Ask The Industry Podcast

Ben Walker (@_Ben_Walker) is the founder of Fuzz Productions  who have created Sony Award-winning 'Do The Right Thing', the Loaded LAFTA-winning 'Pappy's Flatshare Slamdown' and the Chortle Award-winning 'Richard Herring: As It Occurs To Me'. We also make Richard Herring's other podcast 'Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast'. They also produce video content for YouTube and BBC online. I got him on the podcast to talk about - The advantages and disadvantages of creating a podcast vs creating a BBC Radio show.How Richard Herrings podcasts make money and what he gets from that audience.Can you make a living by creating podcastsHow to promote a podcast and help yours find its audience.How hard is it to start a podcast?How do you build an audience for a podcast?Advice for creating a podcast that people actually want to listen to.  AND MORE! This podcast would be useful to anyone who wants to start a podcast but doesn't know where to start or is scared of how mu

We're 1 year old! To celebrate here's my "thank you" episode and a list of ways you can help the project.You can find all the links and show details from the past year here - http://simoncaine.co.uk/ATI/Year1Feel free to donate on the website - http://simoncaine.co.uk Or become a Patron - http://patreon.com/AskTheIndustryPodcastOr join the Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/AskTheIndustryPodcast/Thanks for all the support! Si x Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asktheindustry.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Amee Smith is an associate director and PR expert at Prospero Arts. She has been in PR for over 6 years and has a wealth of experience in promoting and publicizing shows, tours and Edinburgh runs. I got them on the podcast to talk about - How do you make connections / relationships with journalists?How do they scout for new people / talent to represent?How to “PR” an Edinburgh Fringe show / solo tour.How are the “top 10” lists put together and how can a PR help get a show featured?When is the right time to send off your press release / contact journalists?Do stunts work at the Edinburgh Fringe?What free ways can you get publicity for your show / tour?What value does the star rating system have on a tour / Edinburgh show?Do they really help shows?How does fewer printed newspapers impact on a PR’s job to get more coverage for a tour? AND MORE! This podcast would be useful to any performer who has a show / tour / Edinburgh run they want to promote or a comedy fan who loves to know h

.Zena Barrie and Michelle Flower founded the Camden Fringe (@CamdenFringe) in 2006 as an alternative to the Edinburgh Fringe.  I got them on the podcast to talk about - Thoughts on why the Camden Fringe is a viable alternative to the Edinburgh Fringe.How to promote a Camden Fringe show Is the gentrification of Camden impacting on the Fringe’s developmentWhy do they not do any free shows?Can this model even work in London?What do they think of London publications going up to Edinburgh to review shows during AugustAND MORE! This podcast would be useful to any performer who wants to take part in the Camden Fringe or an audience member who wants to know more about the behind the scenes of the festival. You can stream the podcast here (with show notes) - http://simoncaine.co.uk/ATI/CamdenFringeOr get it on iTunes here - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/ask-the-industry-podcast/id946220937If you enjoyed it please consider supporting the podcast by becoming a Patron for only $1

This is our first live Q&A panel on the subject of touring a show. The panel of guests included - Mick Perrin (@mickperrin) founded Mick Perrin worldwide over 20 years ago. Since then he's organised tours in the UK and across Europe for some of the biggest names in comedy.Amee Smith (@Prospero_PR) is an associate director and PR specialist at Prospero Arts. Prospero deal with some of the biggest names in comedy to help get their tour dates known by the right people, in the right publications and more!Anita Holmes is a life coach to many famous comedians as well as lesser known acts. She works to make sure all her acts are mentally able to tackle anything that is thrown their way.Ally Wilson is the head of live at CKP. CKP are a global touring agent who also organise extended London runs for performers at long established venues including the Soho Theatre.This podcast would be useful to any performer who wants to know more about the touring side of a show. You can stream the podcast her

