March 1, 2010

Greetings Funny Folks:

These are interesting and difficult times for anyone in the recording/entertainment industry, especially comedy. In a culture that is in more and more need for a good laugh -- we are scrambling through an economy that makes “bringing” the laughs more and more difficult.

I have been in this field for 15 years.  For the last 6 or 7 years, I have been primarily a “touring artist.”  Growing from love offering dates (for club comics, that’s a glorified: tip jar) to ticketed concerts – I have been a part of just about every scenario there is when it comes to “getting work.”  Do you want to know my secret? Want to know the 3 little things no comic should leave home without:  Flexibility, Responsibility and Availability. 

FLEXIBILITY.    The art of comedy is about the give and take between the artist and the audience.  In the business of comedy it is very much the same principle– being pliable.  In the early days, I learned quickly that there was much more “love” than offering.  And although, I remain ministry minded I began to understand that stewardship and accountability meant I had to believe that I had some value and that it was okay to express that value.  So, we began to ask for $500 or a love offering -- whichever was greater. There were no ticket sales because I was barely worth $500. and the value we considered was gas in the car, insurance, babysitter. My husband and I decided $500 would allow us to know what our potential income would be after the hard cost of simply leaving the house.  Many times the offering was barely $500. Once in awhile the crowd was bigger and the love offering was larger than we ever dreamed. (We could actually stop at Sonic on the way home!) I won’t bore you with the histrionics of my career – but, let’s just say a decade later I have employees making more than I’ve ever made from a love offering!

In this economy, “deals” are structured away from the norm almost daily. If you really want to work, you must learn to be flexible. (Unless you’re Sting, then you can set your price or just stay home in your castle!) I have had some incredible promoters in my career.  Many of them took a chance on this new comic, put my name on a ticket and we held our breath hoping their investment paid off. Most often we were wonderfully rewarded – some days I hung my head embarrassingly.  Most of them caught a glimpse of something we could build together and we did. But when most concerts are billed with 3 and 4 of the biggest recording artist at one concert – you know the “buying” public is needing more and more incentive to spend their discretionary dollars. If you are a ticketed artist: you may have to give and take by lowering the risk for the promoter/church but ask for a larger percentage at the end of the night. Consider  packaging yourself with other comics to increase the public interest.  If you are not a ticketed artists (and many concerts I am not) in this economy – you may have to drive more and fly less.  You may have to ask for $100 plus the love offering or ask the church to buy 25 pieces of product to give away or leave in their library, etc. Creativity not only works on stage.  It works in business. Be flexible.

RESPONSIBILITY.     The Bible says, “If you’re a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don’t call your wages a gift.” (Romans 4:4 Msg)  That’s a great formula for anyone, isn’t it?

Hard worker: Be willing to work hard, yes – you!  There are no divas (or divos for men).  No matter if it’s tickets, offering – share in the responsibility to get people to the concert. Twitter it, Facebook it, call your cousins, engage your database, get on the radio. Be a partner in the process. 

Good job: BE FUNNY. Period. Don’t grab jokes off the internet. Don’t rely on God’s anointing to bail you out of being unprepared. “Study to show thyself approved” comes to mind! You’re a comedian - BE FUNNY.

Deserve your pay: Find value and worth in who you are and what you do. (If you cannot find any value in yourself maybe it’s time to get a better therapist!)  In this economy, especially – it is time to be realistic.  If you lose money because you did comedy this weekend – stop. Get a job, meet the obligations of life and allow your comedy life to slowly build. I had a “day job” when I first started and I’m not too proud to get one now if I have to. (Besides, that’s where I got most of my material!)

Wages are not a gift:  Approach your comedy, ministry, projects as a business. There was a reason Christ chose Luke, a doctor and Matthew, a tax collector. These divine appointments by Christ were smart.  Who would keep the team moving when the blisters on their feet were infected? Who would balance the books and know if the money was going to get them to the next city? Jesus could have snapped his fingers and made it all happen - yes, but he understood the supernatural lessons we would learn by using natural resources.  Humans.

AVAILIBILITY.    Be available to go or don’t go.  Are you available for God? God asked Abraham for his son. Christ asked Peter to leave the boat.  Can you hold out your hands and give it ALL to Him -- even if it means walking away from your dream? The rest of the verse in Romans says, “But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it’s something only God can do, and you trust him to do it—you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked—that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.”

Can I just tell you? There is nothing more TRUE for me than that verse.  In my 15 years of comedy I have had managers, agents, publicist, road managers, tour managers, marketing directors, promoters, business managers not to mention hair stylist, bus drivers, sound men, family members – anyone and everyone has given me direction and opinions! But nothing worked nearly as much as letting go of it all-every single day.  Learning to wake up every morning and ask Him to take over it all has changed everything.  Now, when change comes along – I’m less anxious. When dates fall off – I know I be fine. When I feel less successful, misunderstood, overlooked, bruised or forgotten (and don’t we all) – I have learned that someone so much more powerful than me or anyone on my “team”  I know I can trust God. And yes, THAT is a sheer gift.

Chonda Pierce, CCA President

P.S. We are going to allow for more time and planning for the next Comedy Conference.  Look for exciting news in the next few weeks.