Ask The Industry Podcast

Ben Venables (@benvenables) is the comedy editor at the Skinny which covers the Glasgow and Edinburgh Festivals (as well as the Scottish scene the whole year round). Ben has been a journalist for a number of years and has carved out a great niche for himself as a knowledgeable and earnest lover of stand-up. I got him on to talk about the future of the Edinburgh Fringe, what it is like working at the Skinny and his best tips to get reviewed (with and without a PR).I got him on to talk about:The Future of the Edinburgh Fringe How to get a review without any PR helpWhat actually goes on behind the scenes at the magazine during the festival and beyondWhat the star ratings actually mean (to him and his team)Why more Edinburgh Fringe winning acts aren't getting more exposure or opportunities.If there's too many awards / middle people involved at the festival. AND MORE! This podcast would be useful for anyone who is thinking of taking a show the Edinburgh Fringe (comedy or otherwise) and wants to get

John-David (or JD as he prefers to be called) is the founder and artistic director at the Sweet Venues (@sweetvenues) that currently operate largely at the Edinburgh and Brighton Fringe. But in addition to that he runs a lot of other literary festivals as well as a horror festival. The Sweets recent move into taking on more comedy shows than ever marks an interesting development for them and the Fringe in general. I got him on to talk about why now, and what the future holds for Sweet Venues.I got him on to talk about why now, and what the future holds for Sweet Venues including : Discussion of the “problem of youth” in comedy and reality TV shows.Why the Sweets venue was started, what they’re looking for and what they are not.Do you find promoting comedy hard given his historical roots in theatre?The future of the Edinburgh Fringe as he sees it.Why he founded the Horror, Writers and Women's Festivals AND MORE! This podcast would be useful for anyone who is thinking of taking a show t

Barry Ferns (@barryferns) started Angel Comedy (@angelcomedy) 6 years ago in 2010 as an open mic night to give himself more stagetime. Since then it has expanded and now runs comedy shows 7 nights a week. More recently the core team and their volunteer army have crowdfunded to lease their very own venue, just down the road from the original. They raised £46,643 from 1049 in 30 days. I got on Barry and former comedian, now Angel booker / show manager / venue manager / everything Sarah Pearce to talk about how they did it and what we can learn from them.This interview blew me away and by the end we were talking philosophy and finding what you want to do in life, and always working towards that. Specific subjects we covered included -How Angel has built it's reputation on the clubs ethos alone.How to build a community around a comedy club. The teamwork and DIY attitude that embodies the entire groups mentality towards work. Why they decided to buy a pub and when they felt was the best time to

Michael Redmond (@redmondmichael1) is an Irish stand-up comedian from Blackrock, Dublin best known for playing Father Stone in the Father Ted episode "Entertaining Father Stone". He has a deadpan style of delivery which has led to him becoming a dependable and experienced performer of quotable, but hard to replicate gags... having said that one of his jokes was famously stolen by Joe Pasquale and we get into how he felt about that and the subsequent joke written by Stewart Lee. Redmond began his career as a writer for Irish radio and television, before moving to London and launching a successful stand-up career as a writer and a performer.I got him on the podcast to talk about - What was it like for him when Stewart Lee mentioned him in a joke about Joe Pasquale being a joke thief.How Father Ted did not make that much of an impact on his career.Why he has cut back on live work to focus on writing.Why he moved from Ireland to London to Glasgow as a comedian.How the live comedy circuit has changed since he

Simon Abrahams (@simonjabrahams) is the Creative Director & CEO at the Melbourne Fringe. Having worked with performers his whole professional career he now runs a large comedy festival in Australia which is used for a lot of different types of performers to try out more experimental and work-in-progress shows.I got him on the podcast to talk about - How the Fringe helps people get to Australia and find them somewhere to stay (and help with the VISAs)The loss of print media in Australia and how that’s impacted promotion of shows.How to register a show and promote it when you don’t live in Australia.Why flyering is banned and how the postering marketing is owned by different companies. AND MORE! This podcast would be useful to anyone interested in taking a show to the Melbourne Fringe and the landscape of the Australian comedy scene in general.  You can stream the podcast here (with show notes) - http://simoncaine.co.uk/ATI/SimonAbrahamsOr get it on iTunes here - https://i

