And now for some more ways to find writing gigs,
and while I can’t help you get on a TV staff for a sitcom, I can give you some ideas for other places to find these writing gigs.
Calling people.
Yes, sometimes you need to pick up the phone – but make it quick! Call, or if you have to then send an email, to the group directly. I’m telling you, calling works for all sorts of things. . .go to the greeting card companies directly, contact the author of cartoon strips, contact people in charge of awards shows, contact companies that might need humor. And while I’ve never needed to call people re: joke writing, I have called thousands of people regarding booking me as a keynote speaker at their convention. The trick is, do not, and I repeat, do not try to sell your services over the phone in a cold call. No one likes getting interrupted for a sales call. What they don’t mind getting interrupted for is if you are wanting quick information.
So, make the call last under
45 seconds. . .just ask them something like. . . “how do I submit comedy material to your organization/cartoon strip/whatever. Even if you think you know what they’re going to say (“send me an email’), what you’re really trying to do is make a quick connection with them, so that maybe they’ll actually read your email. And of course, know something about them and/or their company and be ready if they actually want to chat. . .they won’t, but ya never know. Don’t be afraid to contact famous comedians either. . . if they’re on TV a lot, they are chewing up material. You won’t reach the actual comedian, but if your pitch is personal and sincere, then they will get your message.
Which brings me to. . .
network with people. I mentioned the National Speakers Association. They have a national conference in July – check it out! This is where hundreds of professional speakers get together to learn their trade. You can go to it to network and/or maybe even offer up a seminar on comedy writing. And each state and local chapter has meetings too! Go to their monthly meetings and network, and again, maybe speak at it. I also mentioned networking at comedy clubs. . . do that!
Do a lot of writing so people
notice you. The more I write, the more I get noticed and asked to write more. There are a gazillion places that you can post articles on the web. . .research a few and post an article on comedy writing. There are also writing competitions – research those and get noticed. I think Warner Brothers had something like that. . .but I’m sure there are many others.
And contact
magazine for some of the associations I mentioned. You can do a piece on humor writing and get noticed by all the people who read that magazine. . . make sure it’s funny and you get to include your contact info. They might even pay you for that!
In the next and last installment. . . money issues!
Have a great weekend!
Jan