Buddy Telco brings tech-powered comedy to life in sold out show and campaign via alt/shift/
Combining clever technology with quick wit, Buddy Telco and creative agency alt/shift/ recently launched Chat Bot Comedy, a one night only live show that pushed the boundaries of both stand up comedy and brand storytelling.
The sold out event brought award-winning comedian Bron Lewis to the stage with an unexpected co-performer: a custom chatbot built and designed by FutureLabs, that delivered improvised lines, cued jokes and created chaos in real time. With no script and no safety net, Bron played completely off the chatbot’s prompts in a performance that was equal parts clever, awkward and completely original.
The idea was sparked by Buddy Telco’s unique business model – a lean, digital-first telco that keeps things simple so customers can save more. With smart chatbot tech, live chat and a 100% Australian-based support team in Perth, Buddy had a powerful point of difference.
Alt/shift/ developed the positioning line “Digital when you want it. Human when you need it.” and set out to bring that idea to life in a way that felt bold, original and entertaining.
Says Elly Hewitt, alt/shift/ National CEO: “Instead of telling people what made Buddy different, we thought, ‘What if we showed it?’ That became our springboard for Chat Bot Comedy – a show designed to capture the tension and magic that happens when clever tech meets a quick thinking human.”
The campaign struck the perfect balance between innovation and relatability, capturing Buddy Telco’s core philosophy in a way that audiences could genuinely connect with.
“Buddy Telco’s Chat Bot Comedy brought our brand to life in the most unexpected way. It’s a reminder that while tech can do a lot, the magic happens when it’s paired with a human touch. And that’s what Buddy is all about – we blend the convenience and efficiency of digital-first service with the reassurance of real human support,” says Aussie Broadband General Manager of Marketing Rebecca Rizzo.
The campaign extended beyond the stage, collaborating with comedians and content creators Anthony Nigro, Will Weightman and Sarah Adams, creating content that leaned into the relatable quirks of tech, helping to drive ticket sales and build anticipation online.
The show also featured a warm up act by popular comedian and Aussie actor Ben Knight, and behind the scenes, comedian Karl Chandler helped guide the chatbot’s timing and tone to support Bron’s performance.
The campaign resulted in a sold out event at the iconic Basement Comedy Club, 34 pieces of editorial coverage, including an interview with Bron, Will and Woody on KIIS FM, 242K reach across socials and 10% increase in followers to Buddy’s social channels.
Buddy Telco’s Chat Bot Comedy gave audiences something they hadn’t seen before – a brand proving its value through performance, in all senses of the word.
