Do comedians have to work harder now to stay fresh online?

[SuperGinger]

Sustaing a career in comedy must be be so tough, I follow a few on Instagram and TikTok and coming up with fresh stuff all the time must be gruelling. I can see why some like Michael McIntyre, Jo Brand andvJack Dee are successful they keep it fresh and yet are just themselves.

Some like Henry Rowley, Finlay Christie and Olga Thompson are very talented but it is harder to be a persona.

Also the pressure of being on social media and getting yourself out there must be tiring in this day and age when people are so fickle and troling is different to heckling.

Grateful to everyone who does it.

I suppose if you play in theatres, you have more leeway to reuse the material. If you’re on TV, you can’t do that, so it must be hard to keep coming up with something new and fresh.

I imagine comedians are keen observers of the mundane, the ridiculous and the unusual.

I wonder if there are any wannabe conedians on here, social media makes it harder than TV or even the stand up circuit.

Jimmy Carr only posts his crowd work, so his main set stays fresh which is quite clever.

I agree it must be, also because there seem more on the circuit. Also I think the end of Live at the Apollo takes away one opportunity- the BBC end that though continue with the non-comedy called Mrs Brown's Boys.

One of my favourite comedians (Josh Johnson) streams a show every Tuesday. Lots of topical content but it’s an hour of new material a week, touring , podcasts and works for the daily show I’m sure it’s a lot of work.

This is how most stand-ups on social media approach it. Clip the crowd work so you don't use up your main set. If you watch a lot of live comedy and then see them on TV shows - interviews and panel shows - you can see where they re-use material. I used to find it deflating but now I enjoy the mastery.

If you haven't done it before, it is really worth going to see a "work in progress" where the stand up is trying out material. I went to see Bridget Christie and it was just brilliant. She's got exactly the personality and persona for it. You need a level of experience and maturity to get that good though!

Agree about the maturity.

I suppose on the flip side some people who aren't comedians post some hilarious satirical stuff online that woukd never seen the light of day otherwise

Matt Richardson (comedian who presented The Xtra Factor alongside Caroline Flack) regularly posts Q&A's about the industry.

It's super interesting to get insight on how certain things work in the media, and the engagement seems to be going well for him.

Definitely worth a look at his tiktok if you have it!

@kellygoeswest thanks for the recommendation