10 Tricks To Get More From Your ComedyCaster Listing

Great, you’ve signed up to the site, you’ve created your own online comedy profile. Here are some tips to make sure you squeeze every last drop of usefulness out of it:

The Secret To Self-Promotion

1. Check out the competition. This applies not just to ComedyCaster but to any area of marketing. In this case have a look through the site and see which profiles you like. Define why you’re impressed. Then make sure you do the same things they did, but better if possible.

What You Need

2. Have a great photo. And if you haven’t got one already then make it head-and-shoulders to work best on this site, as the image space is quite small. Even if you’re a writer (never in-vision) and/or look like the back of a bus. If you’ve ever visited a property or dating site, or anything where someone is trying to get your attention, you know that to choose between viewing the details of two similar items, one with a photo and one without? Exactly – no contest. If you think a photo of you is irrelevant or will in some way work against you, then at least have an image of some sort – a logo or comedy picture – a blank space is just off-putting.

3. Get a video clip. Really important. If you’ve got a clip – on a DVD or your own website – but it isn’t on youtube or vimeo, then GET it on there so you can link to it on your ComedyCaster page. If you’ve only got audio then stick it up on youtube anyway with a nice picture. There are plenty of simple video creating tools, there’s even one that comes bundled with Windows – Movie Maker. You simply drag and drop the audio into it, and then add a picture (or several if you’re feeling adventurous) and voila you have something you can upload to youtube which can be linked to on your profile here. Writers, that includes you.

Work Backwards

4. In your description/biog/CV, start by mentioning what you are doing now. List your credits starting with the most recent work first and work backwards, don’t list them in the order they occurred. Then when an extract or snippet of your profile shows up – as it can in various places, eg Google searches – it doesn’t read like you haven’t worked for 10 years.

Don’t Be Shy

5. Tell everyone about your comedycaster profile, link to it on Facebook and Twitter.  Perhaps ask for feedback – it’s a great excuse to remind employers and agents you exist.

Be Thorough

6. Fill out as many fields as you can* where applicable. If you are a performer give the details of your appearance and skills. Employers, especially casting directors, may search for specifics – only Asian for example, or only in a certain height category etc – and if that’s you but you haven’t filled out those fields then your name won’t show up when they search with those words.

*Except for the phone contact fields: if you have only one contact number there’s no need to fill out all the other phone fields, it just looks messy. No one is going to think “they haven’t put a voiceovers number down, that must mean they won’t take voiceover work”. Keep it simple with just “For all enquiries”.

Get A Little Personal

7. Reviews are great but don’t make them the only thing you put in your main description. After all, no one is going to include a review that says anything less than “he/she is very funny” so they don’t really add much – the fact you have them is great, but it’s not a lot of info for the employer. Add a few details – when you started, where you grew up, or what you do well – something that will give them a hook to remember you by.

Get Serious

8. Fill out the fields seriously. Putting “war-mongering” or “plays Albanian nose-flute” (if untrue) in Skills does nothing and is a wasted opportunity. We already know you’re a comedian. The fields are a chance for you to be found for the extra things that you are/can do.

Be Specific

9. Accents. Don’t put “all” or “whatever you need” or anything vague like that. If you really can do an accent well, especially if you’re native, list it specifically. If a casting director needs someone with a Birmingham accent they will probably use the words “Birmingham”, “Brummie” or “Midlands” to search for it, so if it’s not listed in your accents field you won’t show up in those search results.

And finally…

10. Don’t lie. Employers’ time is valuable and if they allocate some to meeting you because you said you can do something you can’t then it’s guaranteed you will never be called in by them again.

Most of the above is simple common sense, but the more of these tips you follow, the greater your chances of getting work from this site. Your profile on ComedyCaster is a great resource for placing yourself firmly in the spotlight. Take advantage of it.

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How To Book A Comedian

When You Want To Hire A Comedy Performer For Your Event

Choose The Right Act:

If you haven’t already got a comedian in mind, or even if you have, it’s useful to consider the following before you make a booking:

• What sort of material will go down well? Are your audience easily shocked or are they up for more daring content? If you are unsure of an act’s suitability check out clips of their work on youtube or on their website.
• Location is not too much of an issue.  Comedy performers are used to travelling round the country (and abroad) for work, so don’t feel you are limited to considering only local acts, although an unusually long journey may command a higher fee and possibly accommodation.
• Think about the space for performance.  Will it work with the type of entertainment you have in mind? Single stand-ups are straightforward, but if you want to book a more physical act, or one that has multiple members, make sure you have adequate space, and the lighting and sound equipment to do so.
• If there is an option, try and avoid arranging the event for a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night.  These are the busiest nights of a performer’s week, the nights when they are likely to be already booked – often doing several gigs in one night – and so may be unavailable. If money is an issue then booking an act for a less busy week-night may also be less expensive.

Once you’ve chosen your act(s), whether you contact them directly, through their agent, or through a third party booking or speakers’ agency, it’s helpful if you can supply as much information as possible – timings, audience size, reason for event etc. Make sure you can speak to the comedian at some point beforehand, not just to their management, and let them have a contact number for you for any further questions.

What The Comedians Have To Say:

“It rarely works to book a comic you like and then ask them to do anything out of character, eg. “we love that routine, but could you tone the language down a bit?” They won’t, they’ll just feel nervous and swear anyway.” – Simon Evans

“Don’t ask them to turn up at 7.30 & then say,” we’ll start the show after the dinner, at about 10.30.”" – Jane Hill

“”Can you do an hour and a half after dinner” is usually a no-no. 30 minutes is more than adequate.” – Bennett Arron

“Don’t make the front row/table any more than 5 feet away from your comic. A gig is like a gynaecological examination – it’s all about intimacy. The physicality of a room is more important than people think. Also if your staff and clients have a modicum of respect for your “turn” then everyone will enjoy the show. Don’t be offended if your comedian declines to dine with you before the show, s/he’ll be nervous, trying to get their head together and in no mood for grub. Offer them a drink, tea, coffee, or booze and maybe a makeshift green room- this is what they’re used to. We’re animals of habit see” – Susan Murray

“Do not have a massive gap/dance floor between the comic and the audience.  Get the audience to face the stage. Get a decent PA.” – Mike Gunn

“Don’t have a disco, then stop the music and tell everyone to sit down and listen to the comedian. Do some research and make sure you book the right comic for your event. Don’t wait until the comic is about to go on to tell them it has to be a clean set. I agree with Mike about the seating, but don’t make it so close that your front row can vomit on the comic’s shoes.” - Angie McEvoy

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