We're two years old! Here's a quick round up of what's been happening in the last year and below are all the links to things you might be interested in!   We hit 120,000 downloads. THANK YOU. Please keep sharing the episodes. We launched a YouTube channel [here]. Here's the 2nd annual yearly advice blog (you can find the first one here). We won the Podcast Bursary [more info here]. ParaPod [Their episode on ATI] Guys We Fucked James Quentin | Can I be funny? Please keep an eye out for my future podcasts:   Laughter is the Best PlaceboA mental health podcast along the same lines as the Tony Law episode [link here]. But with more dark humour going deeper into the mind of a performer. This is also the title of my 2nd solo hour coming to Edinburgh in 2017. More info here. Queer as JokesA podcast to run alongside an LGBT / kink / poly friendly comedy in London, Brighton and Derby. This is where I'll talk to someone in those communities about their relationships with labels, sex, sexuality, kinks and more! The Aud

Armando Iannucci (@aiannucci) is a Scottish satirist, writer, television director and radio producer. He's best known for The Armando Iannucci Shows, The Day Today, Knowing Me, Knowing You, Veep and I'm Alan Partridge. I got him on the podcast to talk about -How he got started in radio, what it was like moving radio shows to TV and other visual mediums with no experience in them How he picks the people he collaborates with. The draw backs of having a fanbase at his level Why he doesn't like being labeled as a satirist.How he would get started now if he had to go back to nothing.AND MORE!You Don't forget! Once you've listened to the podcast remember to tweet him your suggestions for his new book title using the hashtag "#MITLE".This podcast would be useful to anyone interested in what goes on behind the scenes of their favourite TV and radio shows as well as what goes into making them and the career "path" that Armando has carved o

Helen Zaltzman (@helenzaltzman) is a podcasting ninja having started her career in DIY radio in 2007. Her full time job is now creating online audio shows including Answer Me This! with her longtime collaborator Olly Mann as well as the Allusionist podcast.  I got her on the podcast to talk about - How has podcasting changed since 2007?Why did she start and what would she advise to anyone starting now?What's the best thing that has come out of podcasting?How do you see it evolving in the future?Why do you think it's so popular among comedians?Other than control, how does working with the BBC compare to doing it all yourself? What did you do to build your community in the early days? AND MORE! This podcast would be useful to anyone interested starting a podcast or just curious about how much work goes on behind the scenes of their favourite pods. It would also be useful to anyone interested in the history of online content and how they

Tony Law (@mrTonyLaw) is professional stand up comedian who recently got clean from drink and other demons. In this candid interview he talks about trying to get back in with promoters who were annoyed by his antics, attempting to build a touring audience for his shows and becoming mentally healthy for the first time in years. I got him on the podcast to talk about - How he went from getting one audience member to selling out his Fringe runs.How he got sober and then hated his material and had to start over.How did you regain the trust of promoters after getting sober?How his family impacted his career.  AND MORE! ****TRIGGER WARNING**** This podcast contains and talks about the subjects of alcohol and substance abuse as well as mental health in general. This podcast would be useful to anyone interested in what goes on behind the scenes (and in the mind) of a performer trying to build a brand and an audience while struggling with substance addition as well as how he carved a

Julia Mckenzie (@juliaamckenzie) is the Executive Editor of BBC Radio Comedy (part of BBC Studios). She makes comedy shows for Radio 4 and 2. Julia has produced many radio comedies, including The Jason Byrne Show, Ian D Montfort Is: Unbelievable and French & Saunders for Radio 2 and Party, Mark Steel's in Town, Alex Horne Presents The Horne Section and The Penny Dreadfuls Presents, for Radio 4.I got her on the podcast to talk about - How the BBC picks the ideas it commissions.Does BBC radio have the same quotas for gender / ethnicity that the TV arm has?Does the cliched joke of what a Radio 4 audience “is” stack up in their stats of who is listening?What challenges does radio produce for writers and comedians.Her thoughts on the future of radio with digital and technology developments impacting the medium.AND MORE!This podcast would be useful to anyone interested in writing for radio (specifically the BBC) as well as any podcasters looking at transferring their show to a mainstrea

