How to Become a Producer for Comedy Shows
- 1). Find a college or university that offers a program where you can combine law, business and art subjects. These subjects prepare you intellectually so you are able to manage the artistic, financial and business components of the show and negotiate contracts with stakeholders.
- 2). Read books written for producers to learn more about the roles of a producer and the industry expectations (see Resources).
- 3). Get information on current issues in the comedy industry by watching comedy shows; subscribing to industry publications for up-to-date information on the industry; and reading relevant blogs and articles pertaining comedy shows (see Resources). Look for award winning shows, classical comedy shows and shows with low ratings, and compare the cinematic techniques, the quality and type of jokes.
- 4). Look for an internship in a production company that has a comedy show running. Accept any position offered whether on-set or in the office. An on-set internship exposes you to the roles of running a show at the production stage and the role of a producer in linking the different crew and artists. In the office, you make contacts and learn to negotiate contracts, find financiers and distributors and marketing techniques.
- 5). Prepare a portfolio of your best work, get referrals from your school and place of internship and send your resume to production houses that have comedy shows for the position of production assistant. Regardless of academic qualifications, your success as a producer depends on the quality of your work, which you improve over time as you gain more experience and exposure.
- 6). Join professional organizations such as the Producers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to help negotiate contracts, establish work relationships and enforce workplace labor laws (see Resources).
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