Design Anatomy

Building Laughs: How Nick White Turned Architecture into Comedy Gold

• Bree Banfield and Lauren Li • Season 2 • Episode 8

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Nick White shares his remarkable journey from drafting buildings to crafting punchlines. With the sharp observation skills of an architect and the timing of a seasoned comedian, Nick reveals how he transitioned from designing spaces to creating characters that have captured the hearts of over half a million followers online.

Having trained as an architect and worked in prestigious firms from Brisbane to New York, Nick found himself increasingly drawn to comedy, performing at open mics after long days in the office. What started as a creative outlet gradually revealed itself as his true calling. His honest reflections on the architectural profession resonate deeply—the hierarchical structure, the jargon-heavy presentations, and the disconnect between university creativity and workplace reality.

Nick's viral "Design Dissection" series and beloved characters like Carly (the endearingly dull co-worker) demonstrate how he's brilliantly merged his architectural knowledge with his comedic talents. Rather than abandoning his design background, he's transformed it into something uniquely his own. The conversation explores how his architectural training provided transferable skills for his comedy career—from graphic design abilities for merchandise to organizational habits that help him structure his creative work.

The most compelling moment comes when Nick describes his terrifying leap from job security to creative entrepreneurship. After resigning, he panic-bought canned soup expecting poverty, only to receive his two biggest brand deals days later. This perfectly captures the universal fear and exhilaration of following one's authentic path.

For anyone questioning their career trajectory or contemplating a creative pivot, Nick offers refreshingly practical wisdom: follow your gut, pay attention to what brings you joy, and recognize that your current skills might find surprising applications in unexpected places. His story proves that sometimes the most rewarding path isn't climbing the ladder you're on, but building an entirely new one that feels authentically yours.

Follow Nick on Insta, TikTok & check out his latest tour dates below:

https://comedy.com.au/tour/nick-white

https://www.instagram.com/nickwhite49

https://www.tiktok.com/@missnickiewantie

Bree is now offering a 90-minute online design consult to help you tackle key challenges like colour selection, furniture curation, layout, and styling. Get tailored one-on-one advice and a detailed follow-up report with actionable recommendations—all without a full-service commitment.

Bookings now open - Book now

Join Lauren online for a workshop to help break down pricing & fees for 2026! You'll learn:

  • What has worked for Lauren over the past year
  • What hasn’t worked, and what she has changed
  • The exact fee structure Lauren now uses across all projects

For more info see below

The Pricing Shift: How I Structure My Fees in 2026.

Meet Nick White: Architect Turned Comedian

Speaker 1

Today's guest has designed buildings and punchlines. This is a new one for the Design Anatomy podcast.

Speaker 2

He trained as an architect, worked in New York and then pivoted into comedy, where he's now got over half a million followers way over half a million and a widely popular series called Design Dissection, and I was actually honored to be his first guest dissection and I was actually honoured to be his first guest, not to mention sold out shows at the Comedy Festival and touring Australia and the world.

Speaker 1

We are talking about Nick White, and today we're diving into what made him leave architecture, what he misses, if anything, and how he's found a new way to connect with design through humour.

Speaker 2

So whether you're knee-deep in CAD drawings or ready to quit it all and start it over again on TikTok, this episode is for you. Thank you so much, nick, for being here, hi.

Speaker 3

Thanks for having me.

Speaker 1

I don't know what to expect on this episode, to be honest, because we've never had anybody really funny. I'm usually the funny one, reckon yeah it could get competitive.

Speaker 3

I don't know. I don't know what to expect either I don't know that funny actually.

Speaker 1

I'm just the. I'm just the one that says all the stupid stuff, aren't I laura?

Speaker 2

no, you're not saying funny stuff, not stupid stuff the no filter.

Speaker 2

So yeah, I mean, it was really great, nick. When I first I guess, when I first came across you, it was on Instagram and I was like, oh, phil, my husband, like look at this so funny. And then one day you followed me on Instagram and I was like, oh my god, nick White is following me. And I was having lunch with my family and they're like, what are you talking about? I'm like, oh my god, you guys don't understand. It's Nick White is so funny, he's following me on Instagram now. Like I was having lunch with my family and they're like, what are you talking about? I'm like, oh my God, you guys don't understand. It's Nick White, he's so funny, he's following me on Instagram now. Like I was pretty excited, oh thanks.

Speaker 3

Pat Love it. Thank you, I mean thanks.

Speaker 2

And then you reached out to me asking if we could make a little video, which was the most fun day ever.

Speaker 3

It was fun, so having you come over to my house.

Speaker 2

Yeah, it was really fun and it's nice seeing the videos you know pop up and everything. So, yeah, it's really cool to have you come onto our podcast and I guess you know, when you came over and we got to chatting, I think I did know that you were an architect before, but it got me thinking, oh, that's so interesting, Like what a pivot from architecture into comedy, and I thought that would be a really fun topic to kind of dive into today. And I also found out that you worked in New York, which is pretty incredible. So, I guess, with architecture, how did you follow that path to architecture? How did you land there?

Speaker 3

Well, I just drew a lot when I was a kid. I drew everything. I drew people, I drew neighborhoods and roads and houses. I drew a lot of houses too, and a lot of floor plans.

Speaker 1

That's normal, that stuff right? Yeah, I know I used to do a lot of floor plans Normal.

