Ten Marketing Tips for Christian Comedians

Sally Edwards - Christian and Corporate Comedy

    Even though Christian Comedians tend to favor the creative and positive aspects of a clean comedy show, it is important to keep your business practices ongoing and fresh.  Here are ten ideas for maintaining your Christian Comedy business even when you are not performing on stage:

1)  Videotape your shows:  Once your performance is over, there is no getting it back.  Videotape every show, post clips on YouTube or send it out to other Christian organizations.  You don't want to miss videotaping any of your really good shows!

2)  Write, write, write - Carry a notebook, cell phone, Ipad or tape recorder.  The best jokes seem to pop out of nowhere.  Be ready for them.

3)  Send out postcards or brochures.  It's a digital age but some clients still prefer to hold your information in their hands.  Vistaprint is a great way to go for ordering online.

4)  Work on your social media daily:  Think Twitter, Facebook, Stumble Upon, Reddit, Digg, Tumbler, Squidoo, etc.

5)  Write a new ten minutes.  Get your thoughts out on paper and start to edit.  Avoid performing stagnant shows.

6)  Start a newsletter.  Constant Contact and Mailchimp offer various creative formats.

7)  Blog regularly using Wordpress or Blogger.  Wordpress will offer more customization.  Blogger promotes your blog on Google.

8)  Submit press releases.  Start with a free release until you gain confidence.  If you are booked into a Christian event, promote it!  Organizers will appreciate your involvement in getting people in the seats.

9)  Use your creativity to develop marketing materials including CDs and DVDs.  Write a book.  See Lulu.com and CreateSpace.com (Amazon's self-publishing).

10)  Promote, promote, promote - Hand out business cards and collect email addresses at every performance.  Your email addresses are your future fans and customers!

Go get 'em.  Break a leg!

ComedyBySally.com

Four Health Benefits of Christian Comedy

     

Comedian Sally Edwards

     If you're planning a church-related event, consider the benefit of inviting a Christian Comedian to entertain. Laughter will build community spirit while delivering numerous health benefits.  Laughing and feeling better physically is definitely a "Win-Win" event.

     Listed below are four health benefits of laughter which can deliver a memorable event

     (1)  Laughter boosts the immune system.  A decrease in stress is achieved through laughter.  An increase of neuropeptides fights stress and reduces its damaging effects upon the body.

     (2)  Laughter decreases pain by producing natural painkillers.

     (3)  Laughter causes a sense of camaraderie and bonding of a community.  Connecting with people is important when fighting stress and illness.  Laughter bonds individuals emotionally.

     (4)  Laughter decreases depression and anxiety.  In effect, the "mental slate is wiped clean" as we laugh. 

     The benefits of laughter are often overlooked.  Inviting a Christian Comedian to perform clean comedy at your next event will be appreciated by the members of your congregation.  You will generate spiritual bonding and effortlessly laugh your way to better health!

Sally Edwards is a professional Christian Comedian who performs nationally.  
http://ComedyBySally.com

http://humorousspeakersbureau.com Sally Edwards is the president of The Humorous Speakers Bureau marketing corporate comedians and funny keynote motivational speakers.
http://sallyedwards.org - Laugh to Good Health
http://comedybysally.com - Christian Comedian

Five Ways to Perform the Best Christian Comedy Show

Christian Comedian Sally Edwards

Performing Christian Comedy at Its Best Can Be Achieved by Following These Five Rules:

1)  Clean Comedy Material Means No Offensive Language, Set-ups or Punchlines

Christian Comedy is an artform.  It is a unique type of humor that is appreciated by people seeking clean, funny comedy that is not offensive.  Generally the comedy is delivered in a church setting, auditorium or all-purpose room.  If your comedy is inappropriate for this type of setting, you will know immediately.  The ambience and crowd reaction will train a comedian as to what material is appropriate the minute he or she begins to speak.

2)  Use of Bible Verses

You should be ready for this request.  Although many Christian Comedians do not use bible verses in their performances, it may be wise to have one or two references prepared and associated with clean humor - just in case.

3)  Arrive on time

I recommend arriving at least one hour prior to showtime.  This puts everyone at ease - including the performer!

4)  Dress as if you are performing on TV

 It is always better to be over-dressed rather than appearing casual at a more formal event.

5)  Make your Audience the Stars of the Show

So many comedians overlook the fact that it is important to make your audience members the stars of the show.  This is so effective for producing a memorable show.  Many performers "customize" their show by making direct references to audience members in their routine.  I recommend taking it one step further and including audience members on stage in your performance.  "Taking the stage" is a memory that guests will remember for years to come!

For more information about Sally Edwards' Clean Family Comedy -
See:  ComedybySally.com

Teach Yourself to Smile

 

 A Christian Comedian Learns to Smile

     As a Christian comedian who enjoys studying human nature, I am firmly convinced that there are two types of people who wander the earth - (1) natural gifted smilers who willingly and effortlessly smile throughout the day and (2) those who don't.   The gifted smilers are the people to whom you are immediately attracted because a big smile is a sign of acceptance. Gifted smilers tend to make friends easily.  They’re most often outgoing and fun extroverts.   Those who are not natural smilers feel like they are smiling, but guess what – they’re not!

     I was not a gifted smiler and my husband, Bert, made it very clear I had to make the effort to learn to smile if I wanted to be a successful performer and an approachable female Christian comedian.  

     Smiling and happiness do not go hand-in-hand. I know many very happy people who don't show their internal happiness through facial expression.  I recognize these people because for twenty-five years, I was one of them. Happy on the inside, I had no idea it wasn’t reaching all the way up to my face.  I really thought I was smiling and I was shocked to find out that I wasn’t.

      My husband, who is also in the comedy business, insisted I teach myself to smile. I began forcibly making myself smile on stage and in the company of friends. It was a major and constant initial effort.  It felt completely unnatural and insincere because I was always thinking about forcing a smile and it seemed contrived.  I felt I was putting on an act and not truly being myself. However, I quickly realized the irony!   If I feel happy on the inside, a smile on my face is actually a truer reflection of my spirit.  It was time to catch up to the gifted smilers and to discover what it felt like to portray true happiness.  The effect was instantaneous!

     I immediately found putting a smile on my face changed my interaction with friends, family, acquaintances and even my Christian comedy audiences!  As I learned to smile my confidence grew in both my personal life and on stage.  People more willingly approached me and I experienced a notable influx of positive energy.  Smiling also provided a tremendous improvement in communication skills.  Making the effort to smile has made me more comfortable in my own skin.

      Do you know someone at work or in your neighborhood whose expression rarely changes?  Don’t be too quick to judge these people.  They may feel joy on the inside and do not realize they’re communicating gloom and doom on the outside.  A stock line of the comedy club comic is “Sir, are you having a good time?  …. Then why don’t you tell your face about it!”

     Smiling is a gift from my husband and I am incredibly grateful for his lessons. I no longer envy the natural smilers and their inherited gift. I believe smiling is a genetic blessing and it also can be a learned behavior. How wonderful we can learn to smile as easily as those who are gifted! It is a positive way to live and grow.

     Look in the mirror.  If you’re happy on the inside but you see no smile on the outside, you might want to tell your face about it!