the showreel

[Geraint Dafydd Evans]

So, given that the video i've been sending out is a bit old now, I thought i'd come here to see if there's any advice I can get from promoters/comedians about it.

My old vid is 5 mins, but given that i'm doing mostly 15-20's now should it be a bit longer?
Should it be taken from one gig in it's entirety or spliced between several?

There are so many differing opinions about that second one 'filming one gigs means you could have just had one good gig' or 'splicing in between makes it look like you just told one good joke at each gig'

Maybe i should just make two and let them watch whichever they want?

any other input would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[Champ]

This is a tricky area because bad footage can lose you more gigs than good footage gets you. You really need something as professional as possible, and that usually means expensive.

I'm also ambiguous about putting my material online. I've compromised by putting stuff on my YouTube channel that is either made for YouTube, or is a clip of me on the radio, or doing a VoiceOver where material isn't an issue. There is also some of my improv online. I feel this gives people a flavour of my style and what I do without risking them thinking 'I don find that bit funny, I'll book someone else.'

In any case, 90 seconds is probably enough to give an overview of what you do. Have a look at the footage on www.jla.co.uk for an example of how the pros do it.
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'Very funny...got a great response from the audience.' Chris Chopping
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'I want to see you while you're still a bit shit.' Bob Mills

[spikymike]

Personally my preference is 5 mins unedited from one gig. Good enough quality so I can clearly hear what is being said.

1 or 2 mins is not enough. I really hate showreels with loads of fancy rubbish cutting in and out of very short clips. It may look slick, but anyone can manage to look good if there are only 10 second bits taken from various gigs.
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Funhouse Comedy Clubs in Nottingham, Derby, Grantham, Lincoln, Burton, Ashby, Tamworth, Loughborough, Eastwood and Leicester. Best Midlands Club, Chortle 2006 and 2008 Awards http://www.funhousecomedy.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/funhouse_comedy

[page]

I should probably do a showreel
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[Martin_Caine]

Had this conversation with a few people and my response has and always will be, look at the movie trailers they don't put a block chunk of the movie in a trailer to try to sell it. Put snippits, tasters preferably of good crowd response. I doubt if any promoter will book you just from a show reel so you have to make it something to make them interested enough to seek you out. 5,10,15 min youtubes only reduces your audience because they've already seen you.
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If you don't see the funny side of it then you just haven't gotten over it yet!

[Paul Savage speaks Easy]

From a promoter's point of view, you want a set. 5 mins long (I will watch longer, but 5 mins is enough to get the gist). Preferably it starts from the moment you walk onstage so can get a judge of how you start, because you want to know an act is up to it right from the off.

Martin, how many times have you been excited to see a movie and then found out all the best bits were in the trailer?

By the way, I have booked people just from a video, and it tends to be the people with a punchy video that I book.

[spikymike]

As a general rule I will only offer acts a gong slot if they don't have a strong vid that is at least 5 mins long.
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Funhouse Comedy Clubs in Nottingham, Derby, Grantham, Lincoln, Burton, Ashby, Tamworth, Loughborough, Eastwood and Leicester. Best Midlands Club, Chortle 2006 and 2008 Awards http://www.funhousecomedy.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/funhouse_comedy

[Martin_Caine]

[Ash-LT]

[Martin_Caine]

[Ash-LT]

[Martin_Caine]

[D'Chapeau]

5 mins is long enough.

Doesn't need to look slick or be slickly shot - but make sure you catch the audience laughter (in theory a good promoter will be able to allow analyse the material and delivery, but plenty need to hear the laughter to cue them in).
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http://www.99clubcomedy.com