Darrell Martin (@adarrellmartin) is the owner and founder of the Just The Tonic comedy club chain which operates in the midlands of England and at several comedy festivals around the UK including the Edinburgh Fringe.I got him on the podcast to talk about - How he got started in comedyWhy he quit being a comedian to be a promoter His thoughts on the PBH / Freestival venue screw up at the Edinburgh Fringe Championing acts he likes.What it is like running a venue at the Edinburgh Fringe.How the Edinburgh Fringe has evolved into what it is today.His advice for performers looking at becoming full time comedians.His advice for people who want to start their own clubs. AND MORE! This podcast would be useful to any performer who wants to know gig for the Just The Tonic chain or take part in his venues at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. You can stream the podcast here (with show notes) - http://simoncaine.co.uk/ATI/DarrellMartinOr get it on iTunes here - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcas

James Alderson (@comedyjames) fell into a career in comedy after some personal circumstances made him want to give it a go. Two years later he's a full time professional club comic. I spoke to him about how he found a way of starting a career in comedy later than most and how he managed to start making money from it so quickly. James also founded and runs the South Coast Comedian of the Year award. We discussed this in detail including why a comedian would want to run a competition, what he gets out of it and the negative results of putting your head above water to try and help out fellow comedians.  I got him on the podcast to talk about - The Secret of being funny.The different types of applauseThe history of musical and variety comedy scene and how it has evolved into the circuit we know today.Is Stewart Lee still “alternative” now that he has a TV show and mainstream success.What it’s like to be a teacher of comedy at a university. “moments” in comedy and “comedy you can’t ex

Oliver Double (@oliverdouble) is a former comedian, current University of Kent lecturer on comedy, author of Getting The Joke  and Canterbury Legend.  I got him on the podcast to talk about -How to make your name as a comedian outside London Travelling as a performer to places miles away from home in the same amount of time as it does to go 10 tube stops.Going “pro” within 2 years (what he calls going pro and how he did it).If he’s pigeon holed or stereotyped as an “old man” on the bills he does to fill a quota.How having a family pushed him to make his career change later in life work as quickly as possible.How his path of chasing club sets / bookings has made his career vs how my path of chasing an audience for my shows.How he used his background in marketing and sales to get his name and act under peoples nose.How he can gig 3-4 nights a week and not be broke.Not rushing into gigs you shouldn’t be doing not because you don’t have the jokes, but because you aren’t ready.Th

Ben Williams (@benagain) has been the comedy editor at Time Out London since 2011. He's also run the Long Paws Comedy Club for over a decade and really knows what makes a good listing that attracts the eye and the right kind of audience for your event. He also had advice on PR and press releases.   I got him on the podcast to talk about - What is the process to get listed at Time Out London.How to get featured / your event promoted for free on the website.Will they accept press releases from comedians who can’t afford PRs, and what are the do’s and don’ts if you are going to send them in.How Ben keeps track of the performers and clubs he enjoys to ensure they get covered in the magazine / on the website.How often will Time Out cover a performer and how often do they cover new performersWith more and more audience members sticking to comedians they know off the telly, how do you think that’s impacting you as a listings site? AND MORE! This podcast would be useful to any performer

Here are some tips for making the most of your Edinburgh Fringe! http://simoncaine.co.uk/ATI/EdinburghTipsA tip I forgot to include - Check Groupon Edinburgh to see if you can get a massage or some cheap food. Buddhism And Cats...I (Simon Caine, the podcast host) am going to the Edinburgh Fringe... If you want to support me and come see my jokes please come see my show:Buddhism And Cats. You can find all the details of the show here. And reserve your ticket for free here.Basic info -  Show Title - Buddhism And CatsTime - 7.30pm Length - 1 hourCost - FREE (Pay what you want on exit) Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asktheindustry.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Charlotte Austin started her career at Just The Tonic before moving to become an agent at Red 24. After a few years of working there she (along with the co-founder of Red 24) co-founded CatFace comedy. CatFace is a comedy talent agency which focuses on the live diaries of comedians.  I got him on the podcast to talk about -What’s the difference between CatFace and Red24 and why did the company start?At what point should a performer approach agents for their live work?Is it better to have 1 agent who does everything, or an agent for their live work / corporates etc?Can a performer make a living from just live work?How does CatFace approach acts and the process between seeing an act live for the first time to signing a contract.The pitfalls, pros and cons of social media for a performer Her thoughts on reviewers and student reviewers. Tips for getting noticed in Edinburgh The value of corporate gigs.Advice for unsigned comedians trying to get an agent AND MORE! This podcast would b

