Billy T comedy award winner Steve Wrigley first found his funnybone as a child when he would laugh out loud in inappropriate places during church sermons. But the grown-up kid, with a genuine love of laughing, professes he is pretty unfunny in his day-to-day life.

"I just sleep lots and meet my mates for coffee and talk about the country/world/universe depending on the strength of said coffee."

Maybe this is how the Wellington comedian comes up with tips like this for 'surviving and thriving' in the creative industries. "You can't predict what people are going to like, only what you're in to. Stick it out with your own creative desires, make your target audience an audience of one, and the rest will follow."Billy T comedy award winner Steve Wrigley first found his funnybone as a child when he would laugh out loud in inappropriate places during church sermons. But the grown-up kid, with a genuine love of laughing, professes he is pretty unfunny in his day-to-day life.

"I just sleep lots and meet my mates for coffee and talk about the country/world/universe depending on the strength of said coffee."

Maybe this is how the Wellington comedian comes up with tips like this for 'surviving and thriving' in the creative industries. "You can't predict what people are going to like, only what you're in to. Stick it out with your own creative desires, make your target audience an audience of one, and the rest will follow."Steve Wrigley is one of twelve comedians at the Comedy Christmas Gala on December 11-12 at SkyCity Theatre, and airs on TV2 on December 16.

During what hours of the day do you feel most inspired?
Probably late in to the night. Past the witching hour. Maybe that's because my mind is teetering between reality and my usually pretty intense dream state... having said that last night I had a dream that I was eating Burger Fuel with Ryan Seascrest and he was giving me advice about how to approach a radio career. Serious. Why do I remember these things... why do I even dream them?

How would a good friend describe your aesthetic or style?
Comfortable. I mean visually I like colours and stripes, and acknowledge the importance of dressing well. But whether it's what I'm wearing, where I live or where I hang out to eat and drink, I like putting comfort before style. If you have the flashest bar in town but don't have a comfortable booth for me and my mates then your not my place. Same goes for Jeans and T Shirts. I like clean and comfortable stuff. You don't need to dress up to enjoy life, but it is fun.

What aspect of your creative practice gives you the biggest thrill?
When you finally get an idea infront of an audience and they enjoy it more then you did putting it together. Seeing a thought all the way through to fruition is amazing, and when it comes to making people laugh you really know if it worked or not.

How does your environment affect your work?
In every way possible. You need a pretty specific atmosphere to generate optimum mirth. The classic on Queen St or the San Fran Bath House in Wellington are the two best places in New Zealand for any stand up comic to do their work. That comedy club atmosphere is hard to describe, but the closer we can get to that with a gig, the more fun we all have.

Do you like to look at the big picture or focus on the details?
I find if you just focus on the details, stick to right now and focus on the moment, the big picture looks after itself.

What's your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in the creative industries?
I hope it's OK that I steal this from Frank Miller, 'The best advice I can give I got from somebody else. When you think about the art you are working on, think only about the art. Don't daydream about where it will get you, what it will win you or what it will be worth. Put everything you have into the work and find satisfaction in it's completion alone.' I guess that was Millers own version of "Ask not what your country can do for you."

It's the best advice I ever got. You can't predict what people are going to like, only what you're in to. Stick it out with your own creative desires, make your target audience an audience of one, and the rest will follow.

Which of your projects to date has given you the most satisfaction?
The First Time, my show in the comedy festival this year. It was all about getting over the barriers of growing up religious and sheltered and eventually finding love. It was a deeply personal show about the most important changes in my life. Having people laugh at the dirty details and victories of my life was great, since it was through laughter I fixed myself.

How did you first get into comedy? Were you the jokester at school?
I have always kidded around. Even growing up in a church, I used to laugh out loud in inappropriate places during sermons. But when I was in third form, a guy called Greg Ellis came to my school to teach improv, I was hooked from there. I just did it till I got paid.

Is it hard to turn off the comedian in your personal life or do the two worlds intertwine?
To be honest, I'm pretty unfunny in my day to day life. I just sleep lots and meet my mates for coffee and talk about the country/world/universe depending on the strength of said coffee. I suppose the two worlds have to intertwine, since everything I talk about up there is about coffee, mates and the universe.

Where do you get your material from?
Ha ha, see above. But I guess anything and everything I think is funny comes out on stage.

You won the 2008 Billy T Award. What difference do these awards make?
It's what you make of it. Cheesy I know but it's true. Winning an award doesn't make you great; it's what you did to win it that's important, and what you continue to. If anything, an award is an acknowledgment from an industry that you are on the right track, and should motivate you to push harder. It's like what we have now with the elections. Being voted PM doesn't make you a great leader, just gives you the opportunity to be one, so to with the Billy T award, it just gives you the opportunity to be a great comic. And it was the biggest party of my life.

