Have you tried hooking up with Artists Anonymous?
Audio podcast tops 1 million downloads per month Page 3
I've just joined Artists Anonymous - I'm a bit shy (I know!) but will aim for the phonix bar for their next meet up.
Are you a member? Did they help you?
Mark P - what venue would you suggest I go for? Which are the easy good venues? Do these venues have regular show audiences that can be tapped into? 'Friends of the Theatre'.
Quote: Vroomboo @ December 20 2010, 8:33 PM GMTMark P - what venue would you suggest I go for? Which are the easy good venues? Do these venues have regular show audiences that can be tapped into? 'Friends of the Theatre'.
What's your budget -how big an audience are you going for? Is it an event or a showcase for your talents are the questions to address first. It's a few years since I staged anything, but The Arts Theatre (might have got that wrong), The Drill Hall, the Actors Centre all spring to mind, and one I used to use at Swiss Cottage which I can't remember the name of either was very good.
Budget - As little as possible.
You said getting a venue is easy.... if you've got money, publicity, technician... so easy if you're rich and don't have a job/gigs.
My audience listen on their commute to work or when the kids have gone to bed. Or live abroad. They arn't London theatre go'ers.
So I'm only putting a show on so the Agents can see me?
Agents/Producers plugging in their earphones and listening to an mp3 isn't what they can deal with?
I've done the hard work - I've found an audience; a black, asian, female, white, working, regular people, male 16yr-60yr old audience.... but to "really make it" my comedy must appeal to the predominantly young white drunks that go to live comedy shows in London and then if I'm lucky... an agent or producer may show up - to tell me why I'm wrong??
I still don't get a sense of what you want to achieve career wise. And that is the first thing an agent is going to want to know. The hard work isn't just about getting an audience it is about getting them to pay for it. If you are talking about a show that runs night after night and for a long run then you are right - it is not so easy or so cheap. But for a one off event for industry professionals it can be both of those things. There are even things running you don't have to pay for - like The Sitcommision.
Why do Stand-Up? Why gig around the country making people laugh?
I think it's to be discovered, get an agent, appear on Qi, get a radio show on a major channel or get a Sitcom..... Get paid a good income for making millions laugh and subsequently do more comedy and have more exciting creative adventures.
Like thousands of comics I've gigged around the UK making audiences laugh. I had sell out shows in Edinburgh. I've performed in America with some of the best and got audiences laughing. I've even had sell out London shows (yes - I've booked venues/advertising). I improvise, write and perform.
Then I began sitting with my buddy and she recorded our conversations. I've always been able to make people laugh - guarantee!! - during conversations.. so my American friend and I laughed. She then posted it on her blog. First I was approached by Mevio who got us to sign a contract for hosting our 'conversations', then we hit Number 1 in iTunes... I've had fanmail from around the world and now we have sponsors and 1 million downloads per month...
If that success happened to Dudley Moore and Peter Cook's album I suspect they'd have been offered TV, Films, etc etc. However I'm invisible by our indusry. I'm a British Female comic... so I'm telling people now:0)
Well if you want to do a sitcom like I said, check out the Sitcom Mission and the BBC writersroom - they have initiatives. As to the conversations and the MP3 question, it takes too long to get to the comedy in the current form. Why not edit some of your material and present that to agents/producers rather than in the form it is in now. Like a showreel. Only a tellreel I guess.
Do you have a website?
Ok - Sitcom Mission - will give it a bash:0)
Vroomboo - I'm not sure I find your Ricky Gervais-esque self-biggy-uppery quite refreshing or a tad annoying. Anyway, mustn't dwell.
You're unlikely to get an agent without money coming in, but I wouldn't worry about that yet anyway. People always think getting an agent is the start of the bigtime with work offers flowing in but it ain't like that at all. Agents are primarily there to make sure you don't get ripped off in contracts etc. I mean you do get to hear about jobs but you're by no means in like Flynn even if your agent is a high-profile one.
You mentioned Hat Trick, BBC et al saying they won't consider your stuff without talent attached... are you sure you're understanding what they're saying correctly? If the BBC or Indies only ever took on ideas that had a celebrity attached from the beginning, nothing would ever get made. What can be often helpful though, is if you can approach companies with an idea and say "This is my new sitcom, it'd be perfect for Alan Davies" or whoever. I had a sitcom optioned by the BBC last year with this approach and there wasn't even a working script, just a good idea.
