3 Misconceptions About Making Your Own Comedy Special (and Why You Should Make One Anyway)
+ presenting new show w/ Maria Bamford this saturday 9/20 at noon @ Glendale Room
A lot of comedians/creatives shoot themselves in the foot instead of shooting a special because of these outdated myths:
3 Misconceptions
You need a massive budget and a massive audience.
Nope. Maria Bamford brilliantly filmed Special, Special, Special on her couch for two people (her parents!) and her “band” Wayne Federman. Then she made Maria Bamford: Local Act at her fave local mic PDA, owned by our pal Claire Woolner to pay homage to Maria’s casual neighborhood comedy scene, and even gave other comics their own specials within her special (of which I personally was a grateful recipient!)Jerrod Carmichael’s Rothaniel is intimate, raw, and full of secrets, no stadium needed, and his director’s special Bo Burnham's Inside is, quite simply, one person- Bo Burnham…inside.
You need Netflix to say yes/It has to be traditional.
Nope. Courtney Pauroso’s stunning Vanessa 5000 was filmed at another local fave the Elysian Theater and directed by Corey Podell and proves you don’t need a big network to make it special. Traditional? Also nope. Grammy-winning singer/voice-over superstar Grey DeLisle produced and starred in Throuple and My First Comedy Special, both showcasing all of her voices and stories which she used to finance her own animated series, both featuring other comics she believed in, and both coming in under 30 minutes.It only counts if it “goes viral.”
Your special is a time capsule of your brilliance—audience size doesn’t determine its value and once it lives online it can connect with someone days or years after it’s released, in fact Leeanne Morgan said her comedy didn’t truly connect until she released it in the form of online clips, and now she has a Netflix series based on that same comedy.
5 Reasons to Film Your Own Kick-ass Special or Solo Show (and Ways It Pays Off)
Legacy & Archive – It captures your voice forever. Think of it as your comedy book. Even if people don’t “read it” right away, it exists, and that elevates you and sets you apart.
Global Reach – The internet is the new stage. Your work can be seen anywhere, anytime.
Career Catalyst – A great calling card. Specials have attracted offers for tours, movie roles, and exciting collaborations.
Creative Freedom – No gatekeepers. You decide your format, tone, and distribution.
Creative fulfillment and catharsis– Just making one puts you in another category. You’re not just doing comedy, you’ve alchemized your life into a piece of art and that’s a gift that keeps giving.
Considerations: How can you make your special most YOU-niquely YOU? What are your special skills, quirks, You-isms? What have you survived that could help someone else get through similar challenges? What is your legacy/ what gift are you offering your audience? What is your secret?
✨ My specialty niche as a coach is helping people create their kick-ass solo shows and specials in ways that feel authentic, affordable, and uniquely them.
🎤 I currently have two openings for 1:1 clients ready to make theirs.
📩 DM me. Let’s get your brilliance on the global stage: the internet! coaching info
Upcoming shows:
Love to see you for a very special preview of my new solo show “The Break-up Doula” **this is different than MESSterpiece, it’s a spin-off character!
This Saturday September 20th at Glendale Room
127 Artsakh Ave, Glendale, CA 91206
My show starts promptly at noon and Maria Bamford’s show starts promptly at 12:30p- come on over for a delightful 2-fer! Donation based, free 90min parking
Also doing Better Half show at Bar Bandini 9/17 at 8:30p -free