Expert: Christy Murphy - 3/8/2009

Question

Hey dude,

Here is my rough question,

Dear Expert,

I am a 24 year old comedian & writer based in Scotland. I have been a comic since the age of 15 and have performed over 700 gigs in Scotland, building up from an open spot to a professional paid headliner. I have written & performed 3 solo shows, 3 sketch shows & 2 improv shows at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe. I also released my first album in 2007.

I am intending to move to Hollywood in July and wondered what advice you could give me as to going about being a stand up in LA, how best to approaches venues, bookers & agents, etc. Also who best to approach for sketch & television comedy writing / performing.

Many thanks,

The Urban Joker

Answer
You're young; you've got some good credits, and you'll be a fresh face. These are THREE great things to have going for you! (If you are particularly good looking, you couldn't be better positioned) Don't wait to start approaching people to represent you until you get to town. Do your homework now, and start making appointments and sending out postcards and headshots before you leave.  You'll want to hit the ground running. Do you have any industry contacts in Scotland who will put a call into any agents or managers for you? A "godfather" call is your ticket in. Do you need to know who does what and who represents who? This information is easily available via IMDB.com pro subscription and updated manager and agent books are available though Samuel French. (They have an a website so you can buy the books online.) Be original, be polite, follow-up on each opportunity, and be very careful about who you make friends with. The first year in LA is both exciting and gut-wrenching, but if you play it smart, I'm sure you can make it more exciting and less gut-wrenching.

The best clubs for standup is by far the Melrose Improv and then also there is The Laugh Factory and The Comedy Store. You'll want to train and perform your sketch work at UCB and the Groundlings. For information on stand-up shows and open mics, you can visit chucklemonkey.com and openmikes.org . You may be thinking that you don't need open mics or these freebie showcases, but LA is not like any other town. I've run into and booked on a FREE show primetime Emmy award-winning writers, show-runners and even TV stars. Be professional and kind to everyone. You NEVER know who you're talking to in Los Angeles. I actually saw a kid smirk at a HUGE manager, who gave him advice on the sidewalk outside a little show. The kid had the nerve to ask the guy if he had a card in a way that intimated the man had no idea who he was. It was RICK MESSINA HIMSELF. All Rick said was that he didn't have a card. I couldn't believe it.

Also, knowing how you're going to pay your rent take the edge off. Rents are pricey and just living in LA in general takes a quite a bit of money. If you have residual checks from work you've done there great, but even if you start work the second you get here the delay from when you book the job to getting paid can be painful. Have some money or some dayjob skills to keep the aura of desperation from ruining your chances. Best of luck to you! The traffic is as bad as they say, but the WEATHER is FANTASTIC! Practice your American accent so you can book a wider variety of parts. Best of luck to you! Remember me if you hit it big!