So yes, it is true that producers are always on the lookout for talent-led stuff but it certainly doesn't preclude the possibility of just getting through with a funny script.
You're obviously hitting the mark with your podcasts but if I could offer one bit of advice to you, as a performer you should get more stuff filmed and put up on YouTube (If you haven't already that is). An easy link to click on is one of the fastest (and often most successful) ways to get you noticed by the big boys. You have a huge podcast following. How about filming it and doing a vodcast?
Good luck in everything 
Hey,
Now you're getting to the heart of the matter!
The Podcast was a FLUKE! My American friend has no interest in being a performer. She's a keen writer. She's anonymous.
I on the other hand am very happy to get my mush out there.
Secondly - I'm in the 'Chris Moyles' attractive category. However my voice makes people build a likeable image of me - to them. To avoid disappointment I do describe myself as 20 stone and 6ft4. Oddly enough fans are still disappointed that I'm shorter and thinner:0)
Thirdly - I really can't get a solid handle on why people are listening in their millions and writing to me? I'm funny - but I don't crack jokes...I tell true stories and talk about insights I have. I'm funny because I find life funny? My friends and lots of people make me laugh. I talk - people laugh...
That's why I need a genius comic Producer to help me. Say a 'Stephen Merchant' style bod. :0))
Ricky Gervais..... hey - hate me because I'm like him... a cheery Christmas insult/honour??:0)
Quote: Vroomboo @ December 21 2010, 6:41 PM GMTHey,
Now you're getting to the heart of the matter!
The Podcast was a FLUKE! My American friend has no interest in being a performer. She's a keen writer. She's anonymous.
I on the other hand am very happy to get my mush out there.
Secondly - I'm in the 'Chris Moyles' attractive category. However my voice makes people build a likeable image of me - to them. To avoid disappointment I do describe myself as 20 stone and 6ft4. Oddly enough fans are still disappointed that I'm shorter and thinner:0)
Thirdly - I really can't get a solid handle on why people are listening in their millions and writing to me? I'm funny - but I don't crack jokes...I tell true stories and talk about insights I have. I'm funny because I find life funny? My friends and lots of people make me laugh. I talk - people laugh...
That's why I need a genius comic Producer to help me. Say a 'Stephen Merchant' style bod. :0))
Ricky Gervais..... hey - hate me because I'm like him... a cheery Christmas insult/honour??:0)
I wouldn't say having a shy talented writer is a fluke. Us shyer writers may read a bit and take in more info than the more outgoing types... She might be more talented-so there!
Also I think Ricky Gervais has some elements of shyness-David Brent is a character, after all.
I completely agree - exciting and interesting doesn't have to come in a loud and brash personality!
I obviously like my friend.... she's my friend first and foremost. Her Job, Hobby, Passions make her more interesting and fascinating to me - not less.
She's got a heart of gold - that's her biggest asset. Kind and incredibly smart - I'm very lucky having such a top talented friend!
The fluke is that a million people a month also think our conversation is interesting. That we've created a popular show - that appeals beyond our demographic, cultural connections and our continents!!?? Two women nattering gets fan mail and sponsorship??
I'm the comedy one in this double-act. I'm appealing to this community to grow on this unique British success. Hungry for advice from y'all!
I want to be the Donald Trump or Susan Boyle of British Comedy. Ok:0)
I am a contender.
:0)
Hi Vroomboo
Apologies if I've misread this but I think the reason you're posting here is so some Cowell-type mentor-figure will read it, see some vague 'spark' in you and sweep you away to fame and fortune and comedy glory?
If so I think you've got the wrong site. Those kinds of people do lurk on the forums occasionally, but they don't do the 'sweeping away...fame and glory...' thing, otherwise I'd have been on the telly loads by now - no-one has a vaguer spark than me.
If you've got 30,000 regular listeners you've got a huge captive audience. Transcribe (or get someone to transcribe) your blogs, then with some prudent editing you could have a book - with 30,000 likely buyers! I can't believe an agent wouldn't want a cut of that. This could be the springboard that leads to other opprtunities for your comic stuff.
Oh, and the BBC and Hattrick asked you for scripts?
They? Asked?? You???
If you didn't give them something to blow them away then...D'oh!