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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
Anyone ever take a full time plunge into it? I know that it take s a big commitment to do it full time. You pretty much have to pick a club and work there in some capacity. Promotions, selling tickets. Sam Kinnison was a doorman at The Comedy Store, Michael Finney used to shuttle visiting comics to and from airports and hotels in Phoenix.
I've done open mike nights, MC work, even got to do 10 minutes at the Improv in Arizona (I was horrible as expected). Never had the time to commit to a full time go until know. I think you need to be in L.A. or NYC to give it a proper go. Anyone ever make the attempt? Chris
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
You could have had a chance about 15 years ago. People just don't go out to see live comedy anymore. Most of the comedy clubs around here have closed down because of lack of audience. I did some open mike back then in an effort to become a funny magician, and I even made a few pay checks as a comic juggler/magician, but there are a lot of great comedians out of work.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
Al, when the great comedy explosion of the 1980's happened, clubs popped up everywhere and you could start a career getting booked. But, with just a handful of clubs left, that's why you have to work at them in some capacity. Inside, or outside selling tickets, etc. Not great work, but it can be a means to an end if you get stage time and build from there.
Chris
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Chris
I don't know where you are from, but the headliner in clubs around here get a little less than I get for one kids birthday party, and I can do several bday parties every weekend.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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LobowolfXXX Inner circle La Famiglia 1196 Posts |
You can still make a living doing it, but it's not the same as it was, for sure. I did it for about 5 years, not full-time. Got a decent amount of paid work, though, and had a lot of fun. As far as working on your act, aside from getting as much stage time as possible, I'd strongly recommend Judy Carter's book(s). Great stuff.
"Torture doesn't work" lol
Guess they forgot to tell Bill Buckley. "...as we reason and love, we are able to hope. And hope enables us to resist those things that would enslave us." |
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markmiller Special user 731 Posts |
Guys that come to LA or NYC to make it as stand-ups genrally are already somewhat accomplished and have developed an act elsewhere. LA and NYC clubs pay little or nothing, are considered showcases, and getting stage time is very competitive. Headliners earn at clubs outside LA and NYC, opening and middle acts are often locals. Easier to get stage time and develop material outside LA or NYC. Good to start where you are.
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BrianMillerMagic Inner circle CT 2050 Posts |
I work as a full time comedian and magician, and many of my friends are successful full time comedians. The difference is now that many full time comics make a bulk of their living in the college market, and augment it with comedy club bookings across the country.
If you're going to be a "comedy magician", by the by, the best way to learn is by taking the full plunge into stand-up without ever using magic as a crutch. Learn the art of stand-up comedy and then go back to magic and approach magic as though it were comedy. But that's a different discussion. |
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critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 2653 Posts |
My best friends wife quit her job as a college registrar to go comedy full time. She once beat me in a comedy contest.
She wasn't doing a ton of shows for the first couple of months but now she does between 2 and 4 shows a weekend for an average of $300 a show. She travels though. All of the comedians I know who make good money are on the road every week of the year. Work won't just come to you.
"The fool is one who doesn't know what you have just found out."
~Will Rogers |
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critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 2653 Posts |
Oh and one more thing, Ron White said in an interview that when he's home he does open mic night every night. Great habit to get into.
"The fool is one who doesn't know what you have just found out."
~Will Rogers |
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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-05-06 22:14, BrianMillerMagic wrote: That is great advice. |
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
Thanks everyone for taking the time to share your thoughts and advice. It's greatly appreciated!
Right after I got a lucky break to do the 10 minutes at the Tempe, Arizona Improv, my beloved Dad became gravely ill and all my attention turned towards his care. It's been sometime now, but I'm ready to take another go at it. Making money at it isn't an issue at this point, just the experience/thrill and how far I can go is what I'm looking for. Chris
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
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BrianMillerMagic Inner circle CT 2050 Posts |
If it's just the experience and thrill you're after, friggin go for it man! As much as I deeply care for the art of magic, there is no high like doing stand-up comedy. In the words of Colin Quinn: "Stand-up is the closest thing to justice."
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I was hoping someone who actually worked comedy clubs would post, but no such luck.
Comedy clubs have one goal in general and it is not comedy. It is to sell as many drinks as possible during the time which you are on stage. Not a bad thing to keep in mind. While the birthday party comparison may have some validity, I know of NO headliner working for a major room that makes so little. Regional one night rooms may pay that badly, but major rooms with actual comedians do not pay that badly. There are a couple of ways to go about it. If you want to hit major rooms, if you want to eventually headline, then yea big cities help because of the amount of time you can get per week. Contrary to what has been posted people still go to the Improv, Funny Bone, Punchline and many many other clubs throughout the country very regularly. While that may be the goal, it is obviously not where you start. In the begining it is all about stage time. It is about getting in front of as many audiences as you can and learning from them. The Judy Carter stuff is fantastic and she has live seminars which are also great. Contrary to what magicians and jugglers think, most of them are just not that funny and are just not suited for comedy club work. It takes quite a long time to learn how to keep people laughing for a full 50 minutes. Magic is secondary at comedy clubs. You have to spend time learning how to be funny. Years as a matter of fact.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Danny
Those that are working in the major comedy clubs usually have put years in at local clubs, and the major clubs only hire the cream of the crop.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 2653 Posts |
Most of the clubs around here will hire you even if you aren't funny. They just want the stage filled for the full time slot.
One of the funniest dudes I knew went through some hilarious material and then left the stage twenty minutes early, after being paid in advance. The owner called his manager irate. I was getting fairly serious about comedy and was doing it almost every night before I went back to school. Was a finalist in two comedy competitions and won one. Something else around here is that there is competition with the managers of the two biggest venues, Uncle D's and the other one. I forget the name. If you work for Chris at I forget the name then Don at Uncle D's will consider you a traitor and never hire you. I guess Chris bounced a bunch of checks to comics that Don managed and Don didn't take kindly to Chris not taking kindly. So in short, AVOID THE POLITICS! This rule is not just for comedy venues either.
"The fool is one who doesn't know what you have just found out."
~Will Rogers |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-05-07 18:27, Al Angello wrote: This is the time necessary to become funny Al. It is what I was talking about. You don't just walk in and think you will be paid top dollar without proving yourself.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
My only point is that it is a rough business, and a lot of real funny comedians are out of work today.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Any busiess is rough man. I mean magicians go out and buy some birthday party tricks and suddenly they think they are in show biz. I mean to be a good magician takes years and years of practice as well. Or at least it should in theory.
Here is the thing. I mean it with all due respect to everyone involved. If you want to be a comedy club magician, you have to be great at both of the art forms and manage to blend them together. This takes very hard work and dedication. It does not happen overnight, and if money is your only motivation then yea go the birthday party route. Sure there are funny comedians out of work, there are great magicians out of work and fantastic dancers out of work. So what? The thing that Judy will help you with also is that once you actually have an act that can make some money, is the business end of it. I know many funny comics out of work simply because of off stage issues. So find an open mic night, work through the Judy Carter information and find out what is funny and WHY it is funny. Then learn to blend it into your magic. Instead of just buying a trick on the comedy magic shelf and claiming the act is "laugh out loud funny". Take the time and learn another craft.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
Danny, thanks for your expertise and the Judy Carter info!
Here's her website if anyone else is interested: http://www.comedyworkshops.com Chris
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
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Close.Up.Dave Inner circle Behind you! 2956 Posts |
Patton Oswalt's thoughts on magicians in comedy clubs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjvxnHTc4QA |
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