Good Times - Comedy Streaming

Hey pals! Sorry this is our first communication... it's been a rough time. But boy hasn't this lockdown show how necessary a streaming platform is to provide security to the local comedy industry.

Anyway, tonight at 6pm on Facebook.com/GoodTimesComedyClub

Thanks to everyone who joined our Q&A, there were a few common questions that came up and we'll try remember all of them for you now.

So when you say streaming, you mean live streaming?

No. Not at all. But also yes for one specific show once a month... but we would have the option to do more if it was the right show for it.

The idea is very much this to be pre-recorded / edited content.

What shows can we expect to see on the platform?

Initially it will be a lot of stuff we are already doing live at Good Times.

Some will be regular shows with the streamable version being a highlights real from multiple nights edited in to one show. IE Big Laughs and The Sunday PHUCKabout.

We will also be expanding the amount of panel shows (think "Would I Lie to You?", "7 Days", Etc), and these will be produced in a similar format to what you see on TV.

Obviously comedians specials will be a big part of Good Times - Comedy Streaming. We are already talking with a couple of acts who have specials filmed and ready to go, but will also be commissioning specials from comics around the country which we will produce in house.

On top of these things we will be keeping our eyes out for funny shows that for whatever reason fell through the mainstream cracks and fall within our price range to purchase digital broadcast rights.

And longer term we hope to begin commissioning a wider range of shows. Sitcoms, cartoons, anything at all as long as it's funny.

So where's the money going?

Our initial set up will involve at least 3 Mevo cameras which we need to purchase, this is our biggest cost and obviously pretty important. On top of that the money will go towards upgrading our lighting at Good Times so we can actually get things looking good on the cameras, as well as audience mics so we get that sweet laughter.

There's a couple of other little bits and pieces like cables etc, as well as our website build, legal fees, some very small decor updates as the room is super bland on camera at the moment, and purchasing a computer that can actually run all this.... but those things are largely coming out of Good Times pocket.

What's the deal with like... is there a paywall or something?

There sure is! We're still working out exactly what the numbers will be, but it'll be a tiered subscription system. We're basically wanting people to pay around $10 a month to have access to basically everything we put on offer. And we need it to function this way so we can appropriately pay performers.

What's the benefit to performers?

Oh it's just exposure. You'll never own a home. Go get a real job.

Nah but seriously fam, we want to pay you. We have no guarantees this thing is going to work out, but we reckon just with our diehard supporters along with comedians friends and family who live overseas so can't watch them perform any other way, a thousand people isn't a crazy goal.

At that point we already have a $120,000 revenue each year, and our running costs are minimal. But even if only half of that went to artists, it's $60,000 that wasn't in the local Chch comedy economy before. Every step we grow from there is more money we can directly put in the pockets of performers.

Streaming is already bigger than TV. Streaming will become a bigger source of revenue for comedians in NZ than TV is. The reason comics live in Auckland is for that TV money. So if we have streaming in Chch and it starts generating the sort of revenue TV is now, a lot of you can stop doing this as a hobby and actually have a career (without moving to a different city).

Who owns the IP once you film my stuff?

Until we sign a deal you nothing we film will be used in any capacity, and you'll still own the material within the recording. There will be some standard contracts for short clips used in things like Big Laughs, but individual specials and less regular shows would have specific contracts.

This is a question where realistically I don't fully know the answer till we've done more consultation both legally and with the industry. I'm trying to get some info at the moment around how a couple of vaguely similar entities structure their contracts.

I suspect it'll end up... and this is speculation... that we would own the actually video (Not the material within but like the data pulled from our cameras and sound desk), and you would still own your material. So we'd be signing a deal where you give us permission to use the video of your material (in the specific context of whatever the deal is... we couldn't then say on sell it to TVNZ without your permission)... and you could go do that material elseware because it's yours... but you couldn't say go sell that video, or put it up online for free, because we own the recording.

Does that make sense? Any entertainment lawyers wanna holla at me?

Will you do more of these live streams during the Boosted campaign? But more entertaining, with higher production value?

Yes.

Just a couple more days for us to hit our target so please do everything you can to share the word!

Snap will be going live 10am Sunday all the way through to close off at 1am Monday. He'll be joined by a bunch of guests throughout the day, keeping you entertained as we countdown to the celebration or commiseration!

https://www.facebook.com/events/666201831024384