043 COMEDY CONTESTS - GOOD, BAD AND THE UGLY [podcast]

No doubt about it, at some point in your comedy journey you will be invited to - or thrown in the middle of - a comedy contest. In response to a listener question (thanks Brent!) we spend this episode weighing the pros and cons of participating in comedy competitions. My first inadvertent night onstage, I found myself the lowest ranking comic in an ongoing contest. Looking back, it was hard to lose since I didn’t know I was even playing. Now, with 23 years under my belt I have some strong opinions on what makes these events worthwhile. We talk specifically about: Challenging the idea of even judging an art form in the first place Weighing the results of “audience response” based contests Potential benefits of a night judged by industry folk (bookers, agents, etc.,) Why having only one goal can set you up for failure The benefits of having to prepare “your best set” Leveraging that seven minutes onstage for other opportunities Why the green room may not be the best place to hang during the show How a contest can help raise your profile Why you should choose to focus on things that you can control Using a contest to “set a stake in the ground” to mark your progress How the contest may pay off several years down the line Off stage goals you can set to help propel your career One mindset to help you far beyond winning a contest And much more! I hope this episode gives you plenty to think about when you sing up for a competition. I would love to hear you success stories! Best wishes! NEVER MISS A PODCAST OR POST Better yet, subscribe to the bi-monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free useful and fun. Email: [email protected] and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam free. ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF LAUGHS: This podcast is a production of the Rik Roberts School Of Laughs. If you want to learn about becoming a stand-up comedian, or just become a better one - visit the wwwSchoolOfLaughs.com web site. If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking. @SCHOOLOFLAUGHS  on Twitter