What are the strengths and challenges for the NZ comedy scene?
Here is where I want to slip in something I thought of the other day. People say in entertainment it's not what you know it's who you know. Yes there is a lot of networking and yes you need to meet the right people and get along with them but at the end of the day you still have to deliver the goods. I think it should be modified to "It's not what you know; it's who knows what you can do."

Getting that out there can be tough; you don't want to get ahead of yourself. There is a real balance you have to strike over here. We are adding more and more every year but there are still very few opportunities to perform and grow as an act. That's a huge challenge, and a catch 22, you have to get stage time to get good, and have to be good to get stage time.

That's why the comedy festival is such a huge strength in this business. It gives new acts the chance to perform for a few weeks straight. That's where we all cut our teeth. And again, it's a party.

What advice can you give to aspiring professional comedians?
Do it because you like to laugh. Because you have a good sense of humour. If you want to be famous, be an actor or a rock star, but this job is only worth it if you genuinely love to laugh. Don't be competitive, be inclusive. Comedy is collaborative, and you will find great strength and inspiration in your peers.

Most important just believe in it. I had a very close friend the other day confess to me she always thought I was dreaming and figured I'd give up one day, and that she saw now that in the arts, it's all about sticking it out and believing in it. She's awesome.

Tell us about your illustration work?
Blast from the past. I used to illustrate and write my own comics. I guess I got so busy with comedy that took a back seat. I published a few books back in the day, I don't think they will be found for love or money now. The print runs were very small. I've started getting back in to it lately actually. I'm designing a tattoo.

Who or what has inspired you recently?
A wonderful woman in the United States. We fell in love a few years ago now and are currently separated as she pursues her career in the states and I follow my own here. We were talking on Skype (The saviour of the long distance romance!) the other day about a great many things. It's mushy and cheesy, but she inspires me every day.

If you could go back and choose a completely different career path to the one you've chosen, what would it be?
Since I didn't choose this one to begin with I'm not sure. Seriously, I just did what I wanted. I never said "I want to be a comic" or "I want to illustrate" I just loved doing them both and like I said, one day I just started getting paid. I have always thought when I'm done with comedy, so when I'm 65, I might want to direct films. That looks like fun. My friend Charlie does it, and he's a genius.

A career in Radio has kind of chosen me, I'm about to start my first job hosting the drive show on ZM. I remember listening to the morning crew when I was in college and this has sprung up just recently. I'm really excited to work there. They are an awesome crew and my boss (Haven't had one of those for ages) is a top bloke. I'm really keen to rock that job.

What place is always with you, wherever you go?
The 14806 zip code, United States. That's Andover NY State. It's where Cyan's (the wonderful woman in united states) family live. I spend a lot of time at their place, it's out in the country and her Dad built most of their home. I love it. He's an artist and sculptor. There are some amazing creations out in their yard and through their house. And her mum is a legend. She's a nurse and loves to drink a beer when she can. Cy's got two sisters and a brother, her sisters are 8 and 15 and her brother is 23 I think. Her parents spaced them out so they would always have a sitter. Cool huh. That's my place right thur. Isabella the 8 year old is my best mate, I love her to bits... ok I should stop. But since they will no doubt read this, Mark, Em, San, Lyla, Bella, Grumpy old Jim and my Darling Cy... BIG SHOUT OUT AND MANY KISSES!

Hey you asked the question and made me think of it, now I'm a gush!

What's the best way to listen to music, and why?
Live, and acoustic. In a small venue, maybe 100 odd caberet seats with a real good band. You know those bands that have no ego and just love to play with each other, that feeling is so infectious. Or outdoors. The botanical gardens in wellington in January, free outdoor concerts. The phoenix foundation played there one night to around 5000 folks all through the gardens, in trees etc, that was unreal. They were amazing. But it has to be live. Or on the radio, specifically 91ZM between 3 and 7 weekdays or 2 till 5 Saturdays.

You are given a piece of string, a stick and some fabric. What do you make?
A ghost puppet with a real annoying voice. Using the string to puppet one side of his flappy sheet arm thing and the stick having the fabric draped over it. I'd make him ask my flatmates really probing questions in his annoying voice whenever they don't do the dishes. So you see, I have made a highly motivational tool there.

Would you like a diagram?

What's the best stress relief advice you've ever been given?
Ha ha, that's private.

What's great about today?
Chanell 63 just played an hour of Aerosmith. I have coffee. And Hell Pizza are doing free online delivery. What isn't great about today?

What's your big idea for 2009?
Make the judges from the 2008 Billy T Awards proud they picked me. Convince Cyan to move to New Zealand and bring her family with her. Have a blast at my new job on ZM hosting the drive show. It's my first real job in 6 years!