Comedian and master impersonator, Simon McKinney has carved out a stellar comedy career that bridges continents and captivates audiences with his unique blend of characters and accents.
Born in New Zealand, Simon’s comic talents took him to the United Kingdom, where he earned his stripes on the demanding UK pro comedy circuit. He performed at two Edinburgh Fringe Festivals and completed an extraordinary run of 300 gigs across Britain, honing his craft and building a reputation as a dynamic performer.
Returning to New Zealand, Simon quickly became a standout on the local comedy scene. He graced the stage of the NZ International Comedy Festival, earning a coveted Billy T Award nomination, and in 2007 was voted New Zealand’s Best Male Comedian at the NZ Comedy Guild Awards. Further recognition followed in 2010 when he received the Reilly Comedy Award from the Variety Artists of New Zealand. His 2011 show People at the NZ International Comedy Festival garnered a nomination for the festival’s supreme accolade, The Fred Award.
Television audiences have enjoyed Simon’s talents through numerous televised Comedy Galas as part of the NZ International Comedy Festival and appearances on TV3’s AotearoHA. He brought comedic characters to life in TV2’s Comedy Christmas Cracker – The Work Do, portrayed Rachel, the receptionist for Rhys Darby, and featured in New Zealand Variety Show and A Night At The Classic. Simon’s skills extend to puppeteering and voice work as part of the hit children’s programme The Mo Show.
Simon’s exceptional gift for impressions is a signature of his performances. While his celebrity impersonations include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Bert and Ernie, Elmo, and the iconic “movie trailer guy,” it’s his pitch-perfect portrayals of everyday characters—like the “Kiwi lady,” “that drunk guy,” and a wide array of international accents—that deeply connect him to audiences.
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Simon McKinney 2017 Showcase
Celebrity Speakers Showcase in conjunction with CINZ MEETINGS Simon McKinney is an in-demand comedian and corporate MC. He is perfect for the corporate audience with his 'clean' comedy both as a feature comedian and as an MC. His fun and generous style warms him to any audience.We had Simon as a Master of Ceremonies for both days of our Salespersons Conference and Gala Awards Dinner. This is the second year in a row that we have had Simon as a host for this event. ... keep reading Professionals Real Estate Group
Simon was great, he was very professional, confident and easy going. Such a nice man to work with. My guests enjoyed his comedy and it really added to the evening overall. I will definitely keep him in mind for future events. I actually would like to use him as an MC, I really appreciated his ability to keep the audience captive without raising his voice he definitely has great presence.
Simon was the making of a very lovely night with our staff and their partners. The laughter is still heard when our staff talk about him - he was without a doubt the best entertainment we have had. Bless him -he was wonderful
Simon McKinney was an absolutely fantastic speaker who really set the tone for the evening. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed his performance, we were all in fits of laughter some of us even crying! Comments made throughout the night that he was a stroke of genius, and Book him again for next year, and I could have listened to him all night!. Simon is very professional, very skillful and flawless in his delivery. I would recommend him to anyone looking for an MC! He even did a fantastic job hosting our charity auction. Can't sing enough praise for Simon absolutely brilliant!
Simon is a class act, it was his second time back with us and everyone was really pleased to see him back again. Feedback was really positive from delegates, and from my perspective, he is incredibly easy to work with, super professional and really bloody funny.
Simon was a great speaker, he had the audience rolling with laughter and kept us entertained for over an hour. We were very happy with his presentation, and friendly manner and would highly recommend him. Our CEO commented that Simon was one of the best speakers we have had in the last 12 years. We have had a number of our guests also express how much they enjoyed Simon as guest speaker one emailed me this morning to say his cheeks were still sore from laughing!
Simon was outstanding as the MC for our conference. He really picked up on the mood of the audience and kept the banter throughout the day amusing and fun, which was exactly according to the brief. He wowed doing a comedy routine later in the day and was a very engaged MC, who made a point of researching his speakers and preparing well. I would highly recommend him both as an MC and a performer. He made me laugh from dawn to dusk but was always extremely professional at the same time! Simon is an absolute pleasure to work alongside.
Simon was a great recommendation from your team, Simon adapted his content to our theme and provided outstanding entertainment, it was an enjoyable way to end a virtual session which received great feedback from our attendees. Simon was genuinely enthusiastic to be part of our event and it showed in his performance.
One of the difficulties in running a conference with such a broad spectrum of attendees is finding entertainment that suits both younger and older individuals we nailed it with Simon McKinney. He was appropriate and relevant and had almost the entire audience in tears. My only issue was that for the remainder of our event I had wannabe comedians coming out of the brickwork and I laughed at anyone with an accent.
Simon was fantastic! He tailored his act to suit our audience, assisted with drawing our 'prize winner' and took the time to chat to people after his act. They really enjoyed his humour and the chance to meet him.
Simon did a wonderful job at our gala event, he was able to grab the attention of the noisy crowd and hold it for the duration of our formal events. I've heard great feedback from a number of our attendees, they found Simon very funny and entertaining.
We recently had the pleasure of having Simon McKinney as the MC for our South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. Simon is an exceptional MC, whose wit, humour, and charisma kept the entire audience engaged throughout the event. He seamlessly guided the flow of the program, ensuring that everything ran smoothly and on time, while keeping the energy high. Simon’s ability to connect with the audience through his humour was wonderful. Every joke was perfectly timed, and his natural comedic talent had the entire room laughing and enjoying his stories. He struck a perfect balance between entertainment and professionalism, making sure that the event’s purpose was never overshadowed, and our sponsors were well acknowledged throughout the evening. What truly stood out was Simon’s dedication to ensuring the success of the event. He led with grace and poise, making sure that the event remained a seamless and enjoyable experience for all attendees. Simon played a key role in making the event a resounding success, entertaining, engaging, and steering it with finesse. He went above and beyond by arriving early to engage with our sponsors and staying after the event to chat with guests. We would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone seeking an MC who can provide both laughter and engaging entertainment.
