There's no way you're going to get high-end comedians on this platform, which means you're going to get people who are relatively new. Doug Stanhope (greatest comedian alive today IMHO) said that you don't want to be putting videos of your earliest crap performances on the web. You also don't want to be putting video of your best jokes on the internet because you get more exposure for people stealing them with little return.
Stand-up comedians have already had an alternative for getting up on stage for a long time. It's called podcasting, and many of the greatest comedians do podcasts.
There's an interesting phenomenon with late night hosts doing their monologues from home. They're really bad at it (at least they were for the first couple of weeks). They're writing the same type of material they wrote in their televised audience shows; same type of language, same topics, same timing. It was really awkward. A common critique was, "My 16 year old daughter does better youtube than _______" (e.g., Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers). So maybe this is the dawn of of a new era, and the big TV stars will either adapt or fade away.
Post this service in the stand-up subs in Reddit and to see the responses from actual comedians. IMO the person who built this service doesn't "get" stand-up and therefore the idea won't work.
What might work? A real substitute which isn't stand-up. I don't know what that is or I might build it myself. But there's a lot of ways to create with a comic mind.
Also, show me a stand-up comedian who is doing this? If it were a thing, then the majors would already be doing it. Even major comedy specials on HBO are done in front of a large audience. And they aren't repeated. It's like a movie, they work on these shows for months and then it's a one shot deal.
From the FAQ:
> Can I turn on my video and microphone? Yes! You are encouraged to share your laughter (giggles, chuckles, and full-on uncontrollable laughter are all welcome). Please remember to minimize any background noise, don't heckle the performer, and no funny business.
> Stand-up comedians have already had an alternative for getting up on stage for a long time. It's called podcasting
I'm not seeing the crucial distinction between putting up video of yourself doing jokes, and putting up audio of yourself doing jokes. The value isn't coming from the visual part of the video.
Look at Bill Burr's podcasts for example, they are far different from his stand-up. Part of a stand-up career is to travel the country and perform the same jokes to every crowd. They aren't exactly the same because you iterate on them every time. Once you have told the same joke X times, then it becomes robust like a method in a program which have gone multiple rewrites and bug fixes. That's a process of not only battle testing jokes, but of finding your voice (finding your voice is more for starting comics.)
You're not going to tell the same jokes repeatedly on a podcast. The medium doesn't suit stand-up. Podcast's are more like improv than stand-up. Stand-up comics are more like solo musical acts where you write your material once and then tour with that same material. That act wouldn't work so well otherwise.
Yes, radio plays the same popular music over and over. Yes, I'll listen to the same song over and over. Movies? Not so much. After watching a movie, rarely do I want to watch it again right away. Somewhat more commonly I'll watch it again after months or years. Most of the time, I don't ever feel the desire to watch that movie. Music can be enjoyed like a movie or it can be background noise. Comedy for me is more like a movie.
What about lineups? (3 comedians for $10)
Also does the comedians interact with watchers? Can I leave a comment and chat with other people (not sure if this will distract the comedian or not)
With that said, some handle it with grace, and some not.
If anyone haven't seen it done or don't know what I'm talking about Todd Barry has a whole special where it's all he does - appropriately titled "Crowd Work"! :-)
1. The audience is encouraged to turn on video (so the comedian and others can see them) Unmuted if possible (but most wont its like giving everyone in the audience a live mic)
2. For those not willing, encourage them to use chat. Emoji, me-too, reactions
3. The comedian should keep bringing the audience in. Read off chat, talk about people with cameras on, etc
4. Dont just use your regular material, lean into the current situation, use the audience and tech.
I’d love to see this take off because I don’t want stand up comedy to go away.
Thanks for making this!
edit: It worked on browser with no extensions installed so I guess one of the extension in other browsers broke it. I like the idea since it seems timely. People do need real entertainment now and it might fit that niche nicely.
We've been doing something similar to support comics who lost some or all of their paying gigs; but using the alternate model of free-to-watch, donations-welcomed. We're also still working through the best format; some performers work great in a "vacuum" (and/or create new styles for the medium). Interaction through the chat is also fun, but as mentioned, not suited for real time.
We've also got some other ideas to increase the interaction being tinkered with. We've been able to really help some folks, whether through monetary means or just to give them a place to perform they wouldn't otherwise have. (Honestly, the most feedback we get from performers is how thankful they were to just get to perform again, a feeling of normalcy, such as we have these days.)
Second warning, plug below :) This is completely a labor of love, so feel free to drop by, or not. Even if you just watch clips and have suggestions, we'd appreciate it. All proceeds go directly to the performers, this not a business venture in anyway. Up/downvote away, no hard feelings!
https://twitch.tv/comedywham (or isolationcomedyshow.com will redirect there)
I do applaud these performers trying to find a alternative in these trying times.
Maybe put a Youtube video of the comedian's performance on the detail page, so we get a little preview?
Do you provide clean content?