Speaker 3

Yeah, right, I used to come up with characters and then I would draw the houses and the floor plans for my characters.

Speaker 2

I love that. That's very cool. That's different.

Speaker 3

Yeah, I love it, yeah, but then I discovered the Sims. So then the Sims became like you know, it just enhanced that kind of activity. And then the Sims, I just yeah, I, yeah. I was like, wow, I should probably study architecture because I love drawing and I'm obsessed with houses, because my dad used to like drive me around to see all the new houses when I was a kid. So yeah, and then I was like, but then everyone was like you need to know a lot of maths and I was like, oh god, but then it turns out you don't really.

Speaker 1

So then I did architecture I got scared by the math thing as well. In design, yeah, you had to have like the top level maths and that was my worst subject and I'm like, okay, well, I just got to try and do it, but yeah, you don't really use it that much.

Speaker 3

You don't. We have calculators. We didn't even need for the course I did in Brisbane. You didn't even need to do the top maths.

Speaker 1

Oh really.

Speaker 3

Yeah. So I was like oh okay, well, thank God.

Speaker 1

No, I had to do it.

Speaker 3

I had to put myself through it.

Speaker 2

God that was stressful.

Speaker 1

Not for me, not me Did you have to do math, though, lauren, to get into your course like the top?

Speaker 2

R M I T? No, because I did interior design.

Speaker 1

I didn't do maths in year 12 or 11. I did, so they must have changed it. I'm a bit older, so maybe when I had to do it, but you had to have that math to get into that course oh, really, I still did maths, but I didn't have to do the top, the top one oh, good, good. What was it called the?

Speaker 3

maths. That's what it was called in brisbane. Queenland's a bit different, but let's talk about maths actually.

Speaker 2

No, that's not that's my fault.

Speaker 1

Got stuck on it, let's not talk about maths. I couldn't think of anything more boring so what about new york?

Speaker 2

how did you end up in new york, nick?

Speaker 3

hi, good question. Um well, how did I end up in new york? I don't even know. Well, I was kind of just working full time in Brisbane after I finished studying.

Speaker 1

So straight into architecture yeah.

Speaker 3

Well. I was already working at this firm while I was doing my master's. So then I just went on to full time. But then the year before my friend didn't do her master's, she moved to New York and so did another friend, like two architecture friends.

Speaker 2

And.

Speaker 3

I went to visit them while I was doing my master's and I was like, oh, this looks fun. And then, yeah, after I finished my master's, I was like, okay, I'm going to either move to Melbourne or New York, just because I don't want to stay in Brisbane. And then I chose Melbourne because it's easier. But then I had a dream that I was hanging out with my best friend in New York and then I woke up and was like, yeah, we're moving to New York.

Speaker 1

That's awesome. We're moving to New York. So much fun Do you often let your dreams decide the future of your life.

Speaker 3

I definitely pay attention to them. I think it's because with that one I was a bit back and forth for a while and that dream was so. That dream felt real.

Speaker 2

And it was such a fun dream.

Speaker 3

And her and I were just having the best time, and I was like I can't ignore that dream. So, yeah, and her and I were just having the best time, and I was like I can't ignore that dream, so I let it make that decision, that's very cool and was it fun. No, no, yeah, it was.

Speaker 1

It was the best it turns out your friend was just really mean when you got there and you didn't have any fun at all.

From Drawing Houses to Architecture School

Speaker 3

Yeah, it's like she planned the dream to trick me. It was really fun. I mean, my final year there was covid, so I moved home in march 2021, so that that was ups and downs, but overall it was very, very pivotal in my growth, I guess, and it was just really fun, yeah the covid that was really intense in new york, wasn't it at the start?

Speaker 1

oh yeah, really bad yeah oh my god similar to, um, what it was like in italy, back in milan and rome yeah, no joke well, is that where you were?

Speaker 1

no, no, I just we. I was supposed to be going. I usually go to milan each year and I was supposed to be going. So I was talking to people over there and it sort of started with the whole like oh no, it's not that bad, the media is, like you know, pumping it up. And then it just started with the whole like, oh no, it's not that bad. The media is, like you know, pumping it up. And then it just went into the you know high body count and all of that sort of stuff. So we didn't see that over here, thank God. But yeah, there were some cities. That really was pretty bad, right, yeah.

Speaker 2

Good times. That's just such an uplifting topic. Let's talk about maths and then COVID Stay with us and body counts it's gonna get better.

Speaker 3

So funny, we can use our skills in maths to keep up with how many dead people there were yeah.

Speaker 1

So then you're in new york and you, so you did. You find it hard to get work there, or because you had friends there already in the industry, did that sort of mean you had doors open for you?

Speaker 3

Well, yeah, so my best friend worked as an interior designer for an Australian cafe brand over there.

Speaker 3

And that's how she knew Tali Roth because they worked together designing a few cafes, and then, and before I moved over's like, oh yeah, I'll get you, I'm gonna try to get you a job, as, like my assistant designer and I was like cool, but then she was like, once I was there, she's like, oh yeah, I don't really, they're not really open to that idea. So then I just worked at the cafe for like eight months, oh wow, and had had like probably had like five, between five and ten job interviews in architecture that whole time and was about to give up, uh, and just be like I'll just work at this cafe for a year and then move home after this one year visa is up. But then, yeah, like the last interview before I gave up, they liked me and then I worked there and got a new visa which was for another two years. Yeah, so that's how that happened a small world, what sort?

