The Show Must Go Wrong

What happens open up on stage about getting diagnosed with cancer, and then it bombs?

In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong, I'm joined by American comedian Terence Hartnett, now based in Vienna, to talk about bad shows, writing about the hardest thing that's happened to you, and knowing when it's ready for an audience.How to actually use an open mic. When a subject is too raw to take on stage. Leaving New York for Vienna, and the night his cancer material bombed.

🎟 Go see Terence Hartnett live! Stay up to date and follow here:https://www.instagram.com/hahartnett/?hl=en

🎤 Follow and listen to Terence's podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/donkeyshanepod/?hl=enhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/donkey-shane/id1817647783

📺 Watch more of Terence here:

https://youtu.be/A5q7GGd_CLg?si=1jcexT0-iWvcrUrs

🌍 Come see your host Pat Moore live & request a show in your city:https://www.patmoorecomedy.com/

Follow & find more of Pat here:https://www.instagram.com/patmoorecomedy/https://www.youtube.com/@patmoorecomedy

⏱️ Chapters:(00:00) Introducing Terence Hartnett(02:00) Getting Into Comedy Through Podcasts(08:56) Terence's Last Bad Show, Swagger on Stage & How to Use an Open Mic(19:36) Terence's Shows About Getting Diagnosed & When to Bring Tragedy to the Stage(29:30) Getting Diagnosed Twice, Personally & Comedically, and How to Process It(38:18) Trying to Turn the Page on a Subject That Feels Foundational to Who You Are(46:29) Leaving New York for Vienna & the Downsides of Comedy in NYC(54:09) Terence's Worst Gig & Bombing with Cancer Material(1:02:59) Outro

What happens when you get detained on your way to perform at a comedy festival in Palestine?

In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong, I'm joined by American-Yemeni comedian Ahmed Al-Kadri to talk about bad gigs, bombing, and building a career in comedy on your own terms.

🎟 Go see Ahmed Al-Kadri live:

https://www.instagram.com/ahmedlovesbread/https://ahmedlovesbread.com/

🌍 See your host Pat Moore live & request a show in your city:

https://linktr.ee/patmoorecomedy

https://www.instagram.com/patmoorecomedy/

⏱️ Chapters:

(00:00) Introducing Ahmed Al-Kadri

(01:53) Performing in Arabic for the First Time

(07:34) Comedy & Open Mics in the States vs Berlin

(16:16) Turning Over Material & What Kind of Comedian You Want to Be

(28:06) Why Featuring for Sammy Obeid Is Hard Work

(32:46) The Advantages & Disadvantages of DIY Comedy in the States

(43:46) Bombing & Babysitting: Ahmed's Worst College Gig

(49:32) Getting Detained Trying to Perform at a Comedy Festival in Palestine

(1:10:12) Outro

What happens when you take a podcast on stage in front of a live audience and the set up is completely wrong?

In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong, I'm joined by Danish comedian and podcaster Anders Morgenstierne to talk about bad gigs, bombing in a second language, and building an audience through podcasting.

His first weird Berlin gig. What can go wrong when you book a big celebrity guest. Starting comedy in Iceland, and doing stand-up in English instead of Danish.

🎤 Full episodes every Monday

📺 Watch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShowMustGoWrongPod

🎟 See Anders Morgenstierne's new solo show live:

https://upfestival.dk/om/komikere/anders-morgenstierne

🎤 Follow Anders here:

https://www.instagram.com/andersmorgenstierne/

https://www.instagram.com/droemmeklubbenpodcast/

🎧 Listen to Drømmeklubben here:

https://open.spotify.com/show/0LI9Kf1Ab6rT7M4JoYO2gF?si=07d315038ac9408f

🌍 See your host Pat Moore live & request a show in your city:

https://linktr.ee/patmoorecomedy

https://www.instagram.com/patmoorecomedy/

⏱️ Chapters:

