Win the room
before you win the pitch

Strong ideas do not always land the way they should.

Agencies rarely lose pitches because the thinking is weak.
They lose because the room was never fully won.

Small-group communication training for agency teams who want stronger delivery in pitches, presentations and client conversations.


Workshops are typically designed for 8 to 10 participants and delivered in person for maximum impact, combining techniques from live performance, storytelling and room psychology.




Win the room
before you
win the pitch

Strong ideas do not always land the way they should.
Agencies rarely lose pitches because the thinking is weak.
They lose because the room was never fully won.

We Are Funny Project trains strategy and client-facing teams to deliver ideas with clarity, presence and persuasive impact in high-stakes client environments.

WHY AGENCIES WORK WITH US

Performance training for the moments that matter.

We work with agency teams whose ideas need to land clearly and convincingly in pitches, presentations, client meetings and internal stakeholder rooms.


The work combines lessons from live performance, storytelling and audience psychology to strengthen delivery, confidence and persuasion under pressure.

Write your awesome label here.

"The skills that Alfie gave me, I have used week after week...
Highly recommended."

Rob Mayhew, 'The King of Agency Comedy'

Alfie Noakes, founder and lead coach

Get skills and insight from a 25-year veteran of TV and comedy

Across a 25-year career spanning stand-up comedy, BBC journalism and television production, Alfie Noakes has developed a deep understanding of how ideas land in front of live audiences, specialising in performance under pressure.


As a comedy promoter and MC he has hosted 1,500+ live comedy shows, supporting the early careers of performers such as Phil Wang, Desiree Burch, Sindhu Vee, Eshaan Akbar and Mawaan Rizwan.

He has also hosted shows headlined by some of the most respected names in British comedy, including James Acaster, Stewart Lee, Sara Barron, Marcus Brigstocke, Josh Widdicombe, Simon Brodkin, Lou Sanders and Simon Evans.

Alongside his comedy work, Alfie worked as a BBC journalist and reporter, and later produced and directed projects for broadcasters including Channel 4, SKY and MTV, working with talent such as Bill Bailey, Tess Daly, Dermot O’Leary, Edith Bowman, Johnny Vaughan and Dr Brian Cox.


Across workshops, coaching and training sessions he has helped over 1,000 professionals strengthen their storytelling, presence and persuasive communication.

The stand-up stage is one of the toughest environments in the world for communication. Every audience reaction is immediate feedback. That experience now informs Alfie’s work with strategy and client-facing teams, helping them deliver ideas with clarity, confidence and authority when the stakes are high.


Alfie will not turn your team into stand-ups. But he will help them think like performers, so their ideas land with the impact they deserve.

What changes for teams

We help agency teams strengthen the skills that make strong thinking land more clearly, more confidently and more persuasively.

Sharper ideas

Shape thinking into clearer,
more compelling propositions.

Stronger delivery

Build presence, confidence
and authority under pressure.

Faster rapport

Create trust earlier with clients
and stakeholders.

Composure in the room

Handle questions and curveballs
without losing momentum.

Better creative chemistry

Use levity and stronger communication
to improve collaboration.

Ideas that land

Make language, structure
and delivery work together.

Featured Workshop:
Confidence & Creativity for Client Engagement

Agencies do not need punchlines. They need communication that wins trust.


We take the mechanics performers rely on to hold attention, shape belief and build connection, then adapt them for agency life.


For client teams, that means ideas delivered with clarity and authority when the stakes are high.


For internal teams, it means using levity and perspective to strengthen collaboration, morale and creative confidence.


When communication improves, ideas travel further.

What teams get out of it

Confidence under pressure

More composure in pitches, presentations and high-stakes conversations.

Clearer messaging

Ideas expressed with language clients can understand and repeat.

Stronger
room presence

Authority and credibility without sounding rehearsed.

Better handling of questions

Confidence when objections, curveballs and unknowns appear.

Greater buy-in

Bold thinking that feels safe for clients to choose.


