Most people who work in the UK live comedy sector are optimistic about the future, according to an anonymous snap survey.  The short survey has identified what people involved in live comedy across the UK feel about the future.  Almost 200 people responded to the survey, which was written and circulated by comedy producer Geoff Rowe (pictured), and it revealed 66% were overall optimistic about the future. 

However, the survey also identifies some nervousness around the future in terms of further changes which will impact on the sector. 

The survey was sent to a cross section of comedians, promoters, producers and agents from around the UK.  65% of people who responded identified as comedians, 20% as promoters (including comedy clubs, venues and tours), 9% as people who work in media and 6% agents or managers. 

60% of people who responded think that ticket prices will increase, whilst total ticket income will remain the same, suggesting that less people will be attending live comedy shows over the next 3-5 years.  62% of people agree that the pace of change will continue in the future, and that everyone working in the sector will need to adapt to these changes. 

The survey was written and distributed by producer Geoff Rowe; he said “I was literally sat at home working in my office and I was beginning to think about what the future looks like for live comedy.  The last 2 years or so have been really hard and there are loads of conversations going on about the on-going impact of Covid, but also the impact of online content, and the cost of living crisis in the UK.  I thought a short snap survey might be really useful to see what others working in the sector are thinking.  I appreciate the issues raised in the survey are complicated, and this is just one way of finding out what people think, but I hope the results might be interesting and useful to others.”

Encouragingly, 50% of people thought income from places such as donations, funding and patreon schemes will increase and 75% of people thought diversity in live comedy will continue to expand and develop.  The biggest surprise from the survey was only 50% of people think online content is vital to the sector with 45% of people think online content is just a “bonus”.  In addition, only 11% think online content has to be free to the audience; 74% thought people will pay for content as long as they value what is being produced. 

People who responded to the survey clearly think the “threat” of Covid and the pandemic has gone away as no one thought the biggest threat to live comedy was a post pandemic fear of going out.  The cost of living was cited as being the biggest current threat, with over 84% of people choosing this from a list of factors which also included promoters or venues leaving the sector (7%), restrictions as to what can be said on stage/cancel culture (5%) and lack of media coverage (1%).

Geoff is encouraging people to get in touch if they want a copy of the full survey report, or would like to discuss future snap surveys for the live comedy industry.  He said “I’ve found this survey really useful to see what others working in live comedy think.  If it’s useful, I’m personally happy to do more in the future so let me know if that would help.” 

A selection of comments received as part of the anonymous survey include:

“I think the way younger people are consuming comedy & what they class as comedy is increasingly looking less & less like the current model of comedy clubs, theatre shows & festivals.”

“It’ll (live comedy) always change. That’s the fun of it. Sometimes it’ll be a cycle, sometimes it’ll be peaks and troughs. But it’ll always change. Which is good.” 

“I hope live comedy wins in the battle with online content”.