(00:00) Introducing Anders Morgenstierne

(01:19) First Weird Berlin Gig & the Legend of Valentin Stüberl

(05:38) Anders' Football Podcast, Blowing Up & Live Podcasting Gone Wrong

(15:42) The Origin Story of Drømmeklubben

(25:13) When Booking a Big Podcast Guest Goes Wrong

(30:44) Getting Approached to Do a Children's Podcast & the Restraints That Brings

(35:37) Starting Comedy in Iceland, Anders' First Podcast & the Story of His First Open Mic

(42:23) Starting Comedy in Your Second Language & Doing Standup in English vs Danish

(48:48) The Worst Bombs of Anders' Early Years & Why the Light in Berlin Gives Him Anxiety

(56:40) Anders' New Show, Tour Plans & Why Expat Audiences Are Great

(1:02:23) Outro

What does it actually cost to do drag full time — and what happens when a lipsync falls apart in front of a room?

In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong, I'm joined by Berlin-based drag queen Harpy to talk about bad gigs, money, and building a career in drag in Germany.

Getting booked and influencer culture in the scene. Failing in drag and the vulnerability of lipsyncing. The history of drag in Germany, finding community after the attack on CSD, and the weirdest venues Harpy has ever played.

Whether you're a comedian, a musician, or any kind of performer, this episode is full of honest conversation about surviving bad rooms and building something that lasts.

🎟 Go see Harpy live:

https://www.instagram.com/wowharpywow/https://rausgegangen.de/en/artists/harpy-fatale/

🌍 See your host Pat Moore live & request a show in your city:

https://linktr.ee/patmoorecomedy

https://www.instagram.com/patmoorecomedy/

⏱️ Chapters:

(00:00) Introducing Harpy

(02:36) Starting Out as a Drag Queen, Harpy's Start & Drag as a Medium

(06:29) Influencer Culture in Drag & Getting Booked as a Drag Queen

(13:02) The Financial Reality of Doing Full Time Drag & Creating New Spaces

(21:38) Harpy's Origin Story in Drag & Performing

(27:16) Failing in Drag, Vulnerability in Lipsyncing & Roasting Your Own Community

(36:23) The History of Drag in Germany & the Drag Scene in Berlin

(41:50) Finding Community After the Attack on CSD & Drag Being Political

(52:03) The Weirdest Venues Harpy Has Played, German vs English & Cringe Drag Trends

(1:00:56) How to Have a Fierce Photo Shoot

(1:02:28) Outro

What happens when you book a 30-city tour before you've ever actually toured?

In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong, I'm joined by Ukrainian comedian Dima Watermelon to talk about bad venues, losing money, and what touring comedy in Europe actually costs you.

Bombing as a producer instead of as an act. The worst show of his tour. Tour economics, selling tickets, and why comics in Europe are starting to share audiences.

🎟 Go see Dima Watermelon live & follow:

https://www.dimawatermelon.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dimawatermelon/

🌍 See your host Pat Moore live & request a show in your city:

https://linktr.ee/patmoorecomedy

https://www.instagram.com/patmoorecomedy/

⏱️ Chapters:

(00:00) Introducing Dima Watermelon

(01:25) Bombing as a Producer, Losing Money & How to Host

(08:48) Booking 30 Cities & Other Mistakes Dima Made on His First Tour

(18:44) The Worst Show of Dima's Tour & Performing for a Big Corporate Group

(30:55) Bad Venues, Cutting Your Show Short & The Desperation of Comedy in Europe

(36:32) Tour Economics, Selling Tickets & Going Viral

(39:43) Finding the Balance in Touring & Public Transport Horror

(48:07) Bar Shows, Weird Venue Stories & Cancelling Gigs

(52:58) The Rise of Touring Comics in Europe & Sharing Audiences

(01:01:53) Outro

What happens when you bomb in front of your own parents' friends — and what does tattooing a stranger for four hours have in common with a five-minute set?

In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong, I'm joined by Canadian comedian, tattoo artist, and documentary filmmaker Alison Lujan, to talk about bad gigs, burning out, and what it takes to keep going when the thing you love stops loving you back.