Speaker 1

of projects were you working on?

Speaker 3

um, so it was a design build firm, like a residential design build, so it was a pretty small firm. It was, um, so it was a husband and wife who ran it and the wife was an architect so she had a team of well it I mean it was during covid, so it was, you know, up and down like had to let people go, then hire people. But yeah, it was her, her name was Megan, and then Patrick was the senior designer he's like one of my best friends and then I was junior architect and then we had the building like construction team as well, because the husband was a project manager, so we had a construction team of like 15 to 20, and we had about two to three project managers in the office as well.

Speaker 3

So yeah, it was pretty hands-on like I did. I did all the surveys of the apartments. Yeah, I did a lot of side visits. It was cool that's cool.

Speaker 2

So you had that defining moment when you were like is that melbourne? Is it new york? You had a dream what about pivoting from architecture into comedy? Was there a moment, or was it more of a slower kind of evolution?

Speaker 3

Well, I entered this comedy competition when I was 20 and I didn't progress. But then for about three years I was like, yeah, I've done stand-up comedy. And everyone's like, okay, we get it. And then at the start of my master's, when I was 20, how old was I? 23. I entered it again and I got to the semifinal and I just had the best time doing it.

Speaker 3

So, literally at the start of my master's, which was only a one year program, I was just like you know what? I actually think I'm going to be a comedian. And everyone was like, oh, you just got a degree and you're about to do another one. And I was like like, yeah, but I think comedy is what I meant to do. And everyone was just like, okay. So that literally while I was still studying, I was like I'm gonna try to be a comedian.

Speaker 3

And and then, yeah, worked in brisbane for about nine months after graduating and then, yeah, started consistently doing open mics once my master's was done and yeah realized that I mean I wasn't good to start off with, but I had potential. And then moved to to New York just with the goal of experiencing life and doing stand-up in like the hardest city to do stand-up in and yeah, and that's. I was definitely and I didn't really keep it a secret, like my bosses knew that I did stand-up, but I was never like, yeah, I'm going to be a stand-up comedian. I was like, oh, it's just something I do sometimes sometimes I love architecture, though.

Speaker 2

My heart is here with you guys, all of you architects, and then at night, you would be doing so.

Speaker 3

Did you do open mics in new york?

Speaker 1

yeah, yeah I did um.

Speaker 3

That would have been intense yeah, it was crazy, like because some of them there would be. No, the audience would just be other comedians who were just on their phone and sometimes you had to pay money to do an open mic and I was working at this cafe.

Speaker 3

I'd known I was really poor for a few months there, so it was a pretty rough transition. But then I eventually kind of like found my feet and the kind of shows I liked to perform at and then I produced a comedy show for that australian cafe that I worked at.

Speaker 2

So I produced like a monthly show for them um, so yeah, I I kind of got into it. Was that on social media? Is that where that was? What do you mean? You produced a social?

Speaker 3

Oh, like I just because I was friends with a lot of the corporate team, because my best friend worked as the designer and they knew I did stand up, so they were like, oh, we have a new venue. Where was it? It was like little Italy or something like I don't even try Becca, little italy, or something like I don't even try becca, I've forgotten all the names I need to move back.

Speaker 3

No, I'm kidding um and yeah, and they were like oh yeah, nick does stand up. And then so I would kind of just like curate the lineup. Um yeah, I basically just got the lineup, told them when to be there, made sure it was all set up and and I would also perform. But I wasn't very good yet and looking back some of the lineups I was like what I? I just didn't know what I was doing, but who cares, it was fun.

Speaker 2

It's all the rite of passage, isn't it?

Speaker 1

You're going to start somewhere, right, yeah, it is the rite of passage. Yes, I'd say that's pretty lucky, though, to have been in New York and be able to do actual comedy there as well. Australian comedian starting out.

Speaker 3

I think that's kind of the dream. Right To go and do something like that. It was pretty awesome. I mean, yeah, I was still pretty new to stand up so I wasn't getting any amazing opportunities there, but I didn't care because I knew I was still pretty inexperienced. But it definitely informed. And also I came out when I moved there so like started doing kind of more personal material and like stuff while I was going through that.

Speaker 2

So yeah, it was it all kind of just really helped me grow and develop as a person and a comedian. I guess.

Speaker 3

So when did the social media aspect sort of start? Oh, that wasn't till I moved home in 2021. Because when I was living with my best friend in New York, she was always like you should download TikTok, it's really fun. And I was like I'm 27. I'm too old for TikTok. Oh, my God, don't be silly. That's what I thought at the time. I was like I'm nearly in my late 20s and then moved home, had horrible mental health, was living with my parents, had to start again in the comedy scene and I was like fine, I'll download tiktok oh my gosh, so under duress thank, yeah, yeah, and I mean for about a year on tiktok, I wasn't really trying and like it.

Speaker 3

I never really. I mean, my username is miss nicky wanty, which was my fake drag name like I didn't, really I wasn't being strategic, you know what I mean. Yeah, um, yeah, and then so for about a year I wasn't really putting much effort in. But then, yeah, 2022, I started kind of doing more like characters and stuff like that, and that's when it kind of took off, like early 2022.

