What does it take to build a stand-up comedy career independently in Europe?

In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong, I’m joined by Romanian comedian Dragos to talk about tough crowds, touring Europe, and building an audience from the ground up.

We get into performing crowd work in Romanian, shared Eastern European experiences, and how Dragos approached comedy early on with a clear plan for success. We also talk about balancing producing and writing, building an hour of material, and the realities of touring independently across Europe.

From Flixbus horror stories to terrible venues, bad shows, and the early grind of stand-up comedy, this is a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to make comedy work outside the traditional industry system.

We also get into social media, crowd work clips, and how comedians are building audiences online today.

If you’re into stand-up comedy, touring stories, and comedy behind the scenes, this episode is for you.

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🎟 Go see Dragos live! Grab tickets here: https://dragoscomedy.com/

Follow & find more Dragos here: https://www.instagram.com/dragoscomedy

https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@DragosComedy⁩ https://www.tiktok.com/@dragoscomedy

🌍 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

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⏱️ Chapters:
0:00 Introducing Dragos
2:37 Bad shows & staying Independent
10:01 Tough crowds, crowd work in Romanian, and shared eastern european experience
19:05 How Dragos started comedy & his plan for success
32:50 Balancing producing & writing, and building an hour
37:01 Dragos 1st tour, and flixbus horror stories
44:05 Early workload, worst venues, and bad shows
51:46 Finding venues & raw dogging early career
59:24 Starting tiktok, social media, and crowd work clips
1:00:09 Looking forward & Outro

What does it really take to survive in stand-up comedy?

In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong, I’m joined by comedian Tamer Kattan to talk about hecklers, life on the road, and the philosophy behind stand-up.

We get into whether comedy is a blue collar art form, how comics deal with difficult audiences, and what performers actually learn from open mics. Tamer also shares insights from winning The World Series of Comedy, finding inspiration while touring, and the difference between good nervous energy and bad nervous energy on stage.

From crowd work to comedy mindset, this is a behind-the-scenes look at life as a working comedian.

If you’re into stand-up comedy, comedy philosophy, and stories from life on stage, this episode is for you.

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🌐 Tamer Kattan:

🌐 Pat Moore:

📱 Follow:

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⏱️ Chapters:
0:00 Introducing Tamer Kattan
1:24 Is comedy a blue collar art form?
7:12 Dealing with hecklers
11:27 The purpose of an open mic & the pitfalls of hosting
20:47 Winning The World Series Of Comedy
24:10 Audiences are like surfing
27:42 Life on the road & finding inspiration
38:05 Entitlement, mountain tops, and why to do comedy
47:13 Good nervous vs. bad nervous
58:32 Outro

What happens when you perform comedy all over the world—and things don’t go to plan?

In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong, I’m joined by Australian comedian Elena Gabrielle, who shares stories from performing across Europe, the UK, and beyond.

We talk about bad gigs, horrendous Edinburgh Fringe experiences, and what it’s like performing for different audiences around the world. Elena also opens up about grief while performing, mental health on tour, and what it takes to build a career as an independent comedian.

From wild shows in Jamaica to navigating comedy scenes in different countries, this is what really happens behind the scenes of stand-up and live performance.

If you’re into stand-up comedy, international touring, and behind-the-scenes stories, this episode is for you.

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🎟 Go see Elena live! Grab tickets here: https://www.elenagabrielle.com/Follow & find more of Elena here: https://www.instagram.com/elenagabrielle/https://www.youtube.com/elenagabriellehttps://www.tiktok.com/@realelenagabrielle🌍 Come see your host Pat Moore live & request a show in your city:https://linktr.ee/patmoorecomedybit.ly/PatMooreLiveShowAlarmFollow & find more of Pat here: https://www.instagram.com/patmoorecomedy/https://www.youtube.com/@UC527D1IarywmoI5GYT74JoA

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⏱️ Chapters:
0:00 Introducing Elena Gabrielle
01:43 Performing for your own audience & Bad Shows
4:17 Grief while performing & mental health
07:33 How UK, European, and American audiences differ
11:39 Differences between standup & cabaret,
17:48 Horrendous Stories From Edinburgh Fringe,
22:05 Being an entrepreneurial Artist,
27:23 Staring comedy & moving to Berlin,
32:05 Wild show in Jamaica & the worst country to perform in,
40:08 Maintaining your mental health on tour & going solo,
49:29 How to approach social media & comedy in India
53:31 what is making it
59:22 Outro

Do bad gigs ever stop—even after 20+ years in comedy?

In this episode of The Show Must Go Wrong, I’m joined by American comedian Andy Haynes, who stopped by in Berlin during his European tour to talk about bombing on stage, bad shows, and what actually gets harder (and easier) over time in stand-up.

We talk about political comedy, opening for famous friends, finding your voice, and the reality of building a long-term career in comedy. Andy also shares some of his worst gig memories, including getting heckled by the Tea Party.

If you’re into stand-up comedy, behind-the-scenes stories, and life on the road, this episode is for you.

—🎟 Go see Andy live! Grab tickets here: https://www.imandyhaynes.com/Follow & find more of Andy here: https://www.instagram.com/imandyhaynes/https://punchup.live/andyhayneshttps://www.youtube.com/@andyhaynes🌍 Come see your host Pat Moore live & request a show in your city:https://linktr.ee/patmoorecomedybit.ly/PatMooreLiveShowAlarmFollow & find more of Pat here: https://www.instagram.com/patmoorecomedy/https://www.youtube.com/@UC527D1IarywmoI5GYT74JoA

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⏱️ Chapters:
0:00 Introducing Andy Haynes
03:43 Bad Shows 21 Years Into Comedy?
06:53 Political Comedy, Missed Opportunities, and what hurts about a bad set
10:09 Opening/Featuring For Famous Friends with different audiences & The Political Spectrum
21:31 Finding Your Voice, and Andys Start in Comedy
27:32 Working in a structureless career & when to turn over material
34:25 Filming Comedy Central Presents On Edibles & "Making It"
43:46 Comedy in the internet age
52:42 Finding Your Audience & unwritten comedy rules
57:43 Worst Gig Memories & Getting Heckled by the Tea Party

Why do stand-up shows go completely off the rails—and why do comedians keep coming back for more?

In the first episode of The Show Must Go Wrong, comedian Dave Adams shares stories of bombing on stage, chaotic gigs, and the strange overlap between music and stand-up comedy.

We talk about:
– The last bad gig that sticks with you
– Starting stand-up and finding flow on stage
– The difference between bombing in music vs comedy
– Wedding band horror stories
– Touring, corporate gigs, and nightmare audiences
– A true comedy gig from hell
– Managing expectations as a performer

This is a podcast about what really happens in live performance—the awkward silences, drunk crowds, and the gigs you wish you could forget.

If you like stand-up comedy, behind-the-scenes stories, or life as a performer, this is for you.

New episodes every Monday.