Joey Page shares his wisdom

Twenty years ago, I had no idea the journey I was about to embark on would not only change my life but also shape my personality and identity. Truth be told, I always wanted to be in a band but I had zero talent for that. 

Looking back, I think getting so much attention from my grandfather as a child primed me to chase the spotlight wherever I could find it. My Dad has always been the life and soul of every party and I have always tried my best to be the heir to that throne. I excelled in drama, and acting remains a huge love of mine. But it was my drama teacher who convinced me to take a stand-up course. At 21, I completed it and started gigging.

I began as a surreal dandy in a ridiculous hat, above,  but over time I’ve transformed into a more relatable stand-up with a slightly odd streak and deep desire to talk about my working-class roots. Yes, I still look like a bit of a hipster twat but at least I have self awareness as my £5 flat white flirts with my moustache

. I’ve seen comics come and go, I’ve learned a lot along the way, and I want to share it. So here it is: 20 lessons from 20 years at the "lol" face of British comedy. (Yes, I hate myself for that pun.)

1. Stand-up is the most immediate and honest form of entertainment. An idea can arrive in the morning and you can try it on stage that same night. No checks, no committees. Just you, the audience, and the direct feedback on whether something I’ve come up with is funny. There’s no other art form like it. So special. 

2. The industry needs to do better. Promoters exist who care, but basic fees haven’t really risen in 20 years. In 2005, I earned £150 to open a gig when a pint was £3. Today, pints are £7.50, dinner is the price of a night out, a night out is the price of a weekend away and so on. Comedy club tickets have quadrupled in price, but that opening fee? Still £150. I know costs rise too but we drive home late at night because we can’t afford hotels. A friend of mine died driving home from a gig, and yet there’s been no campaign to raise basic fees in most cases. It’s a scandal.

3. The best car companion after midnight is a BBQ chicken pizza on the passenger seat and very loud music.

4. Jeff Innocent once taught me: if you have a bad gig, it’s because you’re not truly in the room. He’s always right.

5. Not all achievements fit on a CV. Case in point, one of my very favourite musicians, Kurt Vile, once saw me perform. It won’t boost my career, but it remains a huge career highlight and, best of all, we’ve become friends which melts my heart.

6. It’s not cool to be cool. Audiences don’t want you to be cooler than them; they want you to be an idiot they can laugh at. It took me years to learn this. Offstage, though, I’m still very cool. See point 5.

7. Always meet your heroes. Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer, Harry Hill, Josie Long, Rhod Gilbert, Stewart Lee — all delightful. The only disappointment was Eddie Izzard, who was not very kind on two occasions. But we all have bad days. Maybe I just met her on two bad days but it really broke my young heart. 

8. Always listen to Tom Parry. The wisest person I know. A fellow comic, he gave me career-changing advice on how to write material, and his wisdom has kept me going on and off stage. He’s always dropping pearls left right and centre. I owe him a lot for how I have developed into who I am today.

9. Loyalty matters. I’ve never cancelled one gig to do a better-paid one. Your word is crucial.This can be to the detriment for any desire to have a pension however.

10. Collaborate with new comics. Their hunger and fresh perspective can teach you more than you realise.

11. The hardest years are after the newcomer's shine wears off -around year three or four -when the industry moves on to the next ‘new thing’. That’s when you learn whether you really love this in your bones, and whether you’re willing to grow into your authentic self on stage.

12. Drunk wine women are unstoppable hecklers. When a grigio-ed up heckler sets her sights on you, no comeback will dent her confidence. Best to play dead. (Like with a bear.)

13. Service station WH Smiths are the worst. No nice, no essentials. Just books, overpriced snacks, and the odd giant gremlin plushie that perfectly mirrors how I am going to feel after a grab bag and a Ginsters cheese and pickle sandwich.

14. Rob Beckett taught me: if you have a funny idea, just say it simply. If it works, add a line tomorrow. Don’t overcomplicate it.

15. NEVER give up on your goals. Playing the Hackney Empire was everything I dreamed of. Thanks to Laura Smyth, who had me support her first tour, I had one of the best nights of my career so far.I always wanted to do it, didn’t know how to make it happen and then it happened. Also seeing Laura’s rise and momentum culminating a  sell-out at the Empire was inspiring.

16. Find people who believe in you. They’re worth their weight in gold. Being a regular at Top Secret Comedy Club and Up the Creek means the world to me. And get an agent who cares. Shout out to Daisy, my agent.

17. Reading feeds comedy. Feed your brain with books if you want good ideas to come.I have some nice recommendations too, Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls and my all time favourite Breakfast Of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut. 

18. Never undersell yourself. If you don’t believe you can make it to the very top, you’ll struggle. There are chosen ones who find it easier, and many people will tell you ‘no’, but the one miracle tool you have is the pen. Every day I go to a coffee shop and write. Every day I get a little closer.

19. Always remember how great this job is. Killing a room is the best feeling, making an audience react how you want them to react in any given moment is the best feeling and being a stand up is the best job in the world.

20.Twenty years in, I’m still chasing the magic. Stand-up isn’t just what I do - it’s who I am. I owe pretty much everything to my art form that I love more and more with each passing year. To that end I would love everyone to join me for my biggest ever solo show to mark my 20 years.

• Joey Page’s 20th anniversary show, with support from his podcast pal Bilal Zafar, a special musical guest and a post-show cocktail party, takes place at the Underbelly Boulevard in Central London on Friday September 26. Tickets.

• He is also running a charity gig tomorrow at Up The Creek in Greenwich to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK. The line-up includes John Kearns, Jeff Innocent, Mike Rice, Fiona Ridgewell, Luke McQueen, Phil Ellis and Bella Hull. Tickets

Published: 9 Sep 2025