Kamilaroi comedian Dane Simpson is making his stamp on Australia with his stand-up comedy and comedy video clips. He has become a Facebook favourite with over 90,000 views on his comedy clips such as Devon and Chips.
Born in Bundaberg and growing up in Walgett, Dane started stand-up comedy officially at the Deadly Funny’s competition in 2015. This 34-year-old emerging comic comes from a family of entertainers, so entertaining an audience comes naturally.
“I have very early memories of my Nan always having a joke and playing her walking stick like a trumpet to songs on radio”, Dane says.
“My family has always been silly and funny. We always told stories about each other and had a good laugh.”
Mr Simpson was a DJ at the age of 16, which was a door opener for him in the comedy scene. “I set up the audio equipment for comedian Kevin Kropinyeri in Wagga Wagga at one of his gigs. After the gig he contacted me and asked me to go with him on a small comedy tour of Outback NSW,” Dane explains.
“While we were travelling around outback NSW (Big drives) Kevin and I would tell yarns and make each other laugh. Kevin said that I should tell some of my stories as an opening act in Narrabri. I said that sounds awesome.”
“Just before the show we were both standing backstage and I got really scared in the wings. I told Kev that I wasn't going out to the stage and that he should just do the show himself.
Kevin physically pushed me out on stage and back announced "Ladies and Gentleman please welcome to the stage... Dane Simpson!". I was super nervous and told my stories and got big laughs. My delivery would not have been great but the stories very funny and I got a great response. After that night I was hooked on stand-up comedy and I have been learning more and more about the craft ever since.”
Using his comedy and technology experience, Dane has capitalised on social media publishing his own comedy video clips.
“I am always being silly and having a joke, even before I was a comedian. These days, I always say to myself after a good laugh "That would make a great video" then we make it into a video.”
Since commencing comedy, Dane has toured with the Aboriginal Comedy Allstars, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow, and performed at the Reconciliation Gala 2017, which he says is his highest career achievements to date.
Dane produced Aborigi-LOL comedy stand-up show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Aborigi-LOL has seen comics such as Karen Edwards, Joshua Warrior, and Matt Ford take the stage to tickle a multi-cultural audience.
In 2018, you can see Aborigi-LOL at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival featuring Matt Ford and Dane Simpson. “We have written a whole new show and are really looking forward to that,” Dane says.
Aborigi-LOL will tour nationally next year. Teaming up with Dane Kennedy, who appeared on The X Factor.
You can catch Dane at the Riverina Comedy Club in Wagga Wagga on the 17 November featuring comedian Sean Choolburra.
the dna of silly & funny