Speaker 1

I was going to say so. Were you working in architecture still at the time when you'd come back? Did you have a?

Taking Comedy Seriously in New York

Speaker 3

Yeah, so I moved back and was living with my parents on the Sunshine Coast and then I actually started gigging again in Brisbane and then this one comedian was homophobic towards me and I was just like I need to get out of Brisbane, like I haven't just lived in New York and like discovered myself to come back to Brisbane and have that shit.

Speaker 2

Well, that is so sad. Oh, am I allowed to swear?

Speaker 1

Oh, go ahead, We'll have to make this an explicit episode.

Speaker 2

I'm going to have to make this an explicit episode.

Speaker 3

So then I just started applying for heaps of jobs in Sydney just because I didn't really know many people in Melbourne, but I had a few really good friends in Sydney. And then I got a job at Rothy Lohman in Sydney. Oh cool, yeah, and I worked at Rothy Lohman. For how long? A year and a half.

Speaker 1

And then you were still. Was TikTok happening then? Is that when you were?

Speaker 3

Yeah, tiktok kind of took off, I guess about six months into working at Rothy or a bit longer like eight months working there. So yeah, some of my coworkers would be in my videos sometimes which was fun, or were they in their videos?

Speaker 2

Did they know that they were in their videos? Were they the characters?

Speaker 3

Oh yeah, they knew. I mean I couldn't shut up. I was annoying at work. Everyone knew what I was up to. Everyone knew what I was doing online. So I was definitely I don't think I was a personality hire, but I think I was okay at my job. But I think people just liked me because I was really silly and then because I used to, one of my first popular characters was like this annoying co-worker who'd be like so what I'm gonna get you to do for me. If we could just have a quick chat for this one, so I would just always have them in my videos and me coming up to them being like hey, can we, can I have a quick chat with you? Is that all good?

Speaker 3

um, amazing and then on my last day, on my last day working there, uh, we were just having like friday afternoon drinks and then I was like, oh, can someone film me, I'm just gonna be a bit silly. And then that was my first like architecture friend videos, because I just started like presenting something um and yeah, that's where they started on the on my last day at rothy loman oh, it's so relatable.

Speaker 2

I mean I have had meetings with that person where I've left the. What have I done? Oh, anything, the drink bottle on the sink. I mean that was the example, I think, in your video and losing work because of it. And if we don't get that clients because of drink bottle like there, that that is the, the vibe.

Speaker 2

It is just exactly the vibe I know, I worked at a practice a couple in that similar realm to roughly loman and I think that is just. Everyone is so hard relating and I mean I'm carly, like, if you didn't know, like she is the dull co-worker. I love dull conversations, I'm sorry, but like talking about all of the um, homemade pizzas. Actually, that's you, brie. Yeah, I'm the homemade pizza.

Speaker 1

I was just like well, I don't know if I'm the dull co-worker, You're not the dull co-worker. All the inappropriate things.

Speaker 3

Oh, oh Well, I'm the dull co-worker too. Everyone's always like how do you do that character so well? I'm like it's because it's a part of me as well. Like I'm multifaceted, I have boring parts. I love being very specific and being like oh yes, these ones are good because they're not too strong.

Speaker 2

Like you know, I'm I'm very like I do, prefer the chewy ones. The chewy ones are good.

Speaker 3

Yes, I feel like they leave a bit of an aftertaste that just, and then I need another one to get rid of that, so they become more expensive in the long run.

Speaker 2

She's so relatable, it's just so. They're just such wonderful characters and it's no wonder they've just been, yeah, blown up on TikTok and Instagram.

Speaker 1

So I guess, if you're- listening and you're not familiar.

Speaker 2

you just have to jump on and you'll know what we're talking about, but I reckon most of you guys will know. So when you were doing those videos working at Rothie Lohman, were people like oh, what's he doing? Like, is he actually going to do this? Like what about your architecture degree? Like, did you not just finish that and are you still paying off there? You know all of that. Like, do you think, though, there's know all of that? Like do you think, though, there's something sort of architecturally flawed part of the pun in the industry that pushes young designers to change careers after investing all of that time and money into study?

Speaker 3

yeah, I think. So I mean, well, I for me it was like I really liked university because you could kind of I don't know, you could be quite free with your creativity, um, and working in practice, you could still be quite free with your creativity and working in practice.

Speaker 3

You could still really run wild with your creativity if you really proved yourself, which for me I knew that I didn't really want to work my way up at any of these firms because I had another plan. So I wasn't really given much responsibility. But that was kind of my own decision. I think, you really have to. I don't want to say sell your soul, but you have to put in the hours, you have to stay late, you have to really like-, but you did say that though.

Speaker 3

I did say it, so it's out there. But I think, yeah, I think like working in practice is not what a lot of people expected, like the reality of what it is to work in architecture isn't what a lot of us expected, think. But I, yeah. So for me it's hard for me to say because I always had a different plan and it was just so I could survive financially worked in architecture.