Ariane Sherine (@ArianeSherine) is a British musical stand-up comedian, comedy writer and journalist. She created the Atheist Bus Campaign, which ran in 13 countries during January 2009. In her career in TV she's written for My Family, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Countdown, The Story of Tracy Beaker and more!I got her on the podcast to talk about - Getting hate mail for the athiest bus campaignDealing with a mental breakdown Fearing going to the final of a competition in case she got a bad review which might lead to loss of TV writing work.Coming out as having a mental illness Explanations of TV jargon terms like “shadow script” “sample script” “script polish” etc.Does having a baby hold you back in stand up / lose you work in TV?AND MORE!You can join her mailing list to hear about adventures as a stand up by emailing her on ariane@arianesherine.com.This podcast would be useful to anyone interested in writing for TV, how comedy co

The Edinburgh Fringe is a fickle place and comedians (as well as all other types of performers) use everything at their disposal to stack the deck in their favour. From PRs to giant posters I got a panel of comedy industry experts together to discuss what works, what doesn't and bust myths about the Fringe.The panel consisted of - Steve Bennett (@stevechortle) - Founder of Chortle.com (@chortle), the Chortle awards and head reviewer at Chortle.Bruce Dessau (@brucedes) - Founder of BeyondTheJoke.co.uk and head comedy reviewer at the London Evening Standard.Copstick - head comedy reviewer at the Scotsman and on the judging panel for the Malcolm Hardee Awards.John Fleming (@thejohnfleming) - Founder of the Malcolm Hardee Awards.Hils Jago (@hilsjago) - Founder of the Amused Moose Comedy Club (@amusedmoose) and the Laugh Off Awards.Barry Ferns (@barryferns) - Founder of Angel Comedy Club (@angelcomedy), the Barry Awards, Fringe veteran and comedian.And me (Simon Caine - Comedian,

Tom Walker is better known as Jonathan Pie (@JonathanPieNews) a satirical news reporter character who is an idealist at heart but can't stand the way his job often pans out. In little over a year Tom has grown a dedicated and engaged social media audience of people who believe in Pie's words but also those who do not. I got him on the podcast to talk about -  How he came up with the idea, how it has developed and if he thinks it would have worked 6 or 12 months ago.How he dealt with getting “shit” from his audience who felt he was wrong for taking sponsorship from Russia Today TVHow he has to watch the ways he makes money from Pie because of the nature of the character.The nature of offence and satire.How he remains topical when the face of politics changes so fast. How close is Tom to the character of Pie?AND MORE!This podcast would be useful to anyone interested in writing satire or character comedy as well as people trying to build their own social media audience.You can find Jonat

Andrew Ellard (@ellardent) is a script editor who has worked along side Doug Naylor and Graham Lineham on TV shows including the IT crowd, Miranda, Red Dwarf and more! I got him on the podcast to talk about - Being a script editorGetting the trust of a writer to work with them.What it takes to get a script writing credit.How on demand players are changing the face of TV.AND MORE!This podcast would be useful to anyone interested creating a sitcom, writing for TV or just interested in what goes on behind the scenes of a television channel and show production.You can stream the podcast here (with show notes) - http://simoncaine.co.uk/ATI/AndrewEllardOr get it on iTunes here - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/ask-the-industry-podcast/id946220937If you enjoyed it please consider supporting the podcast by becoming a Patron for only $1 (80p) per episode! https://www.patreon.com/AskTheIndustryPodcast Andrew's comedy blaps can be found here. You can find a link to the gr

Ian Boldsworth (@RayPeacock) is a comedian, podcaster and TV warm up act who has been a professional within the industry for over a decade. He's best known as "Ray Peacock". A name he is having to give up for one of the most bizarre reasons. In this very personal interview we talk about picking gigs, making a life and ensuring you're doing things for the right reasons. I got him on the podcast to talk about - Being a TV warm up actCutting back on the live circuit due to audiencesPicking which gigs you do more selectivelyFocusing on building audiences through online contentHow mental health issues play a part in a performers life, finding your place in the industry and how family / relationships impact your work.AND MORE!This podcast would be useful to anyone interested in starting a podcast / video series and building an audience for it as well as trying to discover what "making it" is for them.You can stream the podcast here (with show notes) - http://simoncaine.co.uk/

