A Fourth Alternative to Comedy Club “Pay to Play” and “Bringer” Shows
Greetings, my fellow stand-up comedians, improvisation performers, comedy magicians and other persons of infinite jest. Wow! Where in the world have I been? My last post was eight days ago. The past week has been (Never say, “has been” to someone my age) an insanely busy one. More about that later. I do remember that our recent theme has been looking for alternatives to comedy club owners and managers who employ “pay to play” (i. e. five bucks to get on stage) and “bringer shows” (bring at least five friends for three to five minutes of stage time). The options I have offered so far include: (1) Performing at retirement centers and senior centers where you can get thirty to sixty minutes of stage time per gig (and, possibly, getting paid rather than paying to perform), Renting your own venues and putting on your own shows, and using atmosphere performing (also known as “table hopping” or “strolling entertainment”) as a means of getting paid to showcase your ability and availability to perform on stage.
Today, Let’s focus on the comedy clubs who do not charge a fee for stage time or expect you to pimp out five or six of your friends (So the club owner or manager doesn’t have to pay for advertising) in order to get a few minutes of stage time. In a recent email from Dave Schwensen, Author of several very helpful books including “How To Be A Working Comic” (I have a signed copy – More on that later), I learned of a very benevolent individual, named Slava Yaryshkin (I think he might be Irish – lol), who is trying to help us all get more stage time. Slava is endeavoring to list all open mics, both music and comedy, in the United States, on his web site at www.badslava.com. This free tool is a definite “must use” for any comedian, singer, or band seeking an audience to perform for. I have already found eleven “open mic” opportunities (and spoken to six people to confirm days and times), in Columbus, Ohio, that was not aware of. Thank you, Slava, for your willingness to share the results of your hard work. And, thank you, Dave for passing on this wonderful resource. Please note, this effort of Slava’s is a work in progress. You should check the site, www.badslava.com, at least weekly for updates in your area. By my count, we now have least four alternatives (and numerous options within each alternative)
to the “pay to play” and “bringer show” comedy clubs. So, if you’re not out there performing your comedy routines on a regular basis, whose fault is it?
Now, for the reason (One of them, anyway) I have been too busy to write a blog post since last Wednesday. I spent last Saturday attending a Stand-up Comedy Workshop (always keep learning) at the Improv Comedy Club in Cleveland, Ohio (A 140 mile drive from Columbus, but, well worth the trip). The instructor, Dave Schwensen, an author, comedian, speaker, and a long-time comedy club manager (Dave is the only person who has managed the Los Angeles Improv, the New York Improv, and now, the Cleveland Improv) is able to approach the business both the comic’s and the comedy booker’s points of view. For someone who has worked with many of the comedy greats of our generation (Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Ray Ramano, etc), Dave is very down to earth and approachable (He even signed my copy of “How To Be A Working Comic”).
Dave limits size of the twelve hour (Noon to 4:00 p.m. for three Saturdays) workshop to ten people, in order to provide the perfect mix of individual and collective instruction. My classmates include a magistrate, a truck driver, a college student, a former college activities director, a snow removal specialist, and a former stripper turned born-again Christian (The Lord really does work in mysterious ways).
Last Saturday, we were each paired with another group member for some onstage improvisation a la “Whose Line is it Anyway?” It was a lot of fun and a fantastic way for the beginners (not the grizzly, old dudes, such as yours truly) to ease into their first time on stage. Then we each had about ten minutes on stage to try out some of our original comedy material in front of Dave and the group. I don’t know why, but, I’m always more nervous with a small group than with a large crowd. But, once I got past the first couples of jokes, it was like shaking hands with an old friend. There is nothing, in the world, like making people laugh. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The next two Saturdays will consist of more time, on stage, trying out material before a captive audience of Dave and the other comedians. Then, the Wednesday after the last Saturday (January 25th at 7:30 p.pm.), we’ll be performing our routines in front of a live audience (I wanted a “dead audience” but we weren’t able to dig one up) at the Cleveland Improv. If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll come out and see us. While I have given numerous performances at private, corporate, and civic events, I’m a bit new to the comedy club scene. I’m really looking forward it. But, for now, our homework is to write new stand-up comedy material and, then, to write, write, and write some more. Hence, the reason it has been eight days since my last post.
Read MoreUnique 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 MoreComedians and other performers,Boycott Comedy Clubs that employ pay to play and bringer shows.
Once again (this time as a discussion topic on the Humorous Speakers’ Bureau via “Linkedin”, we hear and read the sad refrain about comedy club owners and managers who require budding comics to pay for stage time and bring five to ten friends to the club in order to get a few minutes on stage. Even my local (Columbus, Ohio) “Funny Bone” Comedy Club expects each open mic humorists to pay a $5.00 cover and bring a minimum of five friends who also have to pay a $5.00 cover as well as order drinks ($3.00 for half a can of soda) and food (if you want to call that food). That’s about $100 for 5 minutes of stage time ($20.00 per minute or $1,200.00 per hour)? Do they really think we believe their rent is actually $43,830.00 ($1,200.00 per hour multiplied by 24 hours in a day multiplied by 365.25 days in a year divided by 12) per month? And, even if their rent were really that unbelievable amount, do they seriously expect beginning comedians and their friends to foot the entire bill?