Speaker 1

But it's funny because, like I, feel like you could have chosen a better thing to to survive financially in, by the way, I know, I know, I agree well, that's the thing, though, but it's like but I it's like

Speaker 3

architecture, even though I I could tell it wasn't my calling, I still enjoyed it and it I think it's a profession that attracts interesting people to it. So I made a lot of cool friends. But and it was funny because, like every six month review, my boss would be like so have you started your logbook, like looking into registration? I'd be like, oh, yep, and I've just kind of started looking into it. And then six months later he'd be like so, oh yeah, and I've just kind of started looking into it. And then, six months later, he'd be like so how's your logbook going? I'm like, oh yeah, I'm starting to get it prepared. He's like you're always starting it. Like what are you? I'm like, yeah, I haven't even. I don't even know what I have to do. So, yeah, I had to kind of like stall until I could quit. You know what I mean.

Speaker 1

What is that about? So you've got to log a certain amount of hours before you can be registered? I didn't know it's.

Speaker 3

It's like um, yeah, you have to log hours in different kind of faces of a project and like some admin stuff and like documentation stuff, and then you have to sit an interview and an exam. It's like such a slog to get registered it's like doing your master's again. I swear it's like so. Many of my friends are like oh sorry, I can't hang out. I'm trying to go for registration. I'm like I will not have what she's having.

Speaker 1

That sounds awful, so yeah I would never have been able to do it because I'm so bad at logging hours like I would have gone. Oh, what was I doing then?

Speaker 3

yeah, it's like stop living in the past, babe why does it matter?

Speaker 1

it doesn, it doesn't matter. They're gone.

Speaker 2

But I think you're right, like you do need to have so much passion to persist and stick to it. Like I found myself, you know, in an office similar to to Rothy Lohman, just going, oh, hierarchy, that's not for me. Like just that whole system, the way everything's set up. And you're right, you know you could be creative if you were the director or you were like quite high up, but I felt like, oh, okay, I'm just going to be doing schedules for six months and then after that I'm going to get to draw toilets. Awesome, like it was just like.

Social Media Success and Character Creation

Speaker 3

But I mean, I will say, though, like R, rothy loman, and actually every job I had rothy loman and crafted in new york and in brisbane, I worked at a small firm called renee dunn. All of them gave me like, even at rothy loman they're like oh, you can, this is your project. You get to like do a lot of the designing. And I'd kind of be like uh, there's probably someone who can do it better, like I don't know why you. I'd be like are you sure? And then I'd leave at 5 30 and they'd be like oh, what do you? Did you finish it?

Speaker 3

I'm like no, but it's 5 30, like I think they realized like they were really good to work for they were really good to work for, without trying to give me opportunities to progress and stuff, but I was just like no, that's no, thanks, I don't want to to be stressed. I have to perform in front of 100 people tonight. That's stressful.

Speaker 2

I don't want this to be stressful too.

Speaker 3

Yeah, truly, that's how I felt.

Speaker 2

Yeah, oh, it's. So I can relate to that, because when I was working in a practice I actually started teaching an interior design, just a short course, and I really enjoyed it and you know it's led on to all these other kind of things. So isn't it funny where you, you know you think this is what you've signed up for, this is it, this is, and then you get there you're like oh, uh, yeah, no, I don't think so.

Speaker 2

So, yeah, it's where you're sort of like comedy is a comedy is quite a pivot, though, um, do you think there have been some transferable skills, though, from architecture to what you're doing now?

Speaker 3

oh yes, well, I mean, I mean definitely. Well, the inspiration is one thing, and knowing all the jargon and all that stuff for the character, in terms of skill, I guess, well, actually, I mean I use photoshop and illustrator a lot just for like visuals. Yeah, like this week I put together a pitch for an idea I have, so that was all in. Like Illustrator and InDesign, yeah, and you know I make the illustrations for my merch, so I draw all that in.

Speaker 2

Illustrator. Oh, that's fun yeah.

Speaker 3

And I edit. I mean, I guess editing videos isn't architecture, but yeah, I use a lot of like software. That's the skills I kind of learned while I was studying um, and I guess also just like working full-time for however many years I did it just kind of helps me. I think I'm glad that I had all that experience before trying to work for myself as a comedian, because, yeah, I like to have a bit of structure, I like to have lists, I like to yeah, I don't know, I think it's helped me be a bit organized and self-sufficient. I guess. What else have I learned from architecture? That I want a nice house one day? I don't really know. I mean, I got a lot of cool connections from it and I think it's been cool to realize that I still actually do have a passion for it. But I have to approach it in a way that feels authentic to me. That's what I realized.

Speaker 2

And there's things that you're kind of learning as well, just being in an office like that, that you don't really realize, even as you were saying, just the organization, how to structure your day and everything like that. So do you ever feel like, with what you're doing now, with the comedy and the content, do you feel like, oh, my God, I've got this pressure, now I need to create more content?

Speaker 3

sometimes um, is it kind of the?

Speaker 1

main thing you do now, or is it like, what's the balance of your like, yes, when you're creating anything to do with comedy? Is it more about the shows and like working on that content, or is the? Is the social media stuff kind of taken over?

Speaker 3

It's definitely both. I mean, my main income is like brand deals, so like Instagram reels and TikToks with a brand. So I definitely try to keep up my online presence, but I don't force it. Like if there's a week or two where I'm not inspired to do a video, then I just don't. Like, I really follow what feels right and that's really how I've lived my life up until this point. I just follow what feels right and that's really how I've lived my life up until this point. I just follow what excites me and what feels authentic as a creative. So, yeah, touring takes up the first half of my year. That's kind of the main thing. Um, and then when I get to a quiet point like this, because like most of my tour is over, I'm like okay, what, what do I do now? Like occasionally I freak out a bit like, oh god, like no one's telling me what to do. I need to actually think what do I want?

