Alistair’s entrance into the entertainment industry began at the tender age of 15, with a self-run Mobile Disco company, known as Musicaland Mobile Entertainment, after a long run of performing at corporate functions and weddings as “the chauffeured D.J.” (He had to catch a lift to and back from events.) and at the legal Club going age of 18, began, performing at the Live Band venue “The Highlander”, it was his task to Introduce, live bands and play recorded music between the various band’s sets, as well as to operate the venue’s technical audio and lighting equipment.
After a three-year period of employment Alistair moved on, to Join forces with “Shattered Glass” the company had a large Mobile Disco division and a growing AV department, finding him self associated to both departments and receiving regular bookings for Technical production and as Disc Jockey / Announcer. In 2000, he decided to spread his wings and started his own company, in a partnership, within the same industry, called Limelight Productions; The Company competed in the live production industries as well as the corporate events industry. Limelight was fortunate enough, to receive a contract to supply the audio equipment and technical production to a Comedy tour for a large local stand-up comedy agency.
One evening, the opening act did not arrive, Alistair was given a microphone and the instruction “Entertain!” and he has never looked back since. His first task was to win the first Stand up Comedy Showdown at The Roxy Rhythm bar. In 2001, He sold his share of Limelight productions to his partner and registered “The Comedy Shop” the past four years have been dedicated to the production of stand up comedy shows. The shows have received, rave reviews and have performed on stages around South Africa, perhaps the most well known and recent shows have been, “Stand Up for Sundays – at The Liberty Life theatre on the square in Sandton, “A load of Bull” – at The Bull Review bar in Alberton, “Funny Wednesday, with Wackhead” – at Riviera on The Vaal and “5 Funny guys” at The Sound stage in Midrand.
My position in stand up comedy over the past 5 years has as a performer, I most often perform the task as show host or emcee, often hosting events on behalf of Corporate companies, the most recent corporate events included shows for Nashua, Coca Cola, Action Sports, and SAB Miller, to name a few. Alistair ‘s most recent accomplishment is a self penned theatre comedy piece called “The Short Cut to Pluto” which will be performed on theatre stages in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, opening in February next year. “My 17 years in the Entertainment industry, at various levels has been fun and educational and I have loved living my dream every day.”
Radio Experience
Due to the nature of the entertainment industry, Alistair has done various interviews with numerous stations including 702 and S.A.fm. For a period of eight months, I was fortunate enough to co-host an entertainment feature on Radio 2000 with Richard Jones. In September 1998, he had the opportunity to be on a radio basics training program with Tony Blewitt. He currently does voice over work for 5fm, and hosts a self-started Comedy Hour show on the recently christened UHFM, a community based station.