James Smith

James is one of Australia’s best live stand up comedians. James has appeared on all of the major television network programs: Rove Live, The Footy Show, The Fat, The Comedy Channel’s Headliners and made countless other TV appearances.

A banking and finance lawyer by profession, James began performing comedy and public speaking while at Law School. In 1995, he was selected to debate in the World Debating Championships at Princeton University, USA and again in 1996 at UCC, Ireland. Also in 1995 he won The Australasian Public Speaking Competition at Parliament House, Melbourne.

While practising law, James decided to trade the courtroom for the stage, and became a professional comedian. His success was meteoric; within two months of his debut he progressed to the national final of the “Comic of the Year” at the Sydney Comedy Festival.

In 2001 James won Star Quest which is the most prestigious quest of its kind in Australia. As a writer James won the Triple M Parody Song Writing Competition and subsequently became a permanent writer/performer at radio station Triple M, part of the national Austereo Network.

James has performed his live shows Will the real James Smith please stand up? and Sex and the Smitty at the Melbourne Town Hall, in the world renowned Melbourne International Comedy Festival, where the best international comedians perform.

His legal background means that he is an exceptional corporate performer; his ability to write client specific material is outstanding and he has performed as Host, Guest Speaker and Comedian for numerous clients.

He has appeared on numerous TV shows on Comedy Central, ABC, TBS and HBO’s Flight Of The Conchords, to name a few. James has been featured in Time Magazine and recently gave a TED talk. He has also had the pleasure of performing at the New York Comedy Festival and the legendary Radio City Music Hall. When at home in NY, he performs nightly at the world famous Comedy Cellar, where he shares the stage with such greats as Chris Rock, Louis CK, and Jerry Seinfeld.

“Effortlessly makes you laugh” The Age Melbourne

“A winning joker” The Daily Telegraph

“James is a methodical, furiously intelligent thinker” Revolver