What a full day might feature

Morning

Confidence, presence and status

• how confidence behaves under pressure

• managing nerves and self-doubt

• calm authority and credibility

• reading the room and adjusting energy

Midday

Clarity, creativity and client thinking


• preparing to appear spontaneous

• making language tighter and more memorable

• sharpening thinking quickly

• using levity to build rapport

Afternoon

Performance and practice


• delivery that brings ideas to life

• voice, body language and timing

• live practice in a supportive environment

• feedback that builds confidence

For teams who want
stronger culture without forced fun

The Levity Works

The Levity Works is a practical workshop designed to strengthen culture, morale and team connection through intelligent levity.


It helps teams communicate more openly, collaborate more effectively and handle pressure with more perspective and less defensiveness.


Used well, levity improves resilience, lowers friction and creates the kind of team energy that supports better work.

A standout away day option:
training in a live comedy venue

For teams who want something genuinely different, workshops can be delivered as an off-site away day in a working comedy venue in East London.


During the day, a small group workshop (typically 8–10 participants) takes place on the venue’s real stage, complete with microphone and PA.

The setting immediately changes the energy of the room. Participants experience confident presence, timing and delivery in a way traditional meeting spaces rarely allow.

Optional custom-built evening comedy show

Later in the evening, the wider team can be invited to join for a bespoke comedy show created especially for your organisation.


Working closely with the client beforehand, we agree the tone and boundaries so the material feels right for your team and culture.


Alongside high-quality stand-up from experienced performers, we weave in a handful of custom-written jokes inspired by your company, industry, competitors and the personalities in the room.


The majority of the show is built on tried-and-tested comedy material, ensuring a genuinely strong night of entertainment rather than a risky experiment.


Performers can range from excellent professional circuit acts through to more recognisable names, depending on the scale and budget of your event.

A memorable shared experience

Your event can also feature a professional photographer capturing individual portraits, team photos and a full-company group shot.


For pitch teams and client-facing groups in particular, the format creates a powerful combination of confidence-building, shared laughter and lasting team connection.

Guide pricing

Pricing varies depending on format, location and group size.

Half-day workshops
from £1,500

Full-day workshops
typically £2,500–£3,500

Most in-house workshops fall within these ranges.

HOW IT WORKS

Custom-built learning, in three simple steps

A focused discovery call helps us shape the right workshop for your team.

Whatever the challenge, we tailor our approach to you, your team, and your goals.

step 1

Discovery

We discuss your goals, audience and constraints, then agree the focus, format and outcomes that would create the strongest impact.
step 2

Delivery

We deliver the workshop or 1:1 coaching in the format that suits your team, whether on-site,
off-site or as a broader programme.
step 3

Results

Your team leaves with practical tools, sharper delivery and greater confidence in the moments that matter.
Write your awesome label here.

Lance, Content Marketing Strategist, Meltwater

Lance is a marketing maven by day, stand-up comedian and promoter by night, and has lashings of Alfie experience

Write your awesome label here.

Stephanie, Brand Ambassador, Ardray Whisky

Stephanie kindly recorded her thoughts regarding her experience with our live workshop

david-ogilvy-jokes-humour-comedy.jpg

The best ideas come as jokes. Make your thinking as funny as possible.

 —David Ogilvy

Why stand-up thinking helps agencies

You do not need punchlines.
But you do need distinctive angles, language that cuts through, and delivery that holds attention.

Stand-up craft trains three things agencies value:

• sharper angles and clearer premises
• faster connection with an audience
• delivery that makes ideas feel safe to choose

It also teaches something equally valuable inside teams: the intelligent use of levity.

Used well, levity lowers defences, strengthens rapport, and helps creative people share ideas more openly. It is a powerful ingredient in both client relationships and internal culture.

That is why our work focuses on two complementary outcomes: helping teams win the room when the stakes are high, and helping them build the kind of trust and energy that makes great work possible in the first place.

If you want your team to win the room more consistently, let’s talk.

Pitching. Creative, Strategy, Culture

Big wins we help teams achieve

We work with agency leaders and their teams on the performance side of communication: how ideas are shaped, delivered and received in real rooms.

