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Moses Storm:I was surprised to be sort of the face of this wildly inaccurate article.
He was there, the reporter.
He could have just asked me.
Theres a photo of me right there.
Im eight years into comedy.
The next night, Ill go to the Improv to do a sold-out show in the main room.
Ill go to the Improv Lab across the way and do a set there.
And for all these paid shows to even line up in the same week issorare.
Thats on a very good week.
So, youre essentially paying to run a show.
I ran a show for five years at Meltdown Comics in its heyday.
Youre actively losing money.
Its not like Im an open micer and barista.
Im at a very privileged position in my comedy career and that number is so far off.
Always side things that had nothing to do with stand-up.
Thats $120,000 a year?!
I dont even know what to say.
So, while I would love to be honest, it is not in my best interest.
I can tell you that bar and non-comedy venues pay $0 to $20.
Tonight, Im doing two spots at shows that are produced by comedians.
I have no idea if Im getting gas money, and Ill be shocked if I do.
And all of that was from Hot Tub and a Jewish country club I performed at.
Alison Stevenson:The most money Ive made from performing at a show in L.A. was around $20.
Even then, the money comes from doing road gigs.
And you always have to do work on the side.
To those very few stand-ups who have managed to get money from places like Netflix, congrats.
However, the rest of us are in no way making figures even close to $1,500 a week.
Im lucky if I make that much a month.
The most money I have made from comedy was with my album, which was self-released.
Kyle Ayers:Im what you would call a newer comic breaking in.
Clubs are probably similar, maybe slightly more.
Theres maybe more money in running your own show.
All of those are more feasible and frequent outside of L.A. while on the road.
That said, its not really my expectation to make that working as a stand-up in L.A.
Right now, Im lucky enough to only have and need one day job to make ends meet.
Most shows in L.A. pay either nothing, a drink ticket or two, or a tip-jar split.
For club spots, its usually in the $15-to-$30-a-spot ballpark.
James Fritz:Hahahahhahahahahaha.
Seriously, I thought that article was a Borowitz Report satire piece.
Im a freelance writer, which is almost as financially exploitative as comedy.
On a good week performing comedy, I will make approximately $60.
On an average one, I will make zero.
But, just so people know, that is not entry-level.
A beginning headliner has probably been doing comedy for a decade or so.
Its important to know that must be road money no comic makes their stand-up money in town.
L.A. money comes from writing and acting jobs.
Emily Heller:This week was an interesting one for me because I was prepping for a special taping.
For context, I have been doing stand-up for ten years.
At that point, I owed around $10,000 to my credit cards and friends and family.
Which brings us to this past week!
Ipaida total of ~$200 for the space rental, Facebook advertising, and tech.
I didnt charge for tickets.
Most of the shows I do in L.A. are unpaid.
Jamie Loftus:$1,250 is a really fun way of misspelling negative $50 or maybe parking money.
Live comedy pays when youre famous, and good luck getting gas money if youre not.
Whitmer Thomas:Reading that comedy gold rush article was like watching an episode ofEntourage.
Most of the time, comedians in L.A. dont get paid.
It took me a few minutes to recall why I even had 100 bucks in my jacket.
Otherwise theres TV money, but TV has powerful gatekeepers, and it really is its own separate industry.
I think people are just beginning to learn that this almost zero pay system is so entrenched in showbiz.
