I recently put out a short survey to get some feedback on my comedy output.
I did this because I’ve been out of the loop for a little while, and wanted to gauge what people felt my strengths and weaknesses were in terms of content and branding.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to complete the survey – it was a really worthwhile exercise, and I really recommend it to anyone.
The main two pieces of feedback that came through loud and clear were (i) to increase the frequency and regularity of the shows, and (ii) to make use of guest voices as was more the case in earlier shows.
I definitely agree with these comments; the frequency of the shows is something that, unfortunately, I have little control over, as it relies solely on the amount of free time I have during the year. Nothing else motivates me as much as comedy and podcasting, and so if I am unable to deliver shows, there is usually a very good reason for it. However, what I perhaps haven’t done is make a sterling effort during the time I do have to get ahead with shows, so I have a few ‘in hand’ during the more difficult periods. I’m now going to make this a priority so I have a bank of sketches I can draw upon.
The second point about guest voices is also down to time issues; when I record CLP, I often do it from hastily scribbled notes, and am often re-writing during recording. Involving guests in the process means I have to spend extra time formatting scripts for others, and then making sure the script that gets sent through is the absolute final version. Of course, I also need to wait for the guest to record their lines too. However, I do agree with the points made that there is a need for greater variety in the voices on the show, and so I will attempt to include one guest voice at the very minimum for each show.
In the survey, I also asked whether people felt ‘gazuky’ or ‘Clever Little Pod’ was the stronger brand. The response was split 50:50. People liked ‘gazuky’ because it transcended all media, but then not all were sure what it actually stood for. CLP was liked because it was the most recognised part of my output and had been associated with me for longer.
I think gazuky is probably the more flexible brand because it doesn’t have ‘Pod’ in it, but then the show title doesn’t necessarily have to accurately define it.
The question really is where to go from here. If all of you guys who support me in my comedy were here in Birmingham, I feel sure there would have been a CLP live in front of an audience by now. But I can’t do it on my own, and there’s a distinct lack of a ’scene’ here in Brum. I’ve explored setting up comedy groups, and I’ve had meetings about live shows, but ultimately it’s a bit like pushing jelly/jello.
So I’ve been thinking more and more about a second go at stand-up comedy, but this time as a character. The last time I had a go, I was 25 and didn’t really understand how difficult it is. Plus, I was delivering it as myself, and that’s definitely not the best way for me to exploit my abilities.
I’ve started writing down ideas for routines, and I’m watching more stand-up comedy than ever to try to identify what I can offer that’s new. Certainly there are fewer comics appearing as characters than as themselves; if I can develop and sustain routines as a fictitious persona, then it might be different enough to get me noticed. The question is… which persona?