What do I do about the pay to play/bringer policy at my local Funny Bone Comedy Club? I don’t perform at the Columbus Funny Bone Comedy Club. I honestly don’t believe any of my body parts will fall off if I never perform stand-up comedy at the local Funny Bone Comedy Club (So far, so good). I’m sure there are many successful comedians who once never paid to perform their comedy act at a Funny Bone comedy Club or any other pay to pay comedy club or bringer show comedy club. I, personally, would much rather work out my new comedy material at a retirement center where I can get 30-45 minutes and I don’t have to pimp out my friends, and sometimes I can even get paid.
I have one question for all of you who are complaining (and rightfully so) about the unfair policies of these comedy clubs. What are you going to do about it? ”What can we do about it?” I hear you asking. Well, if you’re too young to remember the fifties and sixties (and most of you are), ask your parents or grandparents about the anti-war protests, boycotts, “sit-ins” and the civil rights marches. I’m guessing some of your parents and grandparents even took part in these historic, world changing events. What about the bus boycott (Ever heard of Rosa Parks?) in Montgomery, Alabama in 1957? The owners of the bus company were forced to end their racist “blacks in the back of the bus” policy or face bankruptcy. This was a peaceful demonstration that brought about real, permanent change.
Every year we observe Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday by not going to work. Why don’t we honor his spirit by actually doing something? By standing up to injustice and saying, “Hell no! We won’t take it any more!” Why don’t we all band together? Let’s start by boycotting all of those comedy clubs that have “pay to play” and “bringer show” policies. And let’s tell all of our friends, relatives, and fellow entertainers to boycott them, as well. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “Agitate, old lions!”
Then, save up all of your pay to play money for a month or so, pool your resources and rent a hall at a local fraternal lodge (Elks, Moose, Eagles, American Legion, etc.), or a small, modestly priced, local theater. I know some of you have theater experience from your high school or college days. It’s time you put it to work again. If you’re not too proud to set up chairs and clean up afterward, you could even earn some money instead of paying money to comedy club owners or managers. Charge a small admission fee such as $5.00 and split the profits. Each comedian will get more than five minutes on stage and, quite possibly, make a few dollars on the deal. If the comedy club owners and managers don’t see the error of their way, keep renting out your own entertainment venues and staging your own shows. You’ll probably come to realize you didn’t need those comedy clubs, after all. And those comedy club owners and managers will realize they need you more than you need them. I’m certain Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks will be looking down and smiling.
I already boycott comedy clubs who use these policies. Beginning in the new year, I will be renting entertainment venues and staging my own shows. If anyone in Central Ohio (or anywhere else) wants to join me, you can contact me via my web site.
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Where 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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Stop and smell the roses – - and enjoy the jokes, too – - Live, love, laugh – - Then do it all over again.
In the words of comedian Lewis Black, “We don’t celebrate holidays anymore. We just seem to enjoy announcing their arrival.” Lewis has a point. Some of the stores in my area (Columbus, Ohio) had some of their employees setting up Christmas displays at the same time the store’s other employees were putting away the Halloween display. So much for Thanksgiving! And the retail stores are not alone in their zeal to herald the coming of each new holiday without allowing time to properly observe the previous one. From restaurants to car dealerships, every business outlet seems to be in an all-fired hurry to ring in the next holiday with an enormous “deal of the century” sale.
And, apparently, entertainers are no more immune to this holiday heralding hysteria than retailers. I say this because the Linkedin group for stand-up comedians’ question of the week is, “What are your career goals for the coming new year?” Well, in the spirit of “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” I have been considering what I would like to accomplish both personally and in the comedy business during the year 2012. Not unlike a lot of people, I would love to lose some weight (about 40 pounds) next year. Toward that end, I have pledged to eat less and exercise more during 2012. I would also like for music to be a bigger part of my personal and professional life. So I have purchased a guitar and will be starting lessons soon. My hope is to write and perform comedic song parodies (always giving credit to the writer of the original lyrics). I would also like to travel more. At this writing, I am completing my passport application with the intention of visiting Costa Rica next summer. And, like most people these days, I wouldn’t mind earning a few more of those little green pieces of paper printed by the Treasury Department (to help pay for the guitar lessons and the traveling).
Mostly, I have to say, I would like to make more people laugh and make people laugh more. This will mean writing and performing a lot of new material, which I really enjoy and look forward to. And, I would like to spend more time laughing (and not just at myself).
Here’s to the coming year, and surviving the last thirty-nine days of this one.
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