How Not to Land a Referral
Aside from being a comedian and keynote speaker, I’m also an established comedy writer. Over the years, I’ve sold jokes to Jay Leno, guests on The Jerry Springer Show, wart removal cream companies, Realtors, and a wide variety of other outlets. One of my biggest writing gigs was with a radio prep service.
For those who don’t know, a prep service is a lifesaver for DJs.
When a morning show host drags into the studio at 4 a.m., they don’t have time to hunt down news stories, punchlines, or offbeat lists. A prep service delivers all of that—wacky news, celebrity gossip, jokes, top ten lists—so the DJ can go on-air sounding ready and quick-witted.
Before I moved to L.A., I knew I’d need some income while
trying to break into comedy. A friend of mine was already writing for one of these services, so I asked if he’d make an introduction. I wasn’t sure he’d want to share his contact, but I figured it was worth a try.
He immediately said yes. He told me he liked my material and so he made the connection. I sent in some samples, and the service added me to their freelancer list. From there, I cranked out 15 topical jokes a day in about two hours a day. They didn’t buy every joke, but they bought enough to help keep me afloat.
Things were going smoothly until one night at the famous
Improv on Melrose. I was chatting with a comedy acquaintance—not a close friend, just someone I knew casually. When the topic of writing came up, I mentioned that I wrote for a prep service. He asked which one. I declined to say, since I didn’t know much about his act or his writing, and I wasn’t comfortable recommending him.
That didn’t stop him. He guessed the service, then contacted them behind my back, claiming we were friends and implying I had recommended him.
Fortunately, the owner called me first to check. They were always looking for new freelancers, but I made it clear that I didn’t know this guy well enough to vouch for him. That was all the owner needed to hear—he passed on the guy.
The next time I ran into that comic at the Improv, I
confronted him. His dismissive response? “Well, they don’t pay much anyway, so I don’t care that they’re not using me.”
What a jerk.
There’s a right way and a wrong way to ask for a referral. The right way is to ask directly and accept that you might get turned down. The wrong way is to go behind someone’s back. Not only will it likely backfire, but you’ll also damage a relationship that might have helped you down the road.
Jan McInnis is a Keynote Speaker, Comedian, Comedy Writer, and Master of Ceremonies. She has written for Jay Leno’s Tonight Show monologue as well as many other people, places, and groups – radio, TV, syndicated cartoon strips, and even guests on the Jerry Springer show (her parents are proud). For 20+ years she’s traveled country as a keynote speaker and comedian sharing her unique and practical tips on what business leaders can learn from comedians (no, it’s not all about telling jokes). She can be reached at www.TheWorkLady.com, or Jan@TheWorkLady.com She’s also a GREAT Master of Ceremonies. Click here for her emcee site
Some of the stories in this newsletter are taken from Jan’s popular book:
Convention Comedian: Stories and Wisdom From Two Decades of Chicken Dinners and Comedy Clubs.