What do you call a failed actor?

Stand-up comedian Tom Ballard is well known around Australia for being one half of the former morning breakfast team, Tom and Alex, on Triple J.

But Ballard has left that all behind and is now forging a strong career in what gave him the opportunities he has received on TV and radio, his stage act.

Ballard is touring with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow and will be in Bunbury this weekend to perform for audiences.

Ballard said he had never been to Bunbury, but looked forward to the opportunity to perform for the residents.

“I haven’t been able to do a roadshow for the past four years because of the radio, so it will be cool to perform stand-up for them, ” he said.

Ballard admits he didn’t always want to be a comedian, but a passion for acting never came for him, so he turned to comedy as a teenager.

“I started stand-up when I was 14 when I did a high school competition, but I have been professional since I was 18, ” he said.

“I became a comedian because I failed at being an actor. I was applying for drama schools and stuff and couldn’t make it.

“So when a high school competition came up I had a go at it. I just kept doing stand-up and being OK at it. I became obsessed and worked on it. Now it is my job, which is bizarre and cool.”

Tom Ballard will be performing at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre on 30 and 31 May as a part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow.

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