Ask Me Anything #22: Stage Time, Managers, Creating a Comedy Scene & How to Actually Level Up

Ask Me Anything #22: Stage Time, Managers, Creating a Comedy Scene & How to Actually Level Up

Author: Barry Katz August 20, 2026 Duration: 30:36

Questions on this week's episode of Ask Me Anything #22

  1. How should a new comic in 2026 be thinking about building stage time, clubs, festivals, podcast or something else entirely?
  2. How long do you have to pound the pavement as a comic before you start making it?
  3. What's a fair deal structure today between comics and managers, and where do you see comics get taken advantage of?
  4. How do you level up from a self-built regional comedy career without just being told to "do more content" or "network more"?
  5. How do you protect creative momentum when life gets busy and full of other important things?
  6. When you read a comedy script or watch a comedy movie, what matters more to you: the jokes or the overall story and characters?
  7. In such a competitive industry, how can an editor stand out for a better chance of getting hired for a job?

Barry Katz has spent decades in the trenches as a comedy manager and producer, and in Industry Standard w/ Barry Katz, he uses that unique position to pull back the curtain on how entertainment really gets made. This isn't a theoretical discussion about Hollywood; it's a series of conversations with the actual decision-makers-the writers, directors, executives, and fellow producers who operate behind the scenes. Each episode feels like sitting in on a private lunch where these players get candid about the pivotal, often risky choices that shaped iconic projects across film, television, and digital media. The tone is conversational and grounded in real experience, offering an insider's perspective that you rarely hear presented so frankly. By focusing on the stories of creation and the hurdles cleared along the way, the podcast provides a genuine, all-access pass to the machinery of show business. You'll hear how unexpected breakthroughs happen and what it actually takes to get groundbreaking content into the world. Barry's background in comedy naturally informs the dialogue, making even complex industry tales engaging and accessible. For anyone curious about the human elements of creativity and commerce that collide in entertainment, this podcast serves as an essential guide. It’s about the practical wisdom and occasional chaos that define the industry standard, told by the people who set it.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Industry Standard w/ Barry Katz
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