Comedy Tips August 13th 2021

How to graduate from New Talent/Bringer Shows-Part I

I am going to give you advice each month on how to advance your comedy career.

People always ask me how to move on from New Talent/Bringer Shows. Andy how do I get “guest” spots without having to bring people. They say “Andy I am ready; I want to audition!”

Firstly, you have to be consistently destroying every time you get on a stage. You can't just be funny and get laughs. You have to be Laugh out Loud Funny, bring the roof down funny - where your set is so strong people start talking about you at every show. You have to separate yourself from the hundreds of other very funny comics in the city who have been doing it for several years, have TV and other legit credits.

Secondly, you have to be grounded in reality. Meaning you have to be able to “honestly assess” how strong you truly are. Not what you want to believe, but how do others view you. Many young comics think that they are much stronger than they truly are. They have a few good sets and they jealously look at someone else and make an inaccurate analysis/conclusion that they are ready to audition. If they act on it and audition to early this can be a fatal mistake to one’s career. It can set back your career by a year or more. First impressions are last impressions.

 Thirdly, find a comic mentor . What I mean by that is to find an honest straight shooter experienced comic to be your mentor. It's crucial that you audition for clubs when you are ready and not when your friend from the open mic tells you they think you're ready. Most importantly the mentor needs to analyze your set and tell you if you are ready to audition for clubs. It’s also important to audition for the right clubs. Some clubs are more welcoming to younger comics than others you need to pick the right clubs. A good comic mentor/coach is invaluable because not only will he or she tell you if you are ready to audition, but they can also function as a “beginner agent” They can actually get you auditions at clubs! They can connect you to other producers, bookers etc. Most importantly you can actually open for them which can be a major career boost. Finally, they can connect you to agents, casting directors and managers when your truly ready. Nobody in this business makes it without some help. Comics who recognize this and are open to it, progress much faster. So go out there and find a comedy mentor.

Takeaway: You have to get so strong that people seek you out and regularly ask you to do guest spots their shows. Find a comedy mentor, it’s invaluable.