New comedy directory website launches

Comedy Caster

A new website which aims to provide a quick and easy way to search for and contact comedians, writers and performers has opened its doors and is already attracting some high profile users.

ComedyCaster is the brain child of ex-stand-up and a regular on Radio 4’s The Now Show, Laura Shavin and is a directory for comedy performers. It aims to simplify the process of hiring and casting performers by opening the channels of communication beyond agents and promoters.

“I got the idea for the site when I was trying to get hold of an old comedy chum,” explains Laura, “I couldn’t find them and realised that without insider knowledge (who’s with which agent for example), or if a comedian doesn’t have a website, or if you only remember a bit of the comedian’s name, it’s difficult to find them and even more difficult to contact them.”

The site is unique due to the volume of detailed information included, with each performer’s profile containing a biography, pictures, embedded video clips of their routines. The site’s big draw, however, is the inclusion of each act’s contact details and an email service which allows queries to be sent direct to the act and their representatives. It is this feature which Laura thinks will prove the most useful to people in the industry, as casting directors can often overlook a performer if they are not already registered with an established acting agent. It is also hoped that the site will be of particular use to event organisers and promoters who are unfamiliar with the UK comedy Circuit.

ComedyCaster already has an impressive list of personalities in its directory, with comedians including Marcus Brigstocke, Gina Yashere, Scott Capurro, Greg Proops as well as the likes of Graham Norton and Ronni Ancona having already signed up. It’s an impressive list, and one that Laura is understandably ecstatic about: “It’s only been live since February and already we have over two hundred acts signed up, so I’m pretty chuffed at how well it seems to be going,”

Laura’s aspirations for ComedyCaster, however, reach much higher: “Eventually I want it to be the industry standard for finding, contacting and booking comedy bods, so fingers crossed. If we keep getting people joining at the rate they have been so far, it may well happen.”

Listing on ComedyCaster is currently free, and the site does not take commission from any work garnered through the service. To sign up or browse the site’s listings, visit www.comedycaster.com.