Unique opportunities for stand-up comedians, comedy magicians, comedy sketch writers/ performers, and other persons of infinite jest.
I would like to wish a Happy New Year to my fellow entertainers, all you stand-up comedians, comedy magicians, ventriloquists, puppeteers, jugglers, dancers, singers, hypnotists, clowns, balloon artists, comedy sketch writers/ performers, improvisation artists, and other women and men of infinite jest.
My last post was in response to yet another complaint about comedy club owners and managers who who employ “pay to play” (a fee to get onstage) and “bringer show” (bring five to ten friends to get stage time) open mic policies. Today, I will talk about another alternative to the policies as well as how to get gigs during a time when prospective clients aren’t hiring entertainers due to the “sluggish” economy.
The alternative I wish to offer is using barter (accepting goods or services in lieu of cash for your performance) in order to get more opportunities to perform. During my entertainment career, I have negotiated barter arrangements with numerous clients. I have performed for many retail clients (Grocery, Department, Jewelry, Athletic), restaurants (fast food and sit down dining), gyms, and other clients in the Central Ohio area, for cash, barter or a combination of the two.
You can also negotiate barter arrangements with bars (drinks and food), casinos (food, drinks, rooms, gambling chips), hotels, and resorts (food, drinks, sleeping rooms, meeting/event rooms). You may even be able to strike a deal with a comedy club to perform for food and drinks.
Is performing for barter really worth it, I hear you asking yourself? Consider this. You can negotiate for goods and services you would, otherwise, have to purchase for cash. And the amount you get can be more than you would get in cash.
One public pool/gym gave me a year long, family membership for one performance.
There’s an old show business saying, “Work begets work”. Not only does entertaining for barter keep your performing skills sharp, it also exposes your skills to the entertainment buying public. In other words, barter gigs lead to cash gigs. All of these barter gigs are places to schmooze with customers and hand out your business cards and other Point of Sale devices. A word of caution, though. Also explain, to your barter clients, that the arrangement is to be kept in the strictest of confidence. Otherwise, the customers will want to pay you in barter as well.
Just to restate my case for accepting good and services from some clients in exchange for your entertainment skills. Performing barter will increase your seasoning (performing experience) and your opportunities to work for cash. And, after all, if your prospective has already refused to hire you for money, you have nothing to lose by offering to perform for barter. And you may be delightedly surprised by their response. They may even hire you on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, etc.). One more idea springs to mind. Pass on this advice to all of your friends in the entertainment business and you can all get together and trade coupons in your very own barter coupon swap meet.
My next post will be about New Year’s Resolutions. Again, Happy New Year! And may using barter as a negotiating tool in the year 2012 keep you and your artistic skills as busy as you have always wanted to be.
Read MoreRecording and Distributing Comedy and Other Entertainment A la DYI
The following two paragraphs are from a contribution by Roger Blazic to a Linkedin Group called, “Comedy Depreciation” Hosted by the very talented comedic writer and performer Frannie Sheridan. Thank you, Roger and Frannie.
“Comedian Louis Szekely, better known as Louis C.K., is profiting handsomely from a $5 video of his latest standup routine, which he produced and distributed himself.
Instead of partnering with a studio, C.K. hired a team with six cameras to tape two of his performances at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan. He distributed the video through a website specially built for that purpose. Within 12 hours of going on sale Saturday, 50,000 people purchased the video, covering all of costs incurred for its production (around $170,000) and creation of the website ($32,000). By day four, he had sold 110,000 copies, making an additional $200,000 off the venture.”
Well readers, both of you? Does this spark any ideas among my fellow entertainers and speakers? It certainly does with me. You can do this, too. Perhaps, not on the same scale, but it needn’t be on the same scale. If you can make a little money and get your name out there, why not give it a shot?
Whether you’re a comedy artist like Louis C.K., a singer (with a band, or a soloist), a dancer, a motivational speaker, or whatever type of performer you are. Don’t just sit there waiting for something to happen or for some agent to discover you!! They don’t have time for that, anymore. Before you’re next gig (What’s that I hear some of you say? You don’t have any upcoming gigs? Stage your own. Rent a small, local theater. If your local theaters are budget breakers, rent a hall at your friendly, neighborhood American Legion, AmVets, Elks, Moose, etc. and sell tickets) , contact a nearby (near where you live or near where your performing venue) college and hire a student (their rates are reasonable because they always need money for tuition, books, tattoos, body piercing, and gourmet/designer coffee) to record your show and prepare it for online distribution and back of room sales.
As for marketing, get some fliers printed up and put them on car windshields at large stores and malls. Don’t bother hanging them in store windows because, since cell phones became the “Swiss Army Knives” of communication and entertainment, nobody looks up while their walking down the street anymore. Mention your upcoming performance on your web site (repeatedly). Tell your friends, Tell your relatives, Tell your co-workers (if you’re transitioning from a day job). Tell other entertainers in your area. Tell strangers on the street. Take out an ad in your local penny saver newspaper.
I will be doing this, on the smaller scale, in 2012. I will be renting entertainment venues around central Ohio (Columbus and surrounding cities) and recording my performances for online distribution and for back of room sales at future events. It will be a brand new, original, comedy variety show featuring: stand-up comedy, comedy magic, prop comedy, physical comedy, humorous song parodies (with guitar), impressions comedy storytelling, and comedic voices.
Read MoreWhere I’ve been, where I am, and Where I’m going
One of the main purposes of these regular blog posts is to keep the readers apprised of my continuing efforts at writing and performing comedy material. So here goes: I recently purchased a guitar and will soon begin taking lessons. Lately, I have also been writing humorous parodies to popular rock, country, and Christmas (and other seasonal) songs which will become part of the new comedy variety show I will begin performing early next year. The show will consist of four elements: stand-up comedy, comedy magic, prop comedy, and, of course, the new comedic song parodies (making use of my new guitar and lessons).
