Ep 197 – From Open Mic Dabbler To Paid Pro What if you could turn your late night open mics and bar shows into a real career on stage and on screen, without going broke, burning out, or killing the joy that made you start in the first place? In this solo episode of Inside the Audition, I answer 6 raw, honest questions from one of my clients who wants to go full time in comedy. I walk through what I actually did, what I would do differently now, and how you can use the same principles whether you are a comedian, actor, or any performer who wants to get paid for what you love. If you feel stuck between "I love this" and "how do I make money from this," this one is for you. In this episode, I share: How I went from unpaid open mics to higher paying gigs The real steps that moved me from "I will perform for beer and wings" to corporates, keynotes, and paid shows, plus the stuff I would skip if I was starting again today. Craft vs cash, and why they are not the same game How to think about getting really good at what you do, and separately, how to think about making money from it, so you stop confusing the two and beating yourself up. How to handle the money roller coaster without frying your nervous system Day jobs, runway, expenses, when to quit, when not to, and how I would set things up now so you can pursue your art without living in constant panic. The "writing vs hustling" question How much time should you spend on new material vs finding gigs and opportunities, what "balance" actually looks like, and how I personally create new material in real life, not in theory. Mentors, coaches, and why I lost years trying to lone wolf it The story of the headliner who took me on the road, what I learned from generous veterans, and why I now put so much value on coaching, acting classes, business coaching, and real communities. How to actually network with full time comedians without being weird Where to show up, how to become part of the community, why hosting your own show is a cheat code, and simple ways to build real relationships instead of awkward transactions. Staying positive when you are not booking as many gigs as you want Why tying your happiness to "how many shows I have this month" is a trap, how I think about slow seasons now, and what to do when your calendar is light so you do not spiral. Performing in the States and visas How my dual citizenship works, what most Canadian and international performers pursue instead, and what you should start saving and documenting now if the US is in your future. The bigger game: who you are being, not just what you are doing Getting specific about what you actually want your career to look like, why energy and identity matter more than any single tactic, and how to think long term while still being ready for magic today. Rough timestamps 00:00 Why I turned one client's text into a full episode 03:04 Craft vs money, and why you need to separate them 07:06 My early days saying yes to almost everything 10:08 Being a pro on and off stage so shows lead to more shows 18:42 Handling money, quitting your job, and not nuking your nervous system 20:48 Writing new material vs hustling for gigs 24:59 Mentors, coaching, and the cost of doing it alone 32:12 Where to actually meet and connect with working comics 36:02 Staying optimistic when you are not booking 42:33 Working in the US and the O 1 conversation 44:56 Bonus: getting brutally clear on what you really want Sponsored by: Monologue of the Month Club If you are serious about performing and you want to go from unseen to unforgettable and book your next lead role, join Monologue of the Month Club. Inside the club, you will: Build a powerful body of monologues you can actually use Discover how to tand out in every audition Grow into the lead actor in your career and your life Join us at MonologueClub.com. Connect with me Instagram: @joeyfreddylarsen Website: JoeyFreddyLarsen.com Learn about Actors Audition Club Join my courses and workshops Book me as a speaker, comedian, or emcee for your next event If you have a question you want me to answer on a future episode, send me a DM on Instagram and tell me where you are stuck in your career right now.