Alison does three things at once — tattooing, stand-up, and her first documentary — and the conversation kept coming back to how they feed each other. We get into her worst bomb of all time, the horror of crowd working her parents' friends, and rooms that were never going to laugh. We also talk honestly about getting sick of comedy, our own experiences with depression and mental health, and what we've each actually found that helps.

⏱️ Chapters:
(00:00) Introducing Alison Lujan
(01:13) Backpacking in Ireland & a Camping Trip Gone Wrong
(06:22) Away with the Fairies & Making Your First Documentary
(11:23) Getting Sick of Comedy & Heeding the Call
(16:47) Talking Honestly About Depression & Mental Health
(33:57) Alison Lujan's Worst Bomb & Crowd Working Her Parents' Friends
(45:57) Blowing Second Chances, Performing for Older Crowds & Green Room Bombs
(56:07) The Craft of Tattooing, Taking Breaks & Why Hobbies Matter
(01:01:11) The Connections Between Comedy & Tattooing
(01:06:10) Outro

What happens when absolutely everything goes wrong at a comedy show?

In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong, I'm joined by Kiwi comedian Fitz Gessler, who grew up performing in Wellington before moving to Berlin and building a career in European comedy.

We talk about bad shows, performing for a polycule, Fitz's journey into comedy, and the lessons he's learned from touring. Fitz explains why there's no such thing as being truly ready, shares the story of a show in Leipzig where everything went wrong, and talks about dealing with pressure as a performer.

We also discuss the perfect green room, some of Fitz's worst stories from his early tours, growing an audience online, and what it takes to finally make comedy your job.

From Wellington to Berlin and everything that goes wrong along the way, this is another honest conversation about the reality of building a life in comedy.

—

⏱️ Chapters:

0:00 Introducing Fitz Gessler
00:59 Bad Shows & Performing for a Polycule
12:49 How Fitz Got Into Comedy & His Journey from Wellington to Berlin
22:59 Touring, Lessons from the Road & No Such Thing as Being Ready
29:11 Everything Went Wrong in Leipzig
36:14 The Perfect Green Room & Dealing with Pressure
46:48 Fitz's Worst Stories from Early Tours
52:45 Growing an Audience Online
1:01:33 Making Comedy Your Job
1:04:38 Outro

What does a DJ actually owe the dancefloor — and what happens when you're playing to a crowd you can't feel?

In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong, I'm joined by Berlin-based DJ and producer Elias Doré to talk about track selection, ecstatic dance, and the strange double life of moving between the conscious world and the party world.

We get into how much an artist should try to serve their audience versus follow their own instinct, why context matters more than any individual track, and how to keep performing on the nights when you feel completely disconnected from the room.

Elias also talks about going from playing in bands — Afro-Funk in Dakar, Klezmer in London, Reggae in Berlin — to fully immersing himself in electronic music, the story of his first shows, his weirdest gig, what playing weddings taught him, and how imposter syndrome still shows up after years of touring.

Along the way we cover social media, life inside the rave bubble, and whether being an artist is really viable — financially and spiritually.

If you're into electronic music, DJ culture, Berlin nightlife, and honest conversations about life as a working artist, this episode is for you.

—

⏱️ Chapters:

0:00 Introducing Elias Doré

1:31 How Much Should We Serve Our Audience? & Performing When You Feel Disconnected

10:33 Creating Moments of Beauty & Why Context Matters So Much in Track Selection

20:11 How Elias Doré Became a DJ & the Story of His First Shows

27:06 Going from Bands to DJing & How to Handle the Challenges of Touring

31:21 Navigating the Conscious World & the Party World, and the Power of Ecstatic Dance

42:19 Manoeuvring Social Media as an Artist & Life Inside the Rave Bubble

50:08 Elias Doré's Weirdest Show, Playing Weddings & Imposter Syndrome

59:03 The Financial & Spiritual Realities of Being an Artist

1:05:13 Outro

What is it really like to perform eight shows a week as a professional circus performer—and what happens when an acrobat decides to become a comedian?

