Are their guide lines for writing stand up material for other people? I typically write material for myself as if I were performing in a club. Is the same true for writing material that is intended to be sold? My goal at this point is to attempt to sell some of my writings to other stand up comedians.
Finding a standup who wants to buy your stuff is the challenge.
For the writing I do can be broken into 3 areas
1 new material that matches their style
2 standard gags that work#
3 Just sitting down and working through ideas/editing
But the foot in the door is the challenge
This is an example of the hurdles you may face:
Hiya Jimmy,
You don't know me but I am a fan. I have seen you a few times at the Edinburgh festival and I think you are very funny.
I am starting out as a stand-up and while writing some material I created a joke that I thought you might be able to make work.
I presume you write all your own material (?) so I will not ask to be a paid joke writer for your good self. Instead I am giving you this joke for free on the off chance I can one day see you tell it in some shape or form.
Anyways, here is the joke (in rough form) that I figured you could maybe make better and use:
Did you hear about the rastafarian baker who was unfortunate enough to see someone get killed?
He was a Jah Hovis Witness
- I hope you have a happy new year and continued success.
All the best,
- Bob Hicks
The reply that I recieved:
Dear Bob,
Thank you for your e-mail and I hope you have had a happy new year so far.
Unfortunately, we can not accept unsolicited material, so I will have to delete your e-mail on this occasion.
Best wishes for your future endeavors,
Megan
Megan Pugh | Chambers Management Ltd
39-41 Parker Street, London WC2B 5PQ
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 796 3588 Fax: +44 (0) 207 831 8598
http://www.chambersmgt.co.uk/
As has been said - it's the foot in the door.
I wrote to a certain comedian's agent informing them I had some ideal material for this comedian. I included a sample (which was a good sample and in the style of this comedian)
I got the standard rejection e mail.
But later, when I had sold some material to another comedian, I wrote to the agents again. This time, I told them of my sale to a rival and asked them how could they know they were not letting one of the best gag writers slip right through their fingers.
This time I got a personal e mail with dates to submit my stuff - and not to mention a massive pdf file with all their rules and regulations on submissions and confidentiality.
Have you approached the person that you want to write for in person? That might help. I've been asked to write for a pro comedian and it came about through us sitting and having a beer after a gig. I mentioned that I write topical material and he asked to hear some. He liked the stuff that I'd written and asked if I'd like to write for him. Obviously I can't mention who it is but he's a name I think you'd have heard of.
It's all abit random. Not least of all because having a writer is in some circles seen as a bit shameful |(f**k knows why it's not the same for singers). And secondly because most comics are looking more for an editor, sounding board than an actual writers.
And there are very few earning enough to be able to afford a writer.
So when you get there well done, it just takes a while.
It's true top comedians do not want to admit they use writers - but they do, they have to.
One TV slot and all their best gags are used up. (unless you are Peter Kay)
When they tour, they buy a whole new set or at least write and buy.
There is a market but it's a long road with lots of luck along the way
Thanks folks. As of now I have a couple of things written that would present well with someone who has the presence of Louis CK. I write in a story format and have been trying to polish and reword a few things here and there. I only started jotting down my thoughts a few weeks ago even though I have wanted to do it for years. I may even put doing an actual stand up set on my bucket list.
I really don't have many chances to meet comedians face to face because of the rural area I live in. I guess the email route will be a good starting place once I get something close to satisfactory. I'm still working on getting irony played in to my material.
Thanks for helping someone trying to learn.
Is there a general consensus on how a bit should be presented professionally in its written format? I freestyle and write whats in my head, in the same way I feel I would present it on stage.
At the risk of sounding harsh where have you trialled your stuff?
Free style stories doesn't sound great
Might I reccomend trying some stuFf with critique or other writers first
I actually haven't trialed it yet since I have only been writing this stuff down for about a week.
What exactly would be wrong with free styling on paper?
I have noticed that what I find to be funny may not exactly come off the same way to some one just reading it. I feel like, if I were presenting, the story would deliver a lot different. Delivery is a huge part of getting across, in my opinion anyway.
You only get one chance to make a first impression
You need to know you're funny not just think it and your ideas need to expressed in a clear manner to some one who doesn't know you
Ill have a look if you like
I have an experimental blog I started a couple weeks ago. I was an art student in college and never took any actual writing classes, which is why formatting is going to be slow to catch up on.
"You know who makes good first impressions......liars."
Daniel Tosh
Post a short sample here or in the 'critique' forum.
You will get an honest opinion and suggestions of which way to go.
Better us first than the man you want to pay you. 