Is MyStudio A Good Deal For Comedians?
One of my frequent readers (J. Chase) brought my attention to a new and emerging technology called MyStudio.
In a nutshell, MyStudio is a large kiosk designed for malls and other high traffic areas where someone can pay $20 and get a very high quality video of music, a song or of a stand-up comedy act.
They are also involved in promoting talent contests using the videos produced by individuals using the MyStudio kiosk. Currently, there is one MyStudio kiosk in a mall in Scottsdale, Arizona with expansion to New York and Los Angeles happening in the summer of 2009.
So, here’s the question: is MyStudio a good deal for comedians?
Here’s my take on the MyStudio concept…
I think everyone will agree that singing and music is vastly different than stand-up comedy.
For singers and musicians, I think this is an excellent concept and I predict that it will result in providing needed breaks for folks who really have some great talent (among a sea of great talent).
For comedians—I’m not so sure, even though they are offering opening spots for comedians on stand-up comedy shows featuring big name comedians (right now there’s a contest in progress to open for Bill Envall in August 2009) based on video submissions made from the MyStudio kiosk.
While you can pay the money and record your stand-up comedy act using a MyStudio kiosk, there is no audience for which to gauge your timing or your true laughter impact.
And there is no way to gauge how someone will actually perform on stage in front of a live audience.
For experienced comedians who have never performed their stand-up comedy on TV, I think this is a great way to get “camera time” for $20. It can also be another vehicle to get comedians in front of those who can provide breaks in the form of the sponsored talent contests they are promoting.
But for those who are new and have little to no real stage time…
I can only hope that this service is used to provide a vehicle to auditions in front of a live audience. Because if the truth be told…
Performing stand-up comedy by yourself in a small room is NOT the same as performing in front of a live audience, nor will it ever be. Live audiences aren’t going to care how “funny” you were in a MyStudio kiosk recording.
That’s my take so far on the MyStudio concept for comedians. I’m going to keep an open mind and see what pans out.
What’s your take? Please share your thoughts in the comment box below.
Cheers,
Steve Roye
The Professor of Funny for Money
About the Author/Founder of The Stand-up Comedy Professional
Steve Roye is the author of the Killer Stand-up Comedy System and author of the content made available in the Comedy Pro Membership Program available on this site. Over the past decade, Steve has established himself as a leading, globally recognized expert in the field of stand-up comedy material development, delivery and entertainment business strategies for comedy entertainers as well as speaking professionals.
For more information about Steve, please check out the About The Author section on this site.
Dear Steve.
Thanks for your comments about MyStudio. As the Director of Comedy for MyStudio, I feel it is important to get the word out about this revolutionary concept.
I, like you teach comedy workshops. I teach them primarily in Phoenix, but also in LA, San Diego, and New Mexico. Prior to that I was a touring stand up comic for fourteen years, club owner, booking agent, and for the briefest of times, television producer.
When I first heard of MyStudio I didn’t get it. The second time I heard about MyStudio, I didn’t get it. Finally I went and checked it out myself and said “I have to be a part of this.”
Everyone knows that the web is the “new comedy club.” The networks, producers, casting people, all look for talent on the web. In the Eighties they went to comedy clubs and discovered RoseAnne, Tim Allen, Jerry Seinfeld, and many more. Today they look on YouTube and Facebook and discover Andy Steinberg and Jon Lajoie.
As MyStudio begins expanding, first to Los Angeles, New York, and soon through out the country, It is my mission to make sure that MyStudio provides a high quality, professional enviorment for aspiring stand ups to thrive in.
True, there is no “live” audience. But there is an audience, the thousands and hopefully millions who will watch these videos and become fans. MyStudio functions more like a sound stage than a comedy club, but for most, the sound stage is the goal.
My second goal for MyStudio is for it to become its own unique delivery vehicle. Much like film acting became different from stage acting and television has its own requirement, and now even the web having its own rules. I want MyStudio to have its own style, meter, and form. For that I need people like you. People like you and all of the wonderful aspiring artists out there. I need them to step into a MyStudio recording Studio and “play.” Because at the end of the day “play” is what it is all about.
The Best,
Tony Vicich
Director of Comedy
http://www.mystudio.net
http://www.comedyschools.com