In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong, I'm joined by comedian and professional acrobat Andre Augustas, who has performed around the world and worked with Cirque du Soleil.

We talk about the world of professional circus, the stereotypes surrounding different types of circus performers, and what it's like to perform eight shows a week. Andre explains how he got started in acrobatics, the difference between gymnastics and acrobatics, and how performing changes as you get older.

We also get into bad shows and corporate gigs in the acrobatic world, touring with Gravity & Other Myths, and the darker side of touring in China. Finally, Andre talks about pivoting toward stand-up comedy and the challenges of trying to make a living as an artist.

From circus to comedy, this is a conversation about performing at the highest level, life on the road, and what happens when an artist decides it's time for their next chapter.

—

⏱️ Chapters:

0:00 Introducing Andre Augustas
6:12 Learning About Acrobatics & the World of Circus
12:08 Stereotypes of Different Circus Performers & Working 8 Shows a Week for Cirque du Soleil
25:27 How Andre Started in Acrobatics & the Difference Between Gymnastics & Acrobatics
29:01 Audience Connection, Aging & the Best Cities for Acrobatics
33:46 Bad Shows & Corporate Gigs in the Acrobatic World
46:04 Gravity & Other Myths & Life as a Touring Acrobat
54:14 The Darker Side of Touring in China
58:29 Andre Augustas Pivots Toward Comedy
1:04:08 Making a Living as an Artist
1:06:57 Outro

What happens when Sid Singh, a comedian with 17 years of experience, still can't get on an open mic?

In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong, I'm joined by American comedian Sid Singh, based between London and Barcelona and an award winner at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, to talk about hecklers, bombing abroad, and the financial realities of building a life as a touring performer.

We discuss the differences between shows in the USA and Europe, Sid's crazy heckler story and how he handles defeat, a horror gig in Bratislava, the confidence it takes to start comedy in the first place, and the best piece of advice he has for anyone coming up. We also get into the unwritten rules of the Edinburgh Fringe, how to deal with the industry there, what first time performers should know, the advantages of starting comedy later in life, and one of the worst bombs of his career.

Whether you're a comedian, a musician, or any kind of performer, this episode is full of honest conversation about surviving bad rooms and building something that lasts.

🎟 Go see Sid Singh live! Stay up to date and follow here:https://www.sidsingh.org/https://www.instagram.com/sidsinghisfunny/

🎤 Go see Sid at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Sid Singh: Love Bombing, Laughing Horse at The Counting House, until 30 Aug, 4.15pm

📺 Watch Sid's special here: https://youtu.be/cSnVAltNsL4?si=RFKICb1QOFAEbh_B

🎧 Find more of Sid here:https://www.youtube.com/@SidSinghIsFunny/videoshttps://open.spotify.com/album/3r1A5N9Rq6zTQkkS1dWwq2

🌍 Come see your host Pat Moore live & request a show in your city:

https://linktr.ee/patmoorecomedy

bit.ly/PatMooreLiveShowAlarm

Follow & find more of Pat here:https://www.instagram.com/patmoorecomedy/https://www.youtube.com/@patmoorecomedy

0:00 Introducing Sid Singh

0:59 Not Getting on an Open Mic After 17 Years in Comedy & USA vs Europe Crowds

12:14 Sid Singh's Crazy Heckler Story & His Approach to Defeat

19:53 The Confidence of Starting Comedy & Another Horror Story from Bratislava

29:51 The Best Advice Sid Can Give & The Lesson in Comedy That It Taught Him

35:53 What to Do When Given a Shot as a New Comedian & How to Follow Your Own Crowd Work

40:56 The Rules of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival & How to Deal with the Industry

47:12 Intentionality at the Edinburgh Fringe & Advice for First Time Performers

51:40 The Financial Realities of Being an Artist & Starting Comedy Later in Life

1:01:11 One of Sid Singh's Worst Bombs of All Time

1:10:09 Outro