NextUp: The future of stand up?

Stand-up comedy in this country is going through a bit of a shake-up at the moment. With the roster of ‘seen ’em on the telly’ comics getting more compact, it is difficult to get folks to take a chance on the ever-growing number of new acts. The pinnacle of each performer’s year is often whether or not they take a show up to Edinburgh but they are often left wondering ‘what now?’ after the month of August ends.

In America there has always been a different set-up in place with ‘stand-up specials’ often coming after an hour long show has toured. Though common in America with Comedy Central and now Netflix getting in on the act, the closest equivalent in the UK would be the ‘DVD recording’ but with sales of such a format dwindling there is a gap for where comics go next after success with a show they’re proud of.

That comedians pour everything into their hour long performances for a month of shows at the Edinburgh Fringe only for them to disappear into the ether once September rolls around seems a great loss; it's something that has inspired the new online streaming platform NextUp says co-founder Sarah Henley: “We found it exceptionally sad that we would come to the Edinburgh Fringe every year and see incredible, lovingly crafted shows, which would maybe tour, but then disappear completely, with only a