DELRAY BEACH – Thinking he’d reached comedy’s pinnacle by achieving his own Comedy Central special, Ali Siddig soon learned he still had a ways to go.
Saddiq attempted to post a clip from that special to his Instagram account, only to have it taken down because of copyright infringement. The deal he signed to create the special meant that Siddiq didn’t have the rights to his own performance.
Learning a lesson, Siddiq self-produced his next special, giving himself the right to post as he pleased. The full story leads today’s Stand-Up Spotlight, and can serve as a cautionary tale for up-and-coming comedians.
Today’s Spotlight also includes a look at the growing importance of the Just for Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival; a story about a comedy festival in England that’s going out of its way – in a good way – to be inclusive; and a list at America’s richest comedians.
Start the week with a little funny money.
STAND-UP SPOTLIGHT – July 24, 2023
“Comics are not covered like other artists”: How Ali Siddiq changed the system to own his jokes
The concept of hitting the road as an undiscovered comic, grinding out shows and hopefully capturing the attention of some Netflix, HBO or Hulu executive along the way, is a pipe dream. Even so, a network special does not guarantee a comedian long-term success — if you define it like comedian Ali Siddiq does — owning your own work. “If somebody comes to me with $30 million, it is still going to be a conversation about ownership,” he said on “Salon Talks.”
How Just for Laughs Montreal Festival Has Boosted Comedic Careers
In days of yore, the best opportunity for a stand-up comedian to break out was to be tapped by Johnny Carson’s team for a “Tonight Show” slot. Getting invited to the couch afterward was a whole other level. By the 1990s, Carson was done and while there were other coveted late-night slots (David Letterman, Conan O’Brien), another star-maker had emerged: the Just for Laughs Montréal Festival.
Edinburgh Fringe 10×10: Ten disability themed shows
With stairs absolutely everywhere, Edinburgh is not the most accessible of cities for a major arts festival. Nonetheless, here are ten comedy shows offering new and personal perspectives on disability.
In this stand-up show, possibly the world’s only narcoleptic comedian, Sarah Albritton, aims to shed light on the challenges of living with the disorder. She’ll discuss diagnosis, medication side effects, and misconceptions of invisible disabilities – as well as relationship fails, hallucinations, sleep paralysis, and, of course, falling asleep at the worst moments. Albritton also hosts the podcast Sleeping with Sarah.
Click here to view original web page at Edinburgh Fringe 10×10: Ten disability themed shows
Meet America’s richest comedians who turned jokes into millions!
Want to bring a smile to a comedian’s face? Tell them you’re pursuing comedy for the money. But be prepared to face the harsh reality of the road ahead, as it can be both bumpy and soul-crushing.
Stacker compiled data from Celebrity Net Worth to unveil the top 25 richest comedians, ranked by their current net worth. The figures were calculated using a proprietary formula that considered various factors such as salaries, real estate holdings, royalties, and endorsements while factoring in taxes, fees, and lifestyle expenses.
