How To Produce a Comedy Special in 2023

Chris Weir @ Go Bananas Comedy Club

Over the past 12 months, Four by Three Comedy has travelled the country to produce 28 comedy specials. We put together this article to help answer some basic questions people might have about producing a special, since there aren’t a lot of blogs about the subject out there.

To produce a comedy special, a comedian typically writes and rehearses a set of comedic material, which they then perform in front of a live audience.

Andrew Rudick @ Put it on Tape: Cincinnati

The performance is usually recorded and later edited and packaged into a special that can be distributed through various platforms such as television, streaming services, or DVD.

While some companies like ours will help you at Step 2, the traditional path goes as follows:

1. Writing and rehearsing the material — A comedian will typically begin by writing new material for their special. This can be done individually or in collaboration with other writers. Once the material is written, the comedian will rehearse it, refining the jokes and timing.
2. Securing a venue for the performance — The comedian will need to secure a venue for the live performance. This can be a comedy club, theater, or other performance space. The comedian will need to work with the venue to coordinate the date, time, and logistics of the performance.
3. Recruiting a production team to handle filming and audio — The comedian will need to assemble a production team to handle the filming and audio recording of the performance. This team may include a director, camera operators, sound engineers, and lighting technicians. The team will also be responsible for setting up the equipment and ensuring that the performance is captured on film or video.
4. Recording the performance — The production team will record the live performance, capturing the comedian’s set on film or video. This may involve multiple cameras and microphones to capture different angles and perspectives.
5. Editing and post-production to create the final special — After the performance is recorded, the production team will edit the footage to create the final special. This may involve cutting out any mistakes, adding special effects, and adding music and other sound effects.
6. Securing distribution — The comedian will need to secure distribution for the special. This can be done by working with a network or streaming service to air the special, or by releasing it on DVD or through other platforms. The comedian or their team may also consider working with a distribution company for this step.

If you are a comedian looking to produce a comedy special, please reach out to Four by Three here: https://fourbythreeproductions.com/comedy

Four by Three is a media company based in Cincinnati, Ohio.

They produce and distribute independent films and comedy specials.

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