So you have decided you want to spend the next decade of your life feeling over-worked, under-appreciated, and beside yourself. You have such a burning desire to do comedy that you can think of little else, and are willing to risk your emotional, financial, and physical well-being to do so. You are truly excited byRead more
Ever since Joe Rogan outed Carlos Mencia as a joke thief, the internet has been looking for their next victim. I am an outspoken critic of comedians (and civilians) who steal intellectual property and pass it off as their own. However, while joke thieves do exist and need to be dealt with accordingly (Like JoshRead more
I’ve previously written a tip about how to start an independent show. But just as important is how to run one. Here are a few tips that can help turn your show into the hottest thing in your comedy scene. The host should be one of the best comedians on the show. The host setsRead more
10. For everyone that turns you down, there is another booker that hasn’t seen you yet. 9. Rejection is part of the process. Losing teaches you how to win. 8. When someone turns you down, figure out why in order to prevent it in the future. 7. You never learn anything from a good show.Read more
Anyone on twitter has seen comedians play hashtag games. Many come from @Midnight, others come from promotional companies, and some are spontaneous. But all of them can help you as a comedian. Hashtag games help you sharpen your skills and get exposure, and I recommend you play them at least once a week, if notRead more
Many times, comedians get in their own way by worrying too much about external circumstances. So whether you use these as daily affirmations or just as motivation when you’re feeling doubt, these might help you deal with the sine curve of your career. You are the only thing in your way. The industry is notRead more
Like every other talent-based industry, there is no set pay scale for comedians. Your pay for club work depends largely on your ability to make money for that club. But there are generally accepted industry standards. Sometimes there are outliers – for instance, a small venue won’t have the budget of a bigger club. TheRead more
There are many schools of thought on what is appropriate to wear on stage – and the answer really depends on your act. Dave Chappelle should not dress the same as David Letterman because their acts are so different. But whatever your act is, you should be aware that your clothing makes a huge impressionRead more
More and more, I’ve been hearing comics crowing about how they get up every night of the week. In cities like New York and LA, it’s common to hear talk about doing 15-20 sets in a week. And my question is, so what? Don’t misunderstand – there is no substitute for stage time. You needRead more
Not everyone is going to like everything you say. If you like a sunny day, someone else likes the rain. If you like puppies, some one else is a cat person. When you take a stand, someone will disagree with it, always. And that’s okay. But let’s talk about you taking the RIGHT stand. ThisRead more