Expect the Unexpected
If I have learned anything in my twenty-six years as a comedy entertainer it is “always be ready for change.” As in most businesses, change is the only constant. Clients, venues, travel schedules, road conditions, and audiences (age, size, attitude) are as unpredictable as the weather. The venues and crowds of my last two performances were a reminder of this truism. While both venues were advertised as Retirement Communities, the first turned out to be a nursing home and the second was a trailer park which had residents of all ages, except retirement age.
Upon arriving at the first location, I was directed to the dining room to prepare for my show. While I was setting up my sound system, the staff began bringing in the residents in for the show. As is my custom, I greeted the residents as they arrived. After not receiving a response from the first several people I spoke to, I was told this was a facility for elderly, deaf people. After twenty-six years and over 4,000 performances, this was definitely a first. I’m still not sure why, but I had brought along a few visual effect routines that I employ when I’m booked as a comedy magician. This bought some time until an interpreter was provided to translate the actual “stand-up comedy.” While a few things may have been “lost in translation”, overall audience reaction was very good.
At the second show, the audience turned out to be more children than adults. This doesn’t usually happen to stand-up comedians. Since I always work clean (I don’t filter when writing material, but, so far, I have only performed the clean stuff in public), that part was okay. I had brought along my guitar, so I strummed and sang a few comedy songs I had written. They were very well received. Then I performed the stand-up material I thought the kids would relate to along with some comedy magic routines I knew they would love (especially the “volunteer participation” bits). I also balanced an apple (a balloon apple, that is) on my nose. No one, including the client, seemed to mind seeing a comedy variety act in lieu of straight stand-up. A good time was had by all.
What is the lesson here? The same as the Boy Scout Motto I learned many years ago, “Be prepared.” No matter what you do in life, change is always out watching and waiting to pounce. Always remember that and “when you least expect it – - expect it.”
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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 MoreFree Agency – - The Art of Creating Your Own Performance and Recording Opportunities
Greetings! My talented colleagues in the live entertainment business: during this week’s blog posts, I have offered two alternatives to paying comedy (and music, poetry, etc.) clubs for stage time (and pimping out your friends to pack the house for the club owner/managers) and/or waiting for bookers (for cruise ships, night clubs, lounges, hotels, casinos, etc.) to respond to your promotional packet and, maybe, give you an opportunity to perform and earn some money. So far, I have suggested 1) Performing at retirement centers (for free or for a small fee) in order to get plenty of stage time (to work on your material and timing), and 2) Getting together with other entertainers and offering to perform comedy showcases or variety shows for restaurants, bars, etc. on their slow nights.
Today, I have a third alternative to share with you. I call this option “Free agency.” This option involves working together with your fellow performers (stand-up comedians, jugglers, Illusionists, stage hypnotists, mimes, comedy magicians, ventriloquists, singers, musicians, pantomime artists, etc.) to rent out venues and produce your own live, stage shows. A lot of fraternal/service organizations have halls which are available for rent, often at a reasonable rate. The halls have decent acoustics (they’re often rented by country and rock bands). If the lodge has a bar and the organization is willing to help advertise the show, you will probably get some of the lodge “regulars” to attend the performance. If the lodge has a kitchen and a ladies’ auxiliary (forgive my sexism), you may also be able to offer dinner and a show to your audience and share the proceeds with the lodge.
You and your fellow entertainers will need to be willing to share expenses (hall rental, advertising), setting up (chairs, tables, etc.) and putting away down chores, and the proceeds. As I mentioned in yesterdays blog post, you can also take turns being the opening act, master of ceremonies, middle act, and feature act. You could also rotate set-up and tear down assignments. This way, the same people aren’t always lumbered with the most difficult and most boring grunt work.
Once you and your friends have made some money, you can rent an actual theater and record a live performance. Then you will have a CD or DVD to sell at future performances and on your respective web sites.
I will be implementing this plan in the Columbus, Ohio area along with several performers I have met through meetup.org. Anyone else who would like to join us, please contact me by telephone at 614-891-7393 or send me an email via this web site.
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Bringing 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 MoreWhy Be Normal, If You Can Be Frannie Sheridan?
If you’re anywhere near West Palm Beach, Florida next Saturday (November12,2012) night, or on the second Saturday night of any month, you simply must go and see Frannie Sheridan’s delightfully original comedy performance at Harold’s Lounge. Even if you’re not anywhere near West Palm Beach, this act is worth traveling to see. Frannie’s show starts at 8:30 pm, but you’ll probably still be laughing at mid-night. After seeing some of her clips on YouTube, my wife and I want to go see Frannie and we live in Ohio. She is really THAT funny. Watching Frannie Sheridan might remind you of Mae West, Gracie Allen, Bette Middler, or even Marilyn Monroe. But, this insanely hilarious woman is a true original. And so is her material. Trust me, you won’t hear anything you’ve ever heard (or even allowed yourself to think) before.
From stand-up to to storytelling, impressions, Frannie does it all, and makes it look easy. Her bit about her stripper cousin who became a nun is one of those jokes you’ll be texting to all of your friends. But, remember, it’s a Frannie Sheridan original. While watching her critique of gay, male waiters, I was laughing so hard that I couldn’t breathe for five minutes.
I predict Frannie Sheridan’s career will move in one of three possible directions. She may get her own sit-com. She may be cast in movies, which are in dire need of a seriously funny leading lady such as Frannie. Or, she may get put away because her humor is too creative for normal people to take in. As Frannie, herself says, “I tried to be normal, but IT WAS TAKEN.
I don’t know if she is bound for Hollywood or the Asylum for the Criminally Hysterical (Maybe it will be called the Waldorf Hysteria). What I do know is this. We owe it to ourselves to see this delightfully disturbed, comedic genius in person
One Very Funny Lady
while she’s still allowed to walk around free. I would best describe Frannie Sheridan’s act by saying, “I’m exactly sure what she does, but she does it very, very well.
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