Whenever I make Electronic Press Kits for comedians, the topic of credits always come up. What counts as a credit? What’s a “good” credit? What can and should you list? Are you bragging to much, or are you not sharing enough of your accomplishments to be as marketable as you could be?
Another related topic…what do we say when the host ask us before the show, “Hey what should I say when I bring you up?”
So when it comes to being a comedian, let’s give credit where credit is do! Here are some (hopefully) helpful points on what to say when listing your credits, and maybe some stuff you could leave out.
Don’t Be Shy About Your Accomplishments
From the very beginning, comedians are taught by comedy culture to not feel good about themselves and any accomplishments they have. I remember when I first started if I was booked on a local showcase, my first thought was “Well, it’s not Zanies…” If I had some kind of accomplishment, my next thought was, “Well, so-and-so has a lot more accomplishments then me.” This is very toxic, and in entertainment it’s either intentionally or unintentionally very encouraged.
(My conspiracy theory is that it starts with the mainstream comedy clubs who train new comics to feel this way so that we value ourselves less and then we will happily work for less or no money, but that’s a different article for a different day!)
So let’s say when you’re new you win a local comedy contest at whatever bar. That’s a credit! Even if it’s not a BIG credit, it still counts. As you do more and have more opportunities, you may eventually get bigger accomplishments that overshadow the local comedy contest…that’s okay, there is nothing wrong with removing the small credit off your list when bigger ones come up.
There is also nothing wrong with holding on to the credits that are especially meaningful to you just because you’re proud of them. I don’t know if I’ll ever take off the credit “Only comedian to perform at the World Wing Festival” even though it was in Memphis, TN, and it really wasn’t THAT big of a deal…I had fun and thought it was really cool. Also, in my 2nd year of comedy one of my jokes was published in a deck of cards and the organization that creates those cards no longer exists anymore….but if you scroll way down on my list of credits you’ll still see that credit. Why? Because it was a big deal for me back then, and it’s a fond memory now.
If you have performed at a comedy club, list that under your credits. If you are a regular feature there, make a note of that! Comedy Clubs look impressive on paper.
Also have you been accepted to a comedy festival? No matter how big or small it is, list that! As cold as it sounds, if it’s an event that you got into but other people did not…that counts as a credit!
Do you run a show? That’s a credit. List it and make sure you note when it started, especially if it’s been going for a while. Comedy credits are like resumes…If someone sees that you’ve been running a successful show for a while, it shows them something about your character and work ethic…and that might be a selling point for you.
Yes, the comedian next to you may have more impressive credits but we’re not talking about them…we’re talking about you!
That being said, here are some ideas of things maybe not to list.
Don’t Say You “Open for” a comedian unless you have a regular working relationship with them
Yes, it’s cool that you were hosting/featuring at the comedy club one weekend and the headliner was a big deal and someone that you’re honored to work with. But, make no mistake…the credit here is that you were asked to host/feature at the comedy club, not that you opened for that comedian.
If the comedian doesn’t know you. If they didn’t PERSONALLY ask you to open for them…then you’re not an opener for that comedian. Saying otherwise isn’t truthful, and might get you in some trouble if you are particularly unlucky.
What if you said “Opened for Jim Gaffigan” on your list of credits and the club you are applying for is semi-interested in you and when they see that, they have Jim’s phone number….so they text him and ask about you and his one word response is, “Who?” That does not put you in the best light.
My personal rule, unless I have the comedians phone number and they have specifically asked me to go on the road with them, or work with them…I will not list them as comics I have opened for. I have opened for Etta May, Killer Beaz, and Ellen Skremetti. I have been on the same shows as Jeff Allen, Dusty Slay, and Nate Bargatze…there is a big difference.
And for the love of everything you hold Holy…if they do a drop in spot at an open mic you attended and you went right before them…You have not opened for that comedian.
Don’t List Comedy Contests Unless You Have Won Them
This point may be a little controversial, and I’ll be honest when I first started I absolutely listed every comedy contest I was part of. At one point I had things like “Runner Up in the Rocky Top Comedy Contest” and “4th Place in the Heart of Texas Comedy Contest”
Last year I heard an industry professional and booker at a Comedy Festival say that every time she sees something like “Runner up” or “Made it to the finals of…” or “Participated in (whatever) contest” all she actually sees is that “You lost that contest”. It isn’t as impressive as we would like it to be.
Nothing against doing comedy contests and yes, you should be proud of wherever you made it in the lineup…and the real prize is the friends that we made along the way BUT keep this in mind….Most comedy contests we are part of we pay, and we show up…what’s the real accomplishment there?
How to answer the question, “What can I say when I bring you up?”
When it comes to the introductions of the comics, this is meant to bridge the gap between the audience and the next person going on stage. Everything you ask the host to say should help build their faith in you as a comedian. But knowing your role and the type of show it is, is essential.
To be blunt, unless you’re the headliner, we don’t need to hear about all awesome things you’ve done because a reaction to your credits may be “Well damn, why isn’t this person headlining?” And a next thought might be “They’re probably not as good as they say.” In this case, less is more…let your jokes do the talking!
When I am on a showcase, or doing a feature/opening spot I keep my introduction way short. If it’s a clean show, maybe they’ll mention that I started the Clean Comedy Collective (and usually that’s to hopefully get someone interested in another show that we do) and if it’s not a clean show, I don’t even bring it up. If it’s a local show, I may ask them to reference where I will be next, because I hope someone in the audience thinks I’m funny enough to show up at my next show.
Typically my “regular introduction” is very short, I just ask the host to mention that I am from Nashville (or is based here in Nashville, if it’s a local show) because that will set me up for my first joke.
For anyone wondering about an introduction, do one that sets you up for your first joke or routine in general. This is great advice someone else gave me years ago. This is more important then any credit you give, especially if you’re new.
When I was new, a bulk of my routine used to be about working retail at Publix, so my introduction was always “The funniest cashier in Tennessee.” So when I got up and started talking about working at Publix, folks were already on board.
For headliners, (and future headliners) you want the host to hype you up…but NOT to overhype you. I recommend up to 3, easy to remember and notable credits that would make the audience think “Wow, this comic is going to be good!” OR see a few paragraphs ago when I wrote “your intro can set up your jokes or comedy character.”
The headliner I regularly worked with for a year, who had a long list of notable credits, simply asked me to bring her up always as “The Queen of Southern Sass.” The point is, don’t overhype yourself and regret it later.
Also, for headliners and future headliners, if I can give you any one piece of advice it’s please, PLEASE, don’t give the host a laundry list of all your credits that they have to read in alphabetical order. I have had the opportunity to host for a lot of headliners at clubs and the one thing I learned is that, usually, the longer the list of credits they demand you say, the less funny they will be. Keep it simple, keep it short, and let your jokes do the talking.
The last piece of advice I’ll give on the topic of what credits to list or have announced before you go on stage is simply go with your gut. So much about comedy is subjective, and we’re all building our own audiences. So if something I wrote here doesn’t feel like it fits for what you’re trying to do…that’s okay! And it’s okay to share different credits in different settings.
What are your thoughts? Any advice to share for the common good? If so please feel free to share it in the comments below. Thanks as always for reading!