Speaker 3

so that's why like this week I put together this pitch for this idea I had and like, yeah, sometimes I just have to be like what's next?

Speaker 2

but um, yeah, I think though it is freeing.

Speaker 3

It's really cool. I'm so grateful. Yeah, it's really cool.

Speaker 1

When you left rothi loman, like when you finished up there, was it because you wanted to focus on this full time? Yeah, yeah, so that's a huge decision to make, isn't it?

Speaker 3

it was so scary. It was like it was so funny because that's what I had been working towards for years. And then I started making money from like tiktok and instagram and stuff. But then I was just too scared to quit but it felt like I was doing two full-time jobs and then I used to work from home and just be like, oh god, I just have this like internal thing telling me I have to quit.

Speaker 3

But it felt like I was doing two full-time jobs and then I used to work from home and just be like, oh god, I just have this like internal thing telling me I have to quit. And then I'd call my dad and be like, dad, I want to quit. And he'd be like, okay, quit. Then I'd be like, no, I can't quit yet. And he's like, okay, then then don't quit. And I'd be like, no, I want to.

Speaker 3

Though so then, yeah, and then I I resigned and I gave them three weeks notice and then I literally resigned and then like freaked out and then went to Kohl's that afternoon and bought all this like tin soup and tuna, because I was like I'm gonna go poor, I need, I need to like stock up because I'm gonna have no money soon, um, so funny. But then literally like two days after I resigned, I got my two biggest brand deals.

Speaker 2

at that point so by the end of the week I was like okay that was the right decision that is amazing yeah.

Speaker 3

And then on my last day, because every time I leave a firm I just save some of the work that I did if I ever need it for a portfolio and then I was like you know what, I'm not going to do that. And then my coworker, connor, he was like well, I mean you may as well, there's no harm. And I was like no, because that's me in the back of my mind saying you might fail.

Speaker 2

So I didn't look back, oh yeah and look at you now oh, that's just so, it's so inspiring, it's really cool. Um, and just touching on those brand deals, like I feel like the way that you create content for brands is so clever and so authentic and I I mean you do get that impression that you're making content out of a want to do it, it's a passion to do it, like it doesn't feel forced at all. But I think I've seen one for Big W. Was that right? Was that the Big W jumpers?

Speaker 1

Anyway, a few of them, but they're really cleverly done the yogurt, I don't know, I think the ones I've seen. I didn't even realize it was yeah, I didn't realize it was beautifully done content and talk.

Speaker 2

I'm like oh, hang on a minute yeah, I think that's a real, that is a skill on itself.

Speaker 3

Yeah right, yeah yes well, I mean, yeah, for me it's like I don't know. I just I never want to feel like I'm an influencer that's making ads. To make ads, I'm like I just want to be a comedian, so I want everything to be funny and there's a lot of. I mean not a lot, but there are brand deals. I turned down because I'm like I can't think of a way to make that funny without it being cringe or an obvious ad. You know, like I mean in my early on in my career I did everyone that came across my desk. I'd be like, yes, but now I'm like I can't make that funny, like so yeah, I only do it if it feels right.

Speaker 2

Yeah, you do get. That feeling Was there like a certain point where you were like oh, this has gone viral. I feel like this is like a really big, exciting, big deal right now.

Transition from Rothie Lohman to Full-Time Comedy

Speaker 3

I guess every time I come up with a new character or a new series that's really well received, it just feels like another step in the staircase in a way. Like and carly was a huge, she was like a flight of stairs, like that was a big jump in my but even the architecture stuff, like, yeah, there's been a few that have really taken me to a new level. Yeah, so there's been a few.

Speaker 1

Carly was definitely a big one like she changed my life for sure so literally, when you first did a video with that character, it really took off.

Speaker 3

Yeah, I mean the first video I did as Carly yeah, really blew up. And then the first one I did as Jerry, the annoying co-worker guy. That really took off as well. He's so annoying it's like, oh, he's the worst, I know.

Speaker 3

It's kind of like every year I have a new one. That kind of takes me to another avenue, I guess. Yeah, do people send you ideas? Yeah, sometimes. Sometimes people will send like a paragraph this long. They're like I was just on the bus and I heard this lady talking about her kindle and how she wished she charged it, and like people will literally recite everything they heard and I'm reading it like oh, okay, like um, sometimes, yeah, sometimes, people have really good ideas yeah, hey, pass it on, babe.

Speaker 2

Oh, carly would love that carly would say that like she's not even real, but she is real like we all have such a fondness for that character oh so funny and it must.

Speaker 1

Obviously it really relates if they're the ones like the, the jerry character and the carly character that they took off.

Speaker 3

Obviously people have that like, like you really love carly, it's like this kind of connection to them, because they're like oh my god, that's, that's that person who everyone has that person somewhere in their life, right I know, I think it's just like it's just what I am observing a lot in my life at the time, and because I was working in an office like Jerry came from that and then I guess I might have worked with a few Carly's, but Carly is really just an extension of me, Like she has my gentle nature and like that's why I think people connect with her, even though it's this character that I'm kind of making fun of. I think it's a part of me because people will comment and be like she's so boring.

