In his memoir, Jimmy Carr—yes, the UK comic who has made a fortune from telling jokes—recounts the tale of how he escaped the bleak confines of a day job for the glittery allure of stand-up comedy. And within six months, he was raking in enough cash to support himself purely through laughing at the world. For Australian comedian Nick Robertson, this reads like the kind of happy ending you’d find in a children’s fairy tale—minus the talking animals and vibrant colors, of course.
Living down under, with a population akin to that of a moderately-sized town in the UK, many of Australia’s jesters supplement their careers with side gigs or day jobs just to make ends meet. Some folks cash in on radio and television gigs, while others are busy juggling construction work, barista duties, or possibly performing interpretive dance at local parks. Because why settle for just one job when you can seamlessly blend your passions into a comedy soufflé that may or may not rise?
This comedic balancing act means that many entertainers need to master the ancient art of juggling—often to pay the bills! On the upside, the wildly different experiences can provide juicy material for their sets, giving them that unique flavor needed to stand out in an ocean of comedy. Who doesn’t want to hear about the misadventures of a barista turned comedian? Or the war stories of a stagehand battling over-identifying warehouse cats?
So, grab your popcorn! We’ve got four comedic jugglers here, all sporting legitimate day jobs and navigating the sometimes treacherous waters of work-life balance—valuable lessons for any budding comedian or confused adult still figuring out how to adult.
Noah Szto
Meet Noah Szto: the emergency room medic who still manages to poke fun at life—even if it’s immediately after dealing with the latest case of someone mistaking a toaster for a helicopter. Following his stint at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala, Szto was right back in the trenches, taking shifts in the Emergency Department. Because why not remind himself of the fleeting joy of laughter immediately after dealing with actual life-and-death situations?
Having bagged the Best Newcomer title last year, Szto clearly has aspirations to take his comedic act into the surgical theater. His new show, Med School, combines the wisdom of medical school with humorous narratives—because nothing screams comedy like anatomy lessons mashed together with punchlines. However, he admits that finding time to write between life-saving duties has been a real headache, and not the kind that can be cured with a couple of ibuprofens.
“It’s tricky,” he confesses. “Sometimes I turn to writing like it’s a light version of triage. I save ‘creative’ tasks for days off, or early morning brain fog sessions. The comedy dream, it seems, sometimes takes a back seat to someone’s sudden allergic reaction to nuts. But hey, as long as it’s never an emergency involving a crying audience!”
Sarah Stewart
Sarah Stewart always envisioned a future as the next Doris Day, complete with the charming antics and singing. However, it turns out that a midwifery career was a more probable path. She only decided to chase her comedic dreams after being gifted an online workshop during the pandemic by her daughter—a questionable gift if you ask me, akin to giving someone a snake as a pet.
Now in her 60s, Stewart’s show Midwife Crisis delves into her colorful life as a midwife, filled with heartwarming and cringe-worthy anecdotes. She’s even swapped clinical practice for a cushy government policy gig, which I assume involves a lot of “Yes, let’s absolutely prioritize everyone’s mental health on paper!”
With new comedic material bubbling in her head, Sarah has added tales from her days in midwifery that are enough to make anyone reconsider their life choices—like being ambushed by a Rottweiler while on a home visit, which sounds less like a friendly pup and more like a personalized life coach with high expectations.
Nick Robertson
Enter Nick Robertson—the man most likely to have snapped that photo of your favorite comedian looking quizzically into the camera, probably right before they realized they’d misread the audience. While his storytelling show, Everything That Happened at Number 68, has charmed audiences, he’s also carved a niche in the world of photography, capturing the essence of comics like they’re trapped in an art gallery. The trick? Make them look like… well, themselves, not just another stock image.
While Nick initially pressed pause on comedy to dabble in music journalism, a series of questionable life choices led him back to the stage. “It’s been my identity crisis, but here we are,” he admits, perhaps while rolling his eyes at the absurdity of pursuing two creative careers that often have “starving artist” written all over them.
Julian O’Shea
Lastly, meet Julian O’Shea, who somehow combines his job as a university lecturer with the inherently ridiculous realm of comedy, proving that education doesn’t always have to be a snooze fest. With over 100,000 subscribers on YouTube, he’s swapped tedious lectures for engaging short videos on urban design and transport. But let’s be real—who knew urban planning could be a riot?
Julian attributes the overlap between teaching and comedy to a shared bond—entertaining while educating. “Pay attention to your laptop, and also laugh!” he seems to be saying to audiences, though somehow staying on topic. He’s riding the fine line between intellectual discourse and a comedic journey through the mundane, reminding us that a history of The Guinness Book of Records could double as material for a winning comedic set. Yes, the absurdity of life truly knows no bounds.
Sure, he could ditch the day job and become a full-time content creator, but what would be the thrill in that? He enjoys the double life, complete with cat-like reflexes and copious caffeine intake to handle the festival season. Let’s face it: who wouldn’t prefer crafting punchlines over worrying about their rent every month, living the dream while still keeping one foot firmly planted in reality?
