Want to get paid to write funny skits for a TV show? Or maybe you just want to write something funny to amuse your friends. Whatever your reason, you can get paid to write comedy sketches. The secret is in knowing how to sell yourself as a comedy writer.
You may think that you have to be a student at an accredited college or university to make a successful career out of writing comedy sketches. While this is true, you do not necessarily have to have a formal education to become a comedy writer. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the occupations with the highest employment prospects include:
- Comedians
- Stand-up comedians
- Parody writers
- Joke writers
- Animation writers
- Adaptation writers
- Copywriters
- Marketing executives
- Advertising executives
- Content strategists
- Content managers
- Copy editors
You can get started by establishing yourself as a freelance comedy writer. This will give you the opportunity to pitch your services to different production companies.
Find Your Niche
If you are new to the business, it is advised by many to find your niche. This is a good strategy for guaranteeing yourself steady and consistent freelance writing work. It can also help you hone your skills and improve your productivity. When you find your niche, you will easily be able to identify projects that fit perfectly into your repertoire. This will in turn make you more attractive to potential clients. Additionally, if you write for the same TV show or website over and over again, you will become familiar with the format and style of the writing staff. This will make it easier for you to successfully pitch your comedy ideas to the show’s production staff.
Pitch Your Comedy Ideas
Once you have found your niche, the next step is to pitch your ideas to different production companies. For this, you will need to create a portfolio of your work. This should contain several pieces of original comedy writing that you have done for different publications or online platforms. Additionally, you can include any open-source material that you have created (YouTube videos, web series, etc.). These should all be original works that you have written and produced yourself. It is advised by many professional comedy writers to focus on creating funny pitches and getting opportunities to write for TV shows. Despite the fact that many great comedians have started out life as a busboy or a waiter, opportunities to write comedy for TV shows are still somewhat rare. This is mainly because getting a TV show to actually buy your material can be quite the challenge. However, once you establish yourself as a talented comedy writer, this will become much easier.
Get Connected
Now that you have a portfolio of your work and you have successfully pitched your ideas to different production companies, the next step is to get connected. To do this, you will need to start by pitching your ideas to the people who run the TV shows that you have written for. Once you have established yourself as a comedy writer, this will become easier. Additionally, don’t be afraid to ask your friends and family members if they can give you any tips on getting started. Word of mouth is one of the most effective forms of advertising there is and it is often times the first port of call for would-be comedy writers. Finally, many comedy writers choose to get themselves connected through social media. This way, they can stay in touch with other comedy writers and be on the lookout for new opportunities. It is often said that there is no such thing as a disconnected audience. Everyone is always connected and if you don’t want to miss out on any opportunities, you should get connected too!
Decide Whether to Join An Agency or Do It All By Yourself
Once you are connected, the next step is to decide whether to join an agency or do it all yourself. There are definitely pros and cons to each. If you are looking to get serious about making a career out of writing comedy sketches, then you may want to consider joining an agency. They can help you get your feet wet by providing you with an opportunity to write for different TV shows. Additionally, many agencies have established themselves as a one-stop shop for writers. This can be helpful if you are looking to get started or need guidance. On the other hand, if you are looking to pitch your comedy ideas to different production companies and do not want to join an agency, then you can opt for doing it all yourself. This way, you will have more control over your professional and financial future. Of course, this does not mean that you will not make any money, it just means that you will not do as well as you could have if you had joined an agency.
Create A Work Diary
Once you have decided to go the DIY route, the next step is to create a work diary. This is essentially a log that you will use to note down all the details about your freelance career. It is a good idea to keep this log for as long as you are actively pursuing freelance work. This way, you can refer back to it whenever you need to. Additionally, having a work diary will help you track your earnings and ensure that you are making as much money as possible. You should start by making a note of everything that you need to be doing and what you have already accomplished. In doing this, you will be able to see exactly where you stand and what you need to do next. Finally, be sure to periodically review this log and make necessary adjustments as your income and workload change.
Produce Some Additional Projects
Once you have established yourself as a competent freelance comedy writer, the next step is to produce some additional projects. For this, you will need to either pitch your ideas to different production companies or establish yourself as a brand name in your niche. To do this, you can either write and submit some more sketches or you can create a sitcom that you can write and produce yourself. Of course, you should not expect to make a lot of money from doing either of these things. However, establishing yourself as a brand name in your niche can only do you good. It can help get your name out there and establish yourself as an expert in your industry. Additionally, these projects can help you gain confidence and prove to yourself and others that you can in fact write comedy.
Join A Society Of Comedy Writers
If you are looking to make a career out of writing comedy sketches, then there are many different courses and schools that you can join. These will help you do exactly that. However, not all of these will give you the credentials that you need to succeed. For this, you will need to join a society of comedy writers. Members of these societies usually meet up to discuss writing techniques and share their expertise. Additionally, these societies often organize pitch competitions for their members. This is where you get to show off your skills and prove to potential employers that you are worth hiring. Of course, not all societies are created equal. You should join the one that suits you best and offers the most opportunities.
Get To Work
Once you have done all of this, the last step is to get to work. For this, you will need to establish yourself as a full-fledged comedy writer and prove to yourself and others that you are indeed capable of churning out funny material on deadline. To do this, it is a good idea to start by writing and submitting some more sketches. This will really help you get your foot in the door and establish yourself as a reliable comedy writer. Additionaly, you can take this opportunity to flesh out your material and make it the best it can be. Finally, do not be afraid to ask for feedback or revise your work based on what you hear. This is often the best way to improve your material and guarantee that you are always progressing forward.
As you can see, there are many ways to get paid to write comedy sketches. However, as exciting as this may sound, it is still a rather competitive business. Many aspiring comedy writers end up going through a lot of frustration before finally landing on their feet. Despite this, you now have an opportunity to follow in their footsteps and establish yourself as a competent comedy writer. And if this is something that interests you, then all you need to do is follow these steps and put in the work. And who knows, maybe one day you will even end up with your own TV show!