Speaker 2

But why do I love listening to her so much? I'm like because I'm a performer man. So great With your architecture series, have you? Because I don't know. Could you talk about what that is? Because I guess what I want to ask you is have you had some architects come out and go? Oh my God, are you poking fun at us like? Is it in a negative way, like?

Speaker 3

um only honestly not many um yeah I think I've only noticed a few comment. Well, I don't really read all the comments anymore, but I I noticed one comment a few weeks ago of someone being like well, obviously this guy just left the industry because he was bitter, blah, blah, blah, but for the most, everyone is a pretty good sport and my what crosses bitter at all?

Speaker 3

I don't know, not at all I know I'm like it's just we're allowed to have fun and have fun at ourselves, like that's what life should be about. It just makes life more fun if we don't take it as seriously, you know.

Speaker 2

But I think that there are architects that do take it seriously and I guess to. To paint a little picture, if you haven't seen nick's videos, it's um going through a space and just using some of that architectural jargon to explain what you're seeing, basically, and you know. Architects they froth over all of that. And interior designers, I guess too. All of the words that we use, and a lot of it is absolutely meaningless. It's this language that they use that you're taught at university, and when you actually think what were they trying to say, I don't actually know Nothing.

Speaker 1

I know it's wanky basically isn't it, that's what it is. They're just big wanky. Basically isn't it, that's what it is. They're just big wankers, and that's why like when I was studying architecture.

Speaker 3

I really felt inferior because I was like I don't know how to describe things like that, Am I? Maybe I'm not cut out for this, but now I'm like, oh well, maybe they didn't know what they were talking about either.

Speaker 2

You know what I mean? They didn't.

Speaker 3

Yeah.

Speaker 2

Oh, that's. Yeah, it's a funny one. So do you think you will ever return to architecture in some way, even if it's to maybe design your own place?

Speaker 3

Yeah, oh yeah, I mean honestly like, because, yeah, so I've been doing these architecture videos for I guess, I don't even know, two and a half years, I guess, yeah, but then I started this. Oh, no, three and a half years, no, like, like, what year.

Speaker 2

Are we in? What the hell? I don't even know, it doesn't matter, I know tell me about it.

Speaker 3

But yeah, and then I started this series called Design Dissection that you were on the first episode, which you know they live on YouTube and then they're not. They don't have crazy numbers on YouTube but I can like chop them up on socials and they perform pretty well. But that's just kind of a proof of concept of, like, I'm interested in architecture, I know a bit about it and it excites me and you can see, in these videos I sometimes slip in and out of character because I genuinely get excited and I like to talk about it. So, um, so yeah, I think I want to kind of keep exploring things like that, because I really enjoy filming those and editing those.

Speaker 3

Um, and it's just a fun day, like I had a great day with you, I had a great day with tali. It's just like and it's fun to meet people and then do stuff like this. So, um, yeah, I think I I want to kind of keep exploring what avenues are there for architecture crossover, crossing over with comedy, because, yeah, I think if I can approach architecture and design as myself and I'm lucky now that people kind of get me and get my vibe and my comedic voice and things like that, yeah, I find it less intimidating now and I can just have fun with it and be myself and be a bit silly have you got anybody on your list that you would love to go into their space?

Speaker 3

oh, I mean like what would be the ultimate my ultimate would go would be to go to Troy Savant's house because we've all seen his architectural digest. That was that would be to go to troy savant's house because we've all seen his architectural digest. That was that would be amazing I know.

Design Dissection and Architectural Connections

Speaker 3

And then I was a girl who works at flack studio messaged me and she was like, oh, like, I'll see if, um, we can do. And I was like, oh, my god, yeah, and then. And then she never, and then I haven't heard from her.

Speaker 1

Oh, call out, I knowack, I know, david. Come on, david, hello.

Speaker 3

David, hello, hello, mr David Is his name? David Flack, hello, mr Flack. But yeah, I mean, I don't know I was actually going to. I'll talk to you after if there's anyone else you recommend. Well, how about?

Speaker 1

your house, Brie. Oh, you can come here anytime.

Speaker 2

Oh bad.

Speaker 3

The architect recommend well, how about your house?

Speaker 2

brie, oh, you can come here anytime.

Speaker 3

Oh bad actually kind of terrible. Oh well, no, I'm kidding bring your doggo.

Speaker 1

Oh, yeah, oh, did you say bring your doggo, or doggo?

Speaker 3

doggo. He gets car sick though, so I probably should have you got I have a golden retriever who turns one in about oh so nine days?

Speaker 1

yep, he's a daycare right now.

Speaker 3

He's he has a lot of energy if he's home. I have to take him for like four walks a day because we I live in an apartment. Yeah well, that's why I waited till I worked for myself and lived alone, so I can like you know, walk him a lot, but this week, yeah, he's been at daycare a few days because I'm like I have a sore back.

Speaker 1

He'd love that, though I have this deadline.

Speaker 3

Oh, he loves it. And they say that as soon as he gets there he just plays until he leaves in the afternoon Like he has so much energy. It's crazy oh, that's so great.

Speaker 2

Okay, I haven't seen him on the, on the socials, well that's my newest my newest character is a dog trainer, because I had to get a dog trainer.

Speaker 3

Yes, yeah, because he was pulling so hard that my back I got this back injury that I already had, but he's made it really bad. So I had to get this dog trainer out and she was so good, but she was such a character and I was like, oh, I have to do it, I have to do it so yeah, that's yeah, you're giving me no choice babe beware if you have any interaction with nick, you'll end up as a character.