The ParaPod (@ParaPod) is an entertainment podcast about the ghosts, the paranormal and everything in between. The hosts are at extreme ends of their beliefs: Ray Peacock (@RayPeacock) doesn't believe in any ghosts. He's a comedian, a skeptic and "the voice of reason" in the show.Barry Dodds (@Barry_Dodds) believes in ghosts, the supernatural and the afterlife. He's a comedian, a believer and the most earnest person you're ever likely to meet. I got him on the podcast to talk about - How social media bullying can impact someone psychologically.How has their careers changed thanks to the cult following the pod?How to structure a podcast. How to make money from podcasting.How to build a relationship with your audience through podcasting.AND MORE!This podcast would be useful to anyone interested in starting their own podcast and building an audience for it, or someone who has a podcast and is interested in the behind-the-scenes talk of a fellow show or just a fan of the ParaPod who wants to know m

Matt Price (@MattPriceComedy) is a working comedian who has been making his living from clubs for over a decade and has firmly established himself as a storytelling performer... however, he wants more but doesn't know where to go from here.I got him on the podcast to talk about - The difference between a storyteller and a stand upHis relationship with the label as a storytellerDoes being a storyteller mean you’re not funny / can’t write a joke?The clubs that don’t book storytellers and why.How ‘storytelling’ is received by audiences.The value of being able to play any room.Thinking about the “business” side of show business.AND MORE!This podcast would be useful to anyone interested in the difference between stand up and storytelling and the circuit of storytellers. You can stream the podcast here (with show notes) - http://simoncaine.co.uk/ATI/MattPriceOr get it on iTunes here - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/ask-the-industry-podcast/id946220937If you enjoyed it please consider suppor

Robert (@robertpopper) is comedy producer, writer, actor, and author, best known as co-creator of the mock BBC documentary Look Around You, and creator of Channel 4's sitcom Friday Night Dinner. He also wrote the books The Timewaster Letters, Return of The Timewaster Letters and The Timewaster Diaries under the pseudonym Robin Cooper.I got him on the podcast to talk about -  How he got his start in TV.How and what the different roles are in TV.How he got the job of Comedy Commissioner for Channel 4.The process of getting a show on TV.His thoughts on the future of TV Is TV a closed club?Or what are the opportunities for new writers?How to save money on a shoot / how to rewrite a scene during production.AND MORE!This podcast would be useful to anyone wanting to break into TV or is a budding writer with an idea for a sitcom. As well as any fans of Rob's who want to know more about what goes on behind-the-scenes in television.You can stream the podcast here (with

Mick Perrin (@MickPerrin) got into comedy tour promotion over 20 years ago. His first tour was Eddie Izzard's arena tour (which in itself was the first of its kind). Now Mick Perrin Worldwide tours artists in 20+ countries. Recently he set up a management agency for comedians whose 2nd language is English. I got him on the pod to talk about -  Does TV help or hinder a comedian?What is a character comedian and should they be allowed to say things?How much thought and effort goes into organizing a global arena tour.Why he keeps going back to Edinburgh even though he loses money every year.The value and power of social media in terms of building an audience. AND MORE!This podcast would be useful to anyone looking at taking a show to the Edinburgh Fringe, doing a tour or interesting in how to increase their profile as a performer.You can stream the podcast here (with show notes) - http://simoncaine.co.uk/ATI/MickPerrinOr get it on iTunes here - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/ask

Karen Koren (@KarenKoren) founded the Gilded Balloon (@GildedBalloon) in 1986. Since then they have been one of the biggest producers and promoters of live entertainment events, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and best known as one of the "Big Four" venue operators at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe each August.I got her on the pod to talk about -  The history and future of the Gilded Balloon Awards at the Edinburgh FringeHer move into Pay What You Want shows.The Scottish comedy scene outside of the Edinburgh Fringe AND MORE!This podcast would be useful to anyone looking at taking a show to the Edinburgh Fringe and isn't sure if they should do a Free Fringe or paid show. Or an audience member who is interested in what goes on behind-the-scenes at the Edinburgh Fringe.You can stream the podcast here (with show notes) - http://simoncaine.co.uk/ATI/KarenKorenOr get it on iTunes here - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/ask-the-industry-podcast/id946220937You can find more pods about th