’s taking its toll. Contact me before “maybe” or “probably” nights if you want to be certain I am performing.

Peace and kindness,

Katherine

For those of you following my career, I deeply apologise for not letting you know about two performances I gave Friday and Saturday. Here are some upcoming gigs at which you may well see me.

Tuesday 09 February 19:30 (maybe)

Poetic Justice
O’Sullivan’s Sibeen Irish Pub & Restaurant
914 Mt Alexander Road, Essendon
Cost: $3

Wednesday 10 February 19:00 (definitely)

Court Jester Cafe
15 Breese St, Brunswick
Cost: $5

Saturday 13 February 14:00 (maybe)

Poetry at Fed Square
Jolimont Expresso, The Atrium, Melbourne CBD
Cost: FREE

Monday 15 February 20:30 (maybe)

Passionate Tongues
The Brunswick Hotel
140 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Cost: ?

Tuesday 16 February 20:30 (definitely)

Spinning Room
ETs Hotel
211 High St, Prahran
Cost: FREE

More to go up soon.

Peace and kindness,

Katherine

I will soon get back to regular blogging and let you all know about the process of getting ready for this sort of gig.

In the meantime I have a gig this Friday.

The Dragonfly Club
8pm Friday 13 November
246-250 Yarra Street, Warrandyte VIC
Top car park, back of shops

Peace and kindness,

Katherine

I have a Melbourne gig! And thus my style of mayhem gets its toe-hold in this city. MWUHAHA!

Willow Tales
Willow Bar
222 High Street, Northcote
8pm Wednesday 04 November

I’ve also been hanging out at information nights about producing shows for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. So wish me luck.

Peace and kindness,

Katherine