Speaker 1

I mean that coffee have you had anyone say to you oh, is that me? Is that like um?

Speaker 3

sometimes, when I worked when I worked at rothy loman. Sometimes people would be like, was that one me? And I'm like, no, none of these are you guys. But then there was a guy at rothy loman who I won't say too much, but definitely I just I didn't gel with him and well, I have a character now called the creepy co-worker. Let's just say, let's just leave it at that leave it at that.

Speaker 2

Read between the lines of what you will. Yes, I love it. So I would love to know from your point of view do you have any advice from any architects that are feeling a bit stuck or they're questioning their career path and they maybe feel like you were feeling it? Rossi Lohman.

Speaker 1

Do they need to go and do stand-up?

Speaker 3

Look, don't do stand up um, unless you hate yourself. No, I'm kidding yeah, actually, yeah, no, architects, try comedy, please.

Speaker 3

That's, I'm trying to make myself that yes um, I would just say, well, my advice is always follow your gut, but I know that's not as easy for everyone, but that's kind of what I've always done. But I guess I would also say we're very lucky that, with what we studied and kind of what we do, it does give us a lot of skills and a lot of just like yeah, there's so many things you can branch off to do. So I think just definitely keep in touch with yourself in terms of like what sparks joy creatively, um, and I mean, it's not always the best idea to monetize your hobbies, but sometimes it works out. I think at least you still need to have things that kind of like nourish your soul and kind of like your escape from the madness of everything. But I think definitely just pay attention to what you enjoy and what skills you have developed in practice. And I don't think there's a rush, but I think just, yeah, start to pay attention to what you could branch off into, I guess.

Speaker 3

I mean, I guess I have friends who are doing all sorts of creative things now, like photographers, visual artists still a lot who are in design. Some people even changed to landscape architecture without studying it. They just were working in architecture applied for landscape because that was their interest. And now, yeah, one of my good friends is a landscape architect. So, yeah, I don't know, just keep your eye on what's happening. What?

Speaker 2

jobs are going.

Speaker 3

Yeah, I don't really know, I mean just yeah bad, just feel it follow your gut bad.

Creative Advice and Future Projects

Speaker 1

I think that's really good advice, though, to try and good yeah, just to connect with yourself. I think that's the start, isn't it? And listen to your dreams, obviously, because they can tell you which way to go yeah, totally listen to your dreams yeah but yeah, being authentic, I think makes makes you happier than when you're not so totally. You've got to try and work out what that is that's making you unhappy, right yeah, yeah what would make you happy? A lot of ways. An easy answer.

Speaker 3

It's the hard way to live life. It's the most like it pays off, like it's hard to go through those things to be like okay, I really need to do what feels right, even though it's scary yeah. But, it pays off because it gets you to where you're meant to be, you know totally agree with that.

Speaker 1

That was very philosophical.

Speaker 3

I love it oh, yes, and also, I would also just say you can get your stationery from kmart. They do erases, they do that and they have little pencil cases that four dollars. So I just say, if you're doing something with, I do a lot of coloring, so, yes, that's my sorry, I try and do in here, but that's my sorry, I try and do it in here, but that's my advice.

Speaker 1

Well, actually.

Speaker 2

Carly, she inspired me. I had to go to I shouldn't say I had to go to my mum's. I went to my mum's for lunch and I bought a coloring book to entertain myself and that was thanks to Carly, because I wanted to do something mindful while we were sitting around the table.

Speaker 3

Honestly, it sounds ridiculous because you think, oh, that's what I did when I was little, but it really just. It calms me down. I have a yogurt and my coloring in book and I feel like I'm on cloud nine.

Speaker 2

Yes, oh my gosh, that is so cute. So, what is next for Nick? What's next? What have you got coming up?

Speaker 3

Well, good question, oh well, oh, I can't, I'll tell you after this, because it hasn't. Well, actually, when's this podcast coming out?

Speaker 2

In a week or two. Okay, I'll tell you after we can time it.

Speaker 3

No, it's fine, it's just a project that just. I would suggest people keep an eye out on my socials and Carly's socials. That's something that I am going to do?

Speaker 2

Is she going on a?

Speaker 3

honeymoon, oh, I mean, well, I am touring in the UK later this year maybe, but my honeymoon was in Tassie. That was always the story, but I didn't go to Tassie this year. What else am I? Well, I'm touring and I'm doing some shows in Melbourne this month for the Replay Festival and then London in September.

Speaker 1

Where would that be, Nick?

Speaker 3

Tell us in in september. Tell us, tell us some details. Oh yeah, that'll be at comedy republic. On july 24th and july 25th. Tickets are in my bio. Excellent, yeah, and what else? Just yeah, content, um, who knows I've I've so many ideas at the moment and I'm trying to like organize them all and get them moving, but at the moment, yeah, not, not heaps to report it's fun.

Speaker 2

It sounds like a lot plenty yeah yeah, it's enough.

Speaker 3

Yeah, and I want to keep doing some more design dissection, so we'll get some of those in the works as well super fun.

Speaker 2

Thank you so much, nick.

Speaker 3

It was so fun to chat thank you, that was so fun of course, and carly thanks, carly oh yes, you're welcome.