Using social media - Part One: Youtube

Thursday in class, we talked about the importance of social media and networking. I know that I need to jump on board with this concept soon, for the sake of my blog and my grade. For this project to be successful, I have to start some relationships through the blog, and that is seriously my goal for this week.

Several comedians are already smart enough to employ these tactics, and it mostly proves to be an advantage. At this point, having accounts with Youtube, Facebook and everything in between has become so commonplace that is it is basically a requirement in the entertainment industry. While there are several social media platforms, this post will focus on how Youtube is helping the careers of comedians today:

Youtube

Comedians can post videos showcasing their talent to a wide audience, therefore gaining awesome exposure. Best of all, this “publicity” is free. Instead of having to rely on drawing a crowd to a standup show, a new comedian can post the routine online and get thousands, if not millions, of hits. So what if no one came to your last show? If you can get enough views and positive feedback on Youtube, you might end up selling out clubs in the future.

Of course, not all comedy is about standup. Comedians usually post a wide range of videos including:

• Skits – to show acting ability
  
• Outtakes/behind the scenes – to give fans something extra
  
• Responses – usually directed to fans, critics or other comedians, this encourages feedback and communication
  
• Other comedic content – to promote and network with other comedians
  

My plan is to create a series of posts helping aspiring comedians understand how they can use social media to advance their careers. If you have any suggestions, helpful information or just want to add to the conversation, remember to email me or comment below!

The Baltimore Comedy Factory

It's great to watch stand-up comedians on Comedy Central and other networks, but the live experience is definitely a great way to spend an evening with your friends. Baltimore has plenty of opportunities to see comedy, and a lot of venues offer specials for certain nights.

One of the most notable comedy clubs locally is the Baltimore Comedy Factory. Here's the details: you must be 18 years old or over, admission is $17, and there's a two drink minimum. Keep this quick tip in mind though, if you sign up for their email list, they will send you tickets either waiving the entry fee or for unlimited drinks (the latter is my preference). Also, Burke's, the restaurant underneath the club, has great food and the servers are incredible. If you let them know that you’re going to see a show, they make sure to get you in and out, no matter how crowded it is.

The Baltimore Comedy Factory is located at the corner of Light Street and Lombard Street downtown, and there are shows every Thursday – Saturday nights. So when you’re looking for laugh on the weekends, keep the Comedy Factory in mind!

The CollegeHumor Show

What started out as a way for two friends to communicate during college is now a successful multimillion-dollar company. This is an Internet success story that we're so used to hearing by now, but it never ceases to inspire. Two friends from Baltimore, Josh Abramson and Ricky Van Veen, created CollegeHumor as a way to stay in touch when they went to different schools out of state. Now the site boasts over four million unique visitors per month, and features submitted and original content that appeals to the college-aged demographic.

Staff members contribute articles in addition to writing, directing and acting in original video content. The success of these videos lead to a deal with MTV to produce the CollegeHumor Show, which is an extended version of the Hardly Working series. Throughout the episodes, unrelated Internet content is also featured mixed in with storylines. Below are two of the videos that were shown in the pilot episode:





How successful the CollegeHumor Show is has yet to be seen; the second episode is tonight. Although, after reviewing comments on the website, fans really enjoyed last week's premier. Maybe you should judge for yourself; the CollegeHumor Show airs Sunday nights on MTV at 9:30/8:30c.

Hey fans of comedy!

I’m Erica and I have a lot going on. First, a few quick things about myself: I’m a graduating senior from Towson University, majoring in journalism and working full-time. I have no idea what I want to do after graduation, but I’m looking forward to figuring that out. This blog is my contribution to my writing for the new media class.

Whenever I find that I have a free moment at home or work, I love watching viral videos. I think it’s awesome and amazing that the Internet is being used a cheap resource for comedians to gain more exposure than ever before. Not only is the exposure amazing, but the direct communication with the audience is also helpful; comments on videos provide insight into what jokes work well, or not at all.

This blog will feature examples of Internet comedians who have gained notoriety, video compilations of comedians I feel need exposure, funny things in general, interviews with comedians and tips on using the Internet as a tool to help with a career in comedy.