As an open mic comedian who’s about 10 months into this new world, I find the potential to build a fan base using social media inspiring. Traditionally, becoming a full-time comedian was a long and treacherous journey. First starting at open mics, then getting booked spots, then booked paid spots, then doing an hour show, touring that show to a small audience, doing another show, touring with that show to a slightly bigger audience, doing some festivals, writing a couple of more shows and touring those shows a couple more times as well (hopefully to growing audiences), then televised late night tv show spots in between the touring, then eventually a televised special, then another special, then probably another to prove to showrunners you’re capable, then sitcom, then stardom. That journey today is still quite similarly, however, through the use of social media those earlier years in the industry don’t have to be in front of empty audiences and you don’t have to rely on traditional media to prop you up. Luke Kidgell, Lewis Spears, Neel Kolhatkar, Friendlyjordies, Frenchy, Alex Williamson and Isaac Butterfield are all Australian comedians that have large online followings whilst only doing comedy ranging from 4 – 7 years. All of them have hundreds of thousands of fans online. This means they’re all able to perform, tour and create content full time whilst still being quite new to the art form. All without having appeared on television once. 15 years ago, a comedian four years into comedy would most likely not being doing it full time, let alone going on nationwide tours and even internationally to sold out crowds of adoring fans. I find social media so inspiring as it means the traditional avenues of success are becoming obsolete as you can build a career through amassing fans online. One could even argue that all comedians that have become popular within the last five to ten years wouldn’t be where they are today without social media. Podcasts, videos and stand up clips rule the stand-up world now in terms of what audiences want to see. They don’t have to watch the comedian the television is trying to show them. They can watch whoever they want performing whatever style of comedy they please. Additionally, comedians don’t have to sensor their material in order to get on television. It’s just them in their purest form. Once you have that fan base you can tour and perform without the need to rely on television shows, festivals, bookers or promoters to provide work and exposure for you. Your career can become autonomous and stable, well stable in terms of being a freelance artist.