Geoff Rowe co-founded the Leicester Comedy Festival while at University as a project for his degree. Since then, he's enjoyed it so much, he's carried on running it. His belief that a festival should be more than "a collection of shows that could take place anywhere" has made his festival community-led and quirky.  I got him on the podcast to talk about - The history of the Festival and why it takes place in February What he thinks makes a good local Festival. Does Dave TV use your competitions to scout for new talent? How has sponsorship impacted (positively and negatively) the festivals development? What does the audiences come to watch and what does he want to book more of. Do you pick what shows go into the Festival? Does Dave have any say in who can / can’t perform? How to promote a show in Leicester if you don’t live there and the “do’s” and “don’t’s” in local promotion. Is it possible to run a Free show in Leicester?  AND MORE! This podcast would be useful to any performer

Peter Walsingham founded Downstairs at the King's Head in 1981 and has continued to put on one of the best and most well known comedy nights in London. Showcasing a selection of acts including comedians, sketch acts, musicians and more. In this exclusive interview we talk about why he began the club and how it has managed to stand the test of time against promoters and chain clubs. He still runs the club in the same venue over 20 years after its inception in Crouch End.   I got him on the podcast to talk about -How his club has survived more than 20 years when others have folded.Why he makes acts ring up at 9am to book a slot.The state of the circuit Advice for promoters looking at running a night How he juggles his "other life / career" outside of comedy with the club.The value of social media for his club.The value of variety in line ups to keep his audience (and himself) interested His policy of turning away drunken stag / hen nights.AND MORE! This podcast would be useful

Bec Hill moved to the UK from Australia with her unique and quirky brand of upbeat stand up.I got her on the podcast to talk about -How to find a gigs where your comedy works.What it’s like being a comedian doing a niche style of comedy.The value of having a “gimmick” or memorable style to your comedy.Her thoughts on why “all ladies” comedy night are sexist and not good.Running a themed comedy night - namely the Pun RunBuilding a base of incomes from different projects How to use Edinburgh to get other things. The value of having a day job.AND MORE! This podcast would be useful to any performer trying to find their voice / audience, anyone interested in social media and anyone promoting a gig with a niche or theme. You can stream the podcast here - http://simoncaine.co.uk/ATI/Bec-Hill Or get it on iTunes here - https://itunes.apple.com/…/ask-the-industry-pod…/id946220937If you enjoyed it please consider supporting the podcast by becoming a Patron for only $1 (80p) per episode!htt

Recently I've been asked quite a few questions about Patreon (the thing I mention at the start of every podcast). I hope this clears up some of the FAQs including - What is it?Why am I using it?How does it help the show continue?What does it mean to me?How can I donate?Why is it in dollars?If you have any more questions please feel free to email me - simon.m.caine@gmail.comIf you can donate please do here - https://www.patreon.com/AskTheIndustryPodcast?ty=hIf you'd like to sign up to the newsletter for the podcast / my upcoming book you can do that here - http://bit.ly/ThisIsSimonCainesMailingListAnd if you'd like to join the Facebook Group you can find it here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/AskTheIndustryPodcast/Thanks for listeningSi Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asktheindustry.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mark Fisher hasn't missed an Edinburgh Fringe since 1986. He's a theatre critic for the Guardian and Variety, a former editor of The List magazine and a frequent contributor to the Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday and many magazines, newspapers and websites.  This is the first episode in a new series called The Comedians Book Club where I interview people who have written influential works of literature that can help comedians / performers / comedy fans understand the business side of the industry further. You can buy his book (the Edinburgh Fringe Survival Guide) here - http://amzn.to/1QZKprM Please do use that link as it pays me 10p per sale and doesn't cost you any more. It just helps support the show. We talked about - A brief history of how stand up become it’s own entity at the Fringe and why it has become so big.Tips and tactics on launching a bookThe dangers of using social media as a performer and how reviewers / promoters talk about silly things posted onl