Pitching and presentation

Clearer story, stronger presence, more client buy-in.

Creative teams

Faster idea generation, bolder language, more confidence sharing work early.

Strategy and planning

Sharper angles and narratives that feel human, not like a whitepaper.

Collaboration and culture

Levity used well lowers defensiveness and strengthens trust, so teams work with more openness and momentum.

The We Are Funny
Project story

'The Project' began in London’s live comedy scene, producing nearly 2,000 shows and staging more than 10,000 performers.


Along the way, the work evolved into workshops and coaching focused on the practical mechanics of confidence, creative thinking, reading the room, body language and tone, timing, presence and connection: the skills that determine how ideas land in real rooms.

Alfie later wrote, presented and produced three wonderfully reviewed online courses. 


Today, we bring those lessons into agency life, helping teams communicate with more clarity, authority and human connection when it matters most.


Same mission, new context: stronger ideas, stronger delivery, better rooms.

All photos by Steve Best and Gary Manhine

Why stand-up?

What do we get?

What about a pilot?

What if we could…?

How does it work?

Who's the trainer?

How do we book?

Why stand-up?

What do we get?

What about a pilot?

What if we could…?

How does it work?

Who's the trainer?

How do we book?

If you've read this far...

It's time we talked

Book a focused 25-minute call with Alfie to explore what would create the strongest impact, whether that’s sharpening client engagement or strengthening culture through The Levity Works.

You'll get clarity and confidence to move forward,
or move on

Frequently and infrequently asked questions

If I stand still for long enough, will birds nest in me?

So long as you stand utterly still, yes. There are variables based on where you are standing still. Being near to a busy road as opposed to on the edge of a forest would, presumably, slow the mission down. In broad strokes, estimates suggest the process would start unfurling after about four weeks. Good luck!

Do fish get thirsty?

Saltwater fish do drink a lot of water, yet their sense of thirstiness remains unknown. Whereas, Freshwater fish absorb water through osmosis so they really don't get thirsty. Try and keep in mind that Rainbow Trout have a troubling history with Jagerbombs, they can get lairy and aggressive... if possible, try and keep them on pints only. Good luck!

Can I marry someone for their Tesco Clubcard points?

Yes. Though it's not broadly considered the prime reason for entering a life-long relationship. Naturally, divorce remains an option. If Clubcard points turn out to not be your thing, perhaps consider Nectar next time? Good luck!

Who the hell is Alfie Noakes, really?

Be bold, prep your questions, or don't, and find out for yourself. Book a free, no-pressure, 25-minute call with Alfie Noakes and hit him with your inquiries, concepts and questions.

Is this delivered face-to-face, or online?

Did I mention flexibility? However, while 1:1 coaching works very well online, there is nothing to replace the energy and group experience of in the room, real life, group workshops. A discovery call can address all elements and any practical needs.

How much will this cost?

To be honest and clear, it simply varies depending on a range of elements. Once more information has been shared in a Discovery call, Alfie will work up the training contents outline, and breakdown the costs. Then send it on to you for clarity and transparency. Rest assured, the pricing is reasonable, the training effective. And fun.

How many delegates are there on a workshop?

There is a degree of flexibility. Naturally, the fewer the delegates, the more time for personalised attention and even deeper dives on certain elements. However, optimum is 8 - 10 people.

Where will Alfie travel? Can you provide a venue?

Typically, most of the work that Alfie does is within the M25. However, all travel is an open possibility and there are several precedents for Alfie travelling further afield. So, all options are on the table.

Certainly we can provide a venue for Laugh & Learn Away Days. Our standard option is the room in which Alfie ran hundreds of live comedy shows, the spacious, basement bar of a trendy venue in Dalston, East London. It comes with a (closed/open) bar, stage, PA and utter privacy.

Arrangements can be made for settings selected based on your personal preference. Your wishes can be discussed on the Discovery call, ranging from area, size and 'feel' of the venue that you prefer.

To be absolutely clear our first option in Dalston is colourful, shabby chic and very informal
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