'The last few years have been ridiculously tough'

The Barking Mad Comedy agency has closed, with owner Chaz Collett blaming the state of the industry.

Collett set up the company a decade ago, having spent five years working with the booking agency Mirth Control and represents comics including Rufus Hound, Kate Smurthwaite, Thom Tuck and Tim Renkow.

However he said that he has found it hard to make ends meet in recent years, with finances squeezed on the live circuit. And he says he has little interest in TV, where the money lies, as he believes the medium waters down comedians' talents to make ‘bland bollocks’.

The 50-year-old, pictured, will continue to run a comedy club in his hometown of Petersfield in Hampshire.

Here is the message Collett has posted on social media announcing the move:

Hey folks

Just to let you all know that Barking Mad Comedy has closed down stopped trading. The Petersfield Club will still be running so I'm not out of all of this entirely, but the agency is now closed.

As we're all well aware, our industry has been clobbered pretty hard over the last few years, making a living for many of us very hard.

As I never particularly wanted to move to London and brown nose neo-liberal TV execs, and try to match their coke intake, (ok so they’re not all like that but you get my drift), I've been working mainly on the live side of things for the last 15 years and it's the area which has heart and soul and, for me, matters the most.

If something gets taken on by TV it's inevitably gets watered down, cut to blazes and ‘sanitised for your protection’. Too much of what the media send out to the general public is skewed to suit their agendas.

Those of you who know me well, know that I'm an idealistic S.O.B. that loves this industry, the true beating heart of it. I can’t deny that the idea of TV work for clients hasn’t excited me at times, who doesn’t want to be part of something successful and be financially rewarded for it? At the same time it’s just so much bland bollocks for the most part. Hopefully this will change…

This isn’t a decision I've made lightly, or without any regrets. However the last few years have been ridiculously tough on both me and [my partner] Carolyn and it's probably well past the time when I should have called it a day. Guess I've just been reluctant to stop doing something I care about...

I've not been the best agent in the world. I'm human, I have many faults. I fell into this after starting a club 19 years ago with an arts grant from the first money made available from the National Lottery.

For me it's never been about ‘the money’. I just not made that way, though I guess I'd have been a better agent if I was. As it is, my motivation has always been you lot.

Comedians are a weird and wonderful bunch of people. You have a passion, you often care very deeply about things, you're thinkers… you give a shit and can often see the wood for the trees and think out of the box.

‘Comedy is supposed to be subversive, to poke fun at the establishment, to make us laugh at ourselves, and above all (for me) to make people think.

‘That’s what I love, and I salute each and every one of you for having the balls to get up, night after night, and go through the agonies of trying to make it all work. I am very proud to have worked with so many of you over the last 15 years.

And even though I’m changing tack, the club in Petersfield and a few other irons in the fire will mean I’ll still be around.’   

Published: 27 Jun 2017