British Comedy Guide

At what point would you quit your day job?

So at what point . . . Well, you get the idea.

When you're making more money from writing than your current job? When you have a few sketches on telly - so you take a gamble and quit?

What would it take for YOU - yes YOU - to quite literally 'give up the day job'.

A bloody big lottery win!

Hmmm not sure, probably when I earned 10% more than my day job for 3 months.

What a boring answer.

A few sketches on the telly does not a rich man make!!

When I could just about live on what I make elsewhere.

Well I could become a tramp, a tramp who pays for his white lightning by writing skits. My God that's pretty much what I am, spare some change?

Quote: Griff @ February 19, 2008, 10:02 PM

GET A JOB YOU LAZY SMELLY BASTARD

Same to you freelance contractor.

That just means lazy bastard. Cash in hand, I'll bet!

Just one commissioning, that would do it for me.

Pah I get even less respect then I do from my fellow hobos. But seriously I'd need to feel secure for maybe 4-6 months before I jumped. Writing's fun, but when the director is a dick, and doesn't like your stuff....then that pretty scary if thats how you pay your way.

At the very least I would have to be a writer on a sketch show. I've been told that you won't make a fortune just freelancing as a sketch writer. You need to be part of a big sketch show.

If you get a hit sitcom then the bucks start rolling in.

Quote: Griff @ February 19, 2008, 10:04 PM

Dear Mr.Seefacts I was directing the tramp abuse at Mr.Sooty.

However I cannot deny that I too am a lazy bastard being as I spend all day writing shite on BSG at the moment.

I wish it was cash in hand, I really do.

What do you contract, on a freelance basis, Mr. Griff?

Quote: Winterlight @ February 19, 2008, 10:06 PM

At the very least I would have to be a writer on a sketch show. I've been told that you won't make a fortune just freelancing as a sketch writer. You need to be part of a big sketch show.

If you get a hit sitcom then the bucks start rolling in.

I don't think it's big bucks, not like in the US where they pay them what they deserve.

Makes think how much an uncertain financial time it must be being a writer. Would one nice earning sitcom series of six, say, every two years keep you in a nice house?

Quote: Griff @ February 19, 2008, 10:08 PM

it is a mixture of things. sometimes i do copywriting bollox, some times i do web bollox, and sometimes i do programming bollox.

i fervently wish it were something more interesting but life is cruel like that.

Copyrighting sounds good though. Unless it's about something REALLY boring.

Its an interesting question. I have pondered it a little of late as i have a very tedious job but i make well over 6 figures and just faff about all day. If i could morph into Ricky Gervais territory overnight i'd be happy but not sure about the rather more likely "few years of earning a pittance"!

Quote: M Lewis @ February 19, 2008, 10:11 PM

i make well over 6 figures and just faff about all day.

What?!!

Who are you? What do you do?!

That's serious cash!

He must work for camelot.

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