Alfie Noakes founded the We Are Funny Project in 2013. Since then he has grown the club into one of the most successful and respected in London. Now he's attempting to crowdsource the funding for a purpose built comedy venue... We talked about - How to build a community around an open mic night.What advantages does theme nights have for generating an audience?How to crowdsource a comedy club, podcast theatre and workshop space for comedians.The booking policy at We Are Funny.The state of the open mic circuit and how to start and run a popular free gig in London.  AND MORE! This podcast would be useful to anyone interested in running an open mic night, building a community and the London comedy circuit. You can find all the questions and things mentioned in the podcast in the show notes here - http://simoncaine.co.uk/ATI/AlfieNoakes Thanks so much for downloading, hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please pass it on to a friend, give it a positive review in iTune

Joe Lycett is a British comedian who gained management and TV exposure very quickly (by most peoples standards). He got the final of a few awards which led to him being picked up by industry which has led to him getting appearances on TV and radio including Live At The Apollo, 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Never Mind The Buzzcocks. We talked about the pros and cons of comedy awards, having management (and finding the right management) and his thoughts on why reviewing isn't a noble profession. We talked about -  Repeating jokes How Joe Lycett sees himself as a character.How repeat jokes can help build fans and references that your fans enjoy and feel a part of.The pros and cons of having a large social media followingWhy Fern Britton blocked him on Twitter.The inception of his “always a pleasure” blog His advice on building loyal social media fansThe pros and cons of doing competitions and how they helped / held him back. How to pick an agent.His origin story and his first gig a

Mel Brown has been working in PR for over 20 years and has been going up to the Edinburgh Fringe helping performers get as much coverage as possible. Her clients include Joan Rivers, Jimmy Carr, Mitchell & Webb (Peep Show), Noel Fielding, Russell Brand, Mark Thomas, Stewart Lee (BBC2) and more! Impressive work on Brand and Image Management (including styling and photoshoots) Events, Tours, Festivals, Theatre Productions and Awards Ceremonies. We talked about -   What does Impressive PR look for in an act to represent. What should you look for when picking a PR When should you approach a PR. What’s her process of discovering and working with an act. The difference between a promoter and a PR. How professional PR coverage can help sell tickets. Why you shouldn’t talk to journalists / reviewers until you’re doing an hour. Her thoughts on Freestivals move to trying to attract performers who want to do shows that are less than an hour.A

Jill Edwards runs Comic Boom comedy club, and her stand-up comedy course, which was the first in the UK, at the Komedia in Brighton. She's been in the industry for 20 years and has taught a lot of big names including Jimmy Carr and Romesh Ranganathan. You can find out more about what she does on her website. We talked about -   Why being a comedy booker is the quickest way to being unpopular. What her audience at the Komedia wants. What the Brighton comedy circuit is like and how it came about. How to find the clubs that your jokes and style of comedy will be appreciated and why you might not be right for every night. Why do have a business brain to make it in comedy regardless of how funny you are. Can comedy be taught? And when should you go to a tutor for help with your career / act. How to structure an Edinburgh Fringe show. Why she loves live comedy and her thoughts on TV edits and commercial DVDs. How to stand out at the Edinburgh Fringe. How t