The most recent turn in my career as an entertainer took place yesterday, when I enrolled in a stand-up comedy workshop which is to be taught at the Improv Comedy Club in Cleveland, Ohio during the first three Saturdays of January, 2012. The instructor will be none other than Dave Schwensen, comedian, motivational speaker, talent Coordinator for the Cleveland Improv (and former talent coordinator of both the New York and Los Angeles Improv Comedy Clubs), and author of several comedy “how-to” books including “How to be a Working Comic.” I am really looking forward to attending the workshop as all participants will be afforded the opportunity to perform onstage at the Improv. In addition, I am looking forward to meeting the other comedy artists (up to nine of them) and hearing their career stories. I will be driving up from my home near Columbus, Ohio. The other comedy performers, I assume, will come from around Ohio and surrounding states.
Once I have completed the comedy workshop, I will be renting small venues (such as the halls in fraternal lodge facilities) in which to perform the aforementioned, four part, comedy variety show throughout central Ohio and surrounding areas. Soon after, I hope to move the show to small theaters, and eventually to larger theaters. I will also, of course, be available to perform the stage show at private, civic, and corporate events. Anyone interested in reserving a performance date for this four part comedy variety show can contact me by telephone at (614) 891-7393 or via email at info@funnymanbobsimpson.com or bobsimpson1954@gmail.com.
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Stand-up Comedy is Alive and Well in Central Ohio
Last night, my beautiful wife, Cheryl, and I ventured from our home in Westerville, Ohio to the nearby metropolis of Delaware, Ohio. The reason for this sojourn was to enjoy dinner and a live comedy show at the Delaware Moose Lodge on Sandusky Street. After chowing down on fried chicken(everyone received exactly one half a chicken), baked beans, cabbage slaw, a roll, and cake, we sat back to enjoy the three Ohio comedians who had come to entertain us.
The opening act, Mary Miller from Johnstown, Ohio performed wonderfully original, interactive, observational comedy about women and men and then played the guitar and sang a number of hilarious parodies of old songs like the Bonanza theme song. She can actually play the guitar, has an excellent singing voice and is insanely funny. We will be seeing and hearing more from the multi-talented Mary Miller.
The middle act was a bit weak. A forty-something comic (whose name I can’t remember) from Akron who would have been more suited for a college age audience. He spoke so fast that, at one point, I almost asked if he had a bus to catch. Not necessarily a bad comedian. But, not a good fit for last night’s audience.
The headliner, Mike Conley may have been 50 years old, heavy (okay, he’s fat), bald and only 5’4″, but, as my fifth grade teacher used to say, “never judge a book by it’s cover.” From the moment he took the stage the comedic energy he exuded was like nothing I had ever seen before. Earlier this year, I saw Lewis Black in concert in Eric, Pennsylvania and, I have to say, Mike Conley was not only funnier, but much more animated. There were several times, during his performance, when I was actually laughing so hard that I couldn’t breathe. My wife said she hasn’t seen me laugh that hard in a very long time. And she’s right. The comedy gods have given us a very special gift in Mike Conley. His perfect comedic timing, his voice inflections and facial contortions, the energy of a young Don Rickles, his impressive physical and verbal improvisation were something to see. He is truly a comedian’s comedian. I would gladly have paid the whole ticket price just to see Mike Conley.
Cheryl and I had a wonderful time. After the great meal and superb stand-up comedy, we laughed and farted all the way home.
Read MoreBringing The Vaudeville Style Variety Show Back To Life In Columbus, Ohio
Since setting up a page called “Performers At Large” on meetup.org and joining several groups for comedy entertainers via Linkedin, I have made some very interesting new friends in the entertainment business. Bob Abdou is a ventriloquist who is planning to open a new theater in the Clintonville section of Columbus, Ohio. Bob comes to us from New Jersey by way of Texas. Don’t worry, he’s much better at making people laugh than he is at map reading. Bill Gladwell is a hypnotist, dating coach, and self-described professional mingler who lives in Central Ohio, but performs all over the country. Leo Bowers is a Columbus based musician who has just completed his latest CD. Leo is also a member of several meetup groups for musicians and singers. Kyle Kissell is a storyteller and performance artist who entertains audiences under the name, “Kyle the Unnecessary.” Don’t let the stage name fool you. Although still quite young, Kyle is a savvy, veteran performer who should never be under-estimated.
My plan for 2012 is to rent numerous venues and, in the words of Mickey Rooney’s character, Andy Hardy, “Hey, Kids! Let’s put on a show!” I’ve already seen Bob Abdou perform comedy magic, ventriloquism, and stand-up comedy at Eldorado’s Bar and Grill on South High Street in Columbus, Ohio and he did a great job. Now, I just need check out Bill (if we can get him to stay in Columbus long enough), Leo, and Kyle’s work and give them all a chance to watch me doing what I do (stand-up comedy, comedy magic, physical comedy, pantomime, sketch comedy, motivational speaking). Then, we can start scheduling vaudeville style variety shows featuring whomever is not already scheduled to perform somewhere else.
We will start with small, inexpensive venues like fraternal organizations and, after establishing a loyal following, move to small theaters, and finally to large theaters around Ohio and surrounding states. My plan is for each of us to share equally in the expenses, work, and of course in the profits.
Any stage entertainers (comics, magicians, singers, dancers, jugglers, etc.) out there who would like to “get in on the action” can contact me by telephone at 614-891-7393 or send me an email via this web site. I won’t promise it will be easy. But, I think we’ll have a lot of fun and even make a few dollars doing something we all love.
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