Junkyard represented Sam Campbell, Aaron Chen and more

One of Australia’s most influential comedy management companies has collapsed, leaving some comedians thousands of dollars out of pocket.

Junkyard – which represented international acts including Sam Campbell, pictured, and Aaron Chen – and its associated production company West Street Sports called in the liquidators last weekend.

The company’s boss Craig Ivanov reportedly told one comedian he had personally taken on losses of  more than £400,000 over seven years of operation.

Insolvency practitioner Andrew Spring, who is looking into the firms’ assets told the ABC: ‘It's still early days in the investigations into the reasons for the failure of the companies.’

With the news coming just weeks before Perth’s Fringe World kicks off the Australian comedy festival season, many comics have been left high and dry.

Melbourne comedian Greg Larsen told the ABC he had just jumped ship to join Junkyard and decided not to do the festivals based on other projects Ivanoff wanted to develop.

He said: ‘Now, I have no management, and I've missed out on a lot of work because of the changeover, and also because he promised me things that now aren't going to happen.

‘I find it hard to believe... he didn't know when he signed me that his business was in serious trouble.

But he said he considered himself lucky for not losing any money with Junkyard.  

Fellow comic Scout Boxall said they are owed more than $3,000 (£1,500) for one gig in Adelaide last month and Lewis Garnham, told how he was owed money from both Melbourne and Edinburgh Fringes. 

Writing on Instagram, he said: ‘My manager went bankrupt out of absolutely nowhere. He hasn’t even spoken to me yet. 

‘I felt weird about posting this but then I thought – you know what, after how much you deceived me the least I can do is talk about my experience and hopefully get some ticket sales out of it cause I have no money now thanks to you lol.’

‘Mad love to all artists and workers [a]ffected by this and mad love to all the people who have shown me so much care and support the last few days.’

Sydney comedian Andrew Hamilton revealed on social media he had been ‘hit pretty hard’ by the company going insolvent, and had lost all the money from his national tour earlier this year.

‘I am not going to be too hard on my former management,’ he added. ‘They spread themselves too thin trying to support their people, and stuffed up the numbers. Never attribute to malice what can be reasonably attributed to stupidity.’ 

Indeed several comics did praise Ivanoff for backing their careers. Boxall said: ‘Junkyard was a champion of more independent and alternative artists who don't fit within the Australian comedy commercial landscape. Without Junkyard's backing, I wouldn't be where I am now.’

The company behind Junkyard is called Fiji Pty Ltd, and also traded as Comedy Festival Tickets and ArtHouse Collection. 

Chortle has approached Ivanov for comment.

Published: 5 Dec 2024