Recording 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 MoreOh 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 MoreAm I a Stand-up Comedian or a Comedy Variety Artist?
Lately, I’ve been wondering what to call myself professionally, how to sum up the things I do onstage in some sort of title. Over the last twenty-five years, I have referred to myself as a clown (when I actually wore the make-up and performed mostly comedy magic, prop comedy, and vaudeville style physical comedy), a children’s entertainer (when I added balloon artistry and comedic dancing to my list of entertainment elements), a comedian (after I began to write perform stand-up comedy separate from the aforementioned comedy pieces), a family-style (sounds like a description of a quaint, little mom and pop restaurant that serves the world’s best roast beef and mashed potatoes) entertainer, then, finally as an entertainer.
The problem with calling myself an entertainer is it always leads to the obvious question, “What kind of entertainer are you?” Or worse, leaves the answer open to conjecture. The word “entertainer” may sound grand, but, it’s far to broad to really offer any insight into what I really do, which has changed many times and will continue to do so. All of the previous titles/occupations tend to “pigeon-hole” me as a “one trick pony” – - A specialty artist with only one talent to offer up to audiences and potential clients.
Recently, I seem to have stumbled upon the title, “Comedy Variety Artist.” That appears to describe most of what I do now. I say “now” because I have been working on some new presentation material that, while it has elements of humor, is much more in the area of educational humor or, even motivational humor. I also intend to write material that is not necessarily meant to be either performed or presented from a stage, but would be intended for publication in books and articles for magazines and newspapers, etc.
Maybe, I will start thinking of myself, and calling myself a humorous communicator. However, I don’t think even that will fully describe what I want (and believe I am called) to do. And, once again, it’s such a broad term that it leads to inevitable questions or assumptions.
The lesson here, I suppose, is not to be so concerned with what to call myself, but be open to all the ways in which I can positively impact others with my gift for seeing the world from a different point of view (observational humorist, perhaps?) than most of my peers here on Planet Earth. When we attach labels to our talents, we impose limitations on what others can expect from us. But, don’t we also impose those same limitations on what we can expect from ourselves? I will try to adhere to the immortal words of Dick Clark and “Keep an open mind and a closed refrigerator.”
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.
Read MoreA Comic Salute to Exercise
I decided to get back in shape (even though round is actually a shape) – - Because I got a letter from the Post Office – - Apparently, if I gain another 15 pounds – - I get my own zip code – - All comedy aside, being fat may look funny onstage, but, I’m not ready to be known as the “late comedian, Bob Simpson.” If I get to heavy for the stage, I’ll have to get a job writing for some other comic. And who wants to be a “Ghost Comedy Writer?”
So I joined a gym. I didn’t know if I would have the determination to work out consistently, but I figured I would still lose weight. Because I used my grocery money to pay for the gym membership. Besides, I want to remain a stand-up comedian. I’m not crazy about the prospect of being a “sit-down comedian.”
I had forgotten what an intimidating place a gym can be for a person in my kind of shape. It may sound self-deprecating, but, my appearance embodies the very definition of “physical comedy.” Maybe it’s Karma, but, I used to make fun of people who looked like this. During my first visit to the gym, this big, muscular person walked up to me and said, in a deep, husky voice, “Are you finished with that machine?” I said, “Y – Y-Yes – - – m-m-ma’am – - I-I-I- t’s a –l-l y-y-y-yours.” I didn’t want any trouble from her. She looked like she could have bench pressed an S.U.V. Then this big, muscular guy came over to me. The observational humorist in me wanted to ask if he had been using some of those anabolic hemorrhoids. He looked down at me and said, “Hey, you! I can lift 400 pounds over my head and hold it there for two full minutes. What can you do?” I said, “Well, I don’t like to brag. But, I can read. Then I learned about a completely different weight loss program It’s called Hospital food! Through a straw.
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