Ever since we adopted ComedyTech at the core of our tech map, it became clear that we have to take a holistic approach rather than a transactional one. Let me explain. If you’ve ever purchased a ticket through TicketMaster or Eventbrite, you’ll notice how there’s event discovery, by address or date. You can buy your ticket, select your seat, and so on. It’s a generally smooth and seamless experience. But once you purchase your ticket and receive your email confirmation, the transaction has completed.

There’s something missing. The rest of the experience is disjointed. In a recent Denton Record-Chronicle article that spotlighted the 2nd Denton Laughs at Royal YUM, where the crowd, wielding nothing but a QR code on their tickets, had the power to financially reward their favorite comedians, catapulting the night beyond mere laughs into a real stake in the game. This echoes the journey Nido detailed in his blog, where he described our pivot from a nebulous wedge strategy to a concrete tool for enhancing community spirit through comedy.

Dallas-Fort Worth-based comedian Jacob Marshall was voted first place by the audience during his stand-up routine at Denton Laughs 2 at Royal Yum restaurant," the Denton Record-Chronicle reported. This demonstrates the real-time impact and engagement our app fosters among audiences.

With new app created by locals, stand-up comics in Denton compete for a bigger cut of ticket revenue, Denton-Record Chronicle, March 31, 2024

Holy shit! We are revolutionizing comedy! We’re not just participants, no sirree, we’re pioneers.

Practically, this means that we have identified the components that make up the creation of a comedy show when we produced ours:

• Venue

• Lineup

• Tickets

• Web page

Venue

Luckily for us, I had one at my disposal. But a reliable way to find interested venues is not currently available. An advantage of playing house with a venue was that I also knew what I wanted as a venue owner, without having to second guess it. It’s simple: more diners. Here’s an inside view of our venue’s page views on Yelp.

Notice that climb? That’s not a joke. This is real, tangible proof that has an even more real effect on the bottom line. It translated to a 30% increase in sales during the event weeks. That’s the kind of math a venue owner can appreciate.

This translated to over 400 new subscribers in the span of 2 weeks to our venue’s newsletter. I mean, I thought I was killing it with 891 subscribers to panda mistake. To a venue, that can be very valuable. Now I know that my tech knowledge allows me to use enterprise level tools on a local restaurant, which means that I understand that for most local restaurant owners, email lists aren’t as valuable as they are to me. Restaurants are our primary non-comedy club venue to host a comedy show. While breweries, bars and cafes are more popular spaces for open mic’s, restaurants offer an opportunity to a different demographic, not typically found in those spaces.

With the understanding that our users prefer an abstraction and an executive level view of things, we can build a plethora of marketing tools for venues built around the customers who opt-in to receive relevant marketing content.

Lineup

Producers don’t really need software to put a lineup together. They know who would be a fit for any project. They know who lives where and what their preferences are. But once they have gone through their DM’s and texts and confirmed their lineup, they may need to mention them in the event description.

One of the unexpected surprises from our Denton Laughs experience was that comedians felt our voting format was like a “competition”. It wasn’t something you would do regularly. But that doesn’t mean fans aren’t interested in ranking performances and feeling more engaged with the art of comedy.

Because.. we’ve been talking to the comedians and holy.. they hardly ever do talk to their fans. They don’t even know who likes them past the dimly lit laughing faces, fans are a crowd. The crowd either loves you or hates you. I thought that was weird. Here I am trying to know my customers and these guys have no idea who wants to see them again? That’s an easy problem to fix. There are many problems that can easily be fixed in this forgotten lost Amazonian tribe that is comedy.

Tickets

We weren’t sure what we wanted at first, but there are some obvious and less obvious common features in the industry. For example, tiered pricing based on time of purchase is very common. Discounts and promotions, less so. The thing that would put someone off selling tickets on one of the big sits is that they take a big bite off the sales of tickets. For example, Eventbrite charges 3.7% + $1.79 per sold ticket + 2.9% of the total order. I mean, damn..

Now the reason why most barebones ticketing solutions charge ~$1 per ticket + order processing fees is because they don’t have the massive list of event goers that any one of the big and popular sites have. But in the case of standup comedy shows, this is less relevant because more than 50% of comedy show tickets are sold at the door, with most customers unknown. And I think there’s an opportunity to get to know them better.

Web page

No one wants to spend time fiddling with websites, but a basic event page would do. A place that people can buy tickets on. Something to maybe showcase the profiles of the comedians, venue details, menus, schedule, etc.

And with that, you have all the pieces to put together a comedy show. These tools exist for none of them are new or exciting in themselves. But no one has ever put them together in a way that allows you to build a full comedy experience, with an infinite feedback loop.

And as we build our beachhead, I realize that none of it can happen without being a part of the community we are building this around. Alright, back to work then. ComedyTech won’t build itself!

After an exciting 36 days in Texas's vibrant DFW comedy scene, Fancrowd's home, Mo and I were targeting comedians to create buzz for our app as part of our wedge strategy. Yet, our compass was off by a few clicks, our so-called wedge strategy was more a hidden gem, a role cloaked not just in laughter but in a profound community spirit. My favorite definition of a wedge is from Lenny Rachitsky: “In business, as in rock cutting, a wedge is made up of two parts: 1) the right tool and 2) the right place to strike”. Here's a peek into the journey of two comedy outsiders discovering the genuine wedge that took them by surprise.

Off the bat, the comedy community's energy was felt. By Day 2, we had Royal YUM in Denton ready as our stage for our first show 'Denton Laughs,' marking the start of an exciting journey from securing our venue, building the stage with our own hands, booking comedians, to daily promotions leading up to the event. Despite the initial ticket sale challenges, Day 8 brought unexpected allies from Ericka Estrella, a local photographer expanding her comedy portfolio, and Alfred Kainga, a seasoned comic prepping for his Netflix special who asked to join our lineup. Their involvement catalyzed a wave of interest, culminating in a sold-out show by Day 11. The success of the show wasn't just in the numbers; it was a vibrant showcase of community, laughter, and the perfect atmosphere, proving that our efforts had tapped into something far greater than just comedy.

After the community embraced our initiative, it became clear that a strategic shift was necessary; our initial wedge approach needed refinement. After all, our business is not in producing or managing shows. Despite the event's success and positive feedback, the logistical challenges shed light on an overlooked asset: producers. These key players bridge venues, comics, and audiences, shaping memorable experiences while using 3-5 platforms to do so. This realization inspired Mo to rapidly start building Fancrowd's answer to ticketing for the comedy industry, made specifically for comedy show producers, transforming our market approach and deepening our engagement with all stakeholders. This adjustment not only refines our broader strategy but also sharpens our perspective on the entire comedy talent vertical.

By Day 29, we had the foundations of a comedy-specific ticketing platform packed with a punch. Inspired by game theory and Fancrowd's philosophy; rewarding humor, we designed features with the producer, comedian, venue and crowds in mind. Our solution transforms comedy shows by introducing new features like the Comedy Coffer and F Games, directly involving audiences in the success of comedians and venues, enhancing crowd engagement, and offering a new revenue model for the comics, all while simplifying logistics for producers making it a win-win-win for comedy everywhere. Now we just have to test it.

By Day 30, preparations for 'The 2nd Denton Laughs' were complete, the venue, stage, and comics, along with a revamped website tailored for the diverse stakeholders. The event on Day 35 wasn't just successful in drawing laughs and boosting sales; it represented a significant shift in embracing #ComedyTech among venues, comics, and audiences alike. Comics got paid in new ways while connecting with new audiences, the crowds got to do more than just laugh with their tickets, while the venue saw an uptick in sales for the week of the event. My engagement with over 200 individuals, 50+ comics, and numerous DFW venues, like Royal Yum's transformation from restaurant to a Denton comedy hotspot, showcased the community's eagerness for more comedy. This experience underscored Fancrowd's role in empowering producers, leading to a significant positive socio-economic impact across the comedy ecosystem.

