Dane Simpson said it was a surreal feeling performing a set on the stage of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. 

“I’m sort of speechless, it was so amazing,” he said.

Performing alongside comedians he’s always admired was another bonus for Mr Simpson, and it was a comfort to know he wasn’t the only one feeling the pre-show jitters. 

“I’m out the back, I’m pacing and I’m really nervous and I look up and Dave Hughes is doing the exact same thing,” he said.

“He was pacing and running through his set and it was just weird.”

Family shenanigans, old yarns and personal experience are the main base of a lot of Mr Simpson’s comedy sets, and while his family are always supportive they often will ask one question.

“It’s really funny,” he said.

“Their first thing is always going to be ‘are you going to tell stories about me?’” 

Mr Simpson said he was excited to perform at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and laughingly called himself ‘Wagga’s Nikki Webster’.

“It’s such an honour to be able to do this,” he said. 

Jumping from gig to gig the support for his career is endless he said, not just from his family but from the Wagga community. 

“Wagga’s always just like hey! They watch the show, they support the comedy club,” he said.

You can catch Dane Simpson at the Riverina Comedy Club next show on Friday April 6.