The Risk of Creating
And the Risk of Being Seen (Comedy Minhdacks #101)
In the comedy world, there’s often much talk about joke theft. There’ve even been major feuds (think: Joe Rogan) that have arisen over it. Comedians, even those who don’t use social media, are on some level, all content creators. And it seems to me that, if you’re going to create anything and put it in front of others, there’s always a risk of being ripped off, knocked off, or taken advantage of.
Take this site for example. I try to blog daily. I create a couple of podcast episodes each week. I give away free resources. Anyone can access that material and do what they please. Just this week, for example, to get my FREE 17-page “Comedy Blueprint Playbook,” someone subscribed, grabbed the free resource, then disappeared almost immediately. When I step back and look at it, it definitely felt rehearsed: Subscribe, download, run.
My first reaction wasn’t great. There was a split second where it felt like something got taken from me. I spent time putting that workbook together, thinking through it, shaping it, making sure it was actually useful. Then it gets treated like a quick grab on the way out the door. In that moment, I was frustrated because that thought showed up whether I wanted it to or not.
BUT…I’ve learned not to sit there very long. The longer I stay in that mindset, the more it starts to mess with how I actually think about the work. I start drifting toward keeping things back instead of putting things out. I start thinking in terms of protecting instead of building or creating. In other words, that kind of mental shift doesn’t help anything I’m trying to do.
What helps me reset, then, is remembering what an exchange like that actually is. I’m not handing something out so I can trap people into staying. I’m putting something out there because I think it’s helpful and because I want the right people to find it. Some people will take it and move on. That’s part of the deal whether I like it or not. I’ve learned that, in life, not everyone who shows up is meant to stay. Others, however, are looking for something they can come back to. I would be making a huge mistake if I treated those groups the same.
So, the better move in any situation like this is to keep my focus where it belongs. The people who stick around are the ones worth writing for. They read, they think, they try things out, and they come back. That’s the group that actually helps give a little shape to what I do over time. But if I’m being real honest, I write and create because it’s meaningful and fulfilling to me. If I run into speed bumps, I just log it and keep going. I write the next thing, record the next episode, work on the next set. That’s the only part I can control anyway.
Now, let me ask you a question: Are you ready to level up in your comedy journey? If so, check out these resources:
FREE - “The Round-Up”: My weekly comedy newsletter, choc-full of insights from videos, articles, and so on. This’ll also give you FREE access to “The Joke Blueprint Playbook.” Get the newsletter HERE.
FREE - The Joke Blueprint Playbook: Act now and get an exclusive, 17-page toolkit that I designed specifically to solve some of the biggest joke-writing struggles comedians have. This comprehensive guide is packed with actionable advice, and it’s entirely exclusive to this community. Get it HERE.
The Joke Writer’s Lab: Stop guessing at what makes people laugh. In this self-paced, online course, you’ll get the tools to find your unique comedic persona and learn the exact mechanics of writing a bulletproof joke. Get it HERE.
The Comedian’s Memory Lab: Never blank on stage again!!! Learn my insider method to build and flawlessly memorize your entire set, whether you are doing 3 minutes at an open mic or headlining for an hour. Get it HERE.