As we look ahead, our app ties into this IRL space seamlessly, by introducing contests where anyone can earn their spotlight on a stage near them, amplifying the reach and impact of humor on a local level when amplified by technology. To build our producer platform in 17 days and launch our upcoming app, we're not just addressing issues within the comedy ecosystem; instead, we're transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and connection where laughter is the only social currency that matters, in being funny, and spotting funny.

Join Fancrowd to explore how we leverage #ComedyTech to build a better future for the entire comedy ecosystem. Whether you're here to discover, perform, or host, there's a spot on our stage for everyone. Start by visiting our website or sign up for early access to our app and see how you can be part of the revolution. 

FANCROWD #FreedomtoLaugh #ComedyTech #LaughwithPurpose #RewardingHumor #Comedy

Once upon a time, in a world that seemed a little too serious, there was a force quietly at work. It wasn’t a new policy or a peace treaty. No, it was something far more primal and powerful: laughter. Across the globe, from a subway in New York to a bustling market in Bangkok, laughter has the same cadence, the same infectious charm. It's a sound that knows no enemy, recognizes no borders, and speaks a single language.

This is no fairytale—it's the narrative of our times, where humor has emerged as the world's favourite diplomat. ComedyTech, the harmonious blend of technology and humor, is the beacon of unity and joy that can bridge this world one bit and byte at a time.

As the globe grapples with conflicts that have led to unspeakable loss, the role of humour, amplified by ComedyTech, becomes even more pivotal. It's a delicate balance—bringing levity to a world weighed down by grief. Yet, in these moments, humor reveals its true strength, not as a means to overshadow the gravity of events but to offer a glimmer of hope, a shared humanity that can withstand the darkness.

Behavioural psychology underscores the impact of our craft: laughter isn't merely a reaction; it's a social strategy, a balm for the soul amid chaos. Research has shown that in the face of division, a shared joke can soften hearts and open minds. Humour, especially in adversity, is humanity's universal coping mechanism. A 2022 Ipsos study found that a staggering 77% of people select comedy as their top entertainment choice, revealing its indispensable role in our lives.

ComedyTech's influence stretches beyond the stage and screen, weaving into our daily lives through memes and shared hilarities. Shows like 'The Tim Dillon Show' and 'The Mind of Joey Diaz' on Patreon, YouTube sensations 'Kill Tony', 'Andrew Schulz', and 'The Jimmy Dore Show', plus Spotify's 'The Joe Rogan Experience' and the groundbreaking work of creators like Mr. Beast, exemplify ComedyTech's cultural footprint. They are not just sources of entertainment but platforms for connection, reflection, and sometimes, respectful provocation, as Jason Alexander's Duckman profoundly said about comedy's power to challenge and provoke thought.

And let's face it, in a world often divided, we could all benefit from a collective chuckle. When two strangers giggle at a man chasing after his dogs, or when a packed comedy club erupts in laughter over a comedian's on-stage blunder, or when the infectious giggles of a baby on a subway become a shared moment of joy, we're reminded of who we are at our core—social animals, wired for connection.

At FANCROWDr (F), we’re ready to champion this movement. In the coming months, F will debut as a gamified platform where humor isn’t an afterthought—it's the main event. Enhanced by AI, our platform is a celebration of 'everything funny,' a competitive stage where users can showcase their comedic talent, engage in contests of humor, and be rewarded with cash and prizes not just for being funny but for spotting funny too.

Because, at the end of the day, it's not just about being funny; it's about being human. Laughter is the common thread that binds us—the heartbeat of ComedyTech and our collective beacon of hope. Dive into the FANCROWDr experience by visiting www.fancrowdr.com to join our waiting list for early access, or continue this vital conversation by reaching out on our social media channels or at hello@fancrowdr.com. In a world rife with discord, laughter is the balm that can heal and unite us all. Join us, and let's laugh our way to a better tomorrow.