An Ounce Of Preparation – - The Entertainer’s Insurance Policy
Like most seasoned performers, I have learned to roll with the punches that the entertainment industry throws. Just when I thought I had seen it all, I received a reminder that, change is the only constant in this strange and wonderful business.
Recently, I was hired to perform stand-up comedy at a “retirement community” here in the Columbus, Ohio area. I usually arrive twenty to thirty minutes early so I can check out the room and set up my sound system. This also allows me the luxury of seeing audience members arrive for the show. In these smaller venues, I like to acknowledge each person’s arrival and get to know them a little.
The first surprise occurred upon my arrival, when I realized the venue was really more of a nursing home than a retirement center. That’s fine. Everyone deserves entertainment. Then, after welcoming several early arrivals to the show, and not getting a response, my point of contact explained that most of the residents were deaf. Fortunately, I was prepared. I don’t usually do this, but, I had brought along some comedy magic tricks and pencil balloons from my days as a clown. Somebody must be looking out for me because I had never brought these items to a stand-up comedy show before. Anyway, I ended up doing a “variety show” that included the comedy magic, some of the stand-up comedy (with the aid of an interpreter), and an assortment of balloon animals, flowers, etc. And a great time was had by all.
Why have I told you this story? Because it demonstrates that a little curiosity, followed by the right preparation, goes a long way in this business. Asking the right questions, when booking a performance, can help you know and address the needs of your audience (no two are alike), and enable them to thoroughly enjoy your show. The client will be pleased because they will get the most bang for their entertainment buck.
This performance was a wake-up call. I have gotten back to basics. When scheduling a performance, I now use a booking sheet that prompts me to ask certain questions (size and type of venue, size of audience. average age, energy level, any hearing or sight impairments of other issues that would impact their enjoyment of the show). Unless you work extremely clean at all times, you wouldn’t do your comedy club show, word for word, at a church or corporate gig. But, what if you arrive at a venue, expecting to perform your current stand-up material, and the place is surrounded by school buses? Asking the right questions, in advance, will keep you properly prepared and looking professional.
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 MoreWhat will next year bring?
With eighteen days left in the year, many people’s thoughts turn to the next one. New year’s resolutions, new calenders, new day book schedules, and new corporate, family and personal mission statements abound. In the midst of a difficult economy and an increasingly mobile society, so many of us are questioning where we are and where we are going (physically, financially, spiritually) The short-term questions is, “What will next year bring?” We ask ourselves, and, perhaps, the God of our understanding, a myriad of questions regarding the year 2012 such as: Will I get married? Will I stay married? Will I have a child? Will I still have my job? Will I be down-sized? Will I get a promotion? Will I get a raise? Will I get a better job? Is this the time to make a move? Should I start my own business or hold on to the “security” (or the illusion thereof) of my day job?
So many questions to ponder. Obviously, I cannot speak for others, only for myself. However, I would invite any reader to pass along her or his personal and professional plans for next year and I will be happy to mention them in future posts. As for me, I will be taking a four month sabbatical from stage performing in order to immerse myself in the creative process. I will be writing new material for use in numerous comedic genre. From stand-up comedy to prop comedy (new material in more ways than one) to comedy magic (more amusing than amazing) to comedic voices and humorous song parodies (my guitar lessons commence is just forty-four hours), it will all be new, original material.
My plan is to re-emerge, onstage, in late April or early May of 2012 with a new and completely comedy variety show composed of original stand-up comedy material, brand new comedic voices and impressions, newly written comedic song parody lyrics (fueled by inspiration from my guitar lessons). Tomorrow, I will elaborate on my plans for 2012 regarding the locations and venues in which I will be entertaining.
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Oh to be noticed, liked, booked, re-liked, and, rebooked
Have you ever wondered if you were invisible? Were you the middle child in your family, working hard to do all the right things and nobody even noticed? Are you the person, at work, who does all the jobs that no one wants to do, while you watch everyone else get promoted? As former president Bill Clinton was found of saying, “I feel your pain.” I have two older brothers and two younger sisters. I think my middle child experiences must have been preparation for pursuing a career as a self-employed, comedy variety artist. No matter what I do (stand-up comedy, storytelling, sketch comedy,comedy magic, physical comedy, prop comedy pantomime, comedic voices, humorous song parodies, and one man comedy variety shows) or how hard I work at it (hundreds of hours writing and rehearsing original material) no one (at least not anyone in a position to book me) seems to notice.
I have tried “old school” marketing strategies such as putting posters in store and restaurant windows. But, alas, with all of the cell phones, iphones, ipads, kindles and other toys of modern technology, nobody looks up anymore. I have sent out literally hundreds of promotional packages (which are apparently being used as doorstops and coasters) to comedy clubs (don’t get me started on their so-called “bringer shows”) talent agents, hotels, casinos, cruise lines, event planners, resorts, and corporations. Given the pace of business today, I have to wonder how many people can allow themselves the luxury of slowing down long enough to open the envelope, let alone study the material inside.
I have tried reaching out by means of today’s technology. I have a web site (and this is my 70th blog post), a Linkedin (I belong to over 30 networking groups) profile, a Facebook page, and a presence on Twitter. I have even posted a few “visual jokes” on YouTube. Even with all of that, I can’t seem to get arrested (not that it’s actually a goal of mine). And don’t get me started on the subject search engine optimization (aka SEO). With so many scam artists posing as legitimate SEO providers (my spam folder is full of them) these days, it’s nearly impossible to discern which companies offer a legal service that would actually bring my face and name in front of the right people.
I am beginning to feel like the proverbial needle in a haystack. And no one goes out to the barn anymore. It’s not enough to build a better mouse trap. How does one place the new, improved mouse trap in view of those who have mice in need of trapping. There have to be some ways of “getting the word out” that, as yet, haven’t occurred to me. If anyone can offer up advice on how to maneuver the long, tricky maze/hall of mirrors that it seems, one must pass through in order to be seen by potential clients (not to mention an actual audience), this frustrated entertainer would dearly love to hear from you. I would also love to hear from other performers who can relate to my experience. Until then, I will keep plugging away. The formula for success, it would seem, is talent plus hard work plus exposure plus luck plus endurance. And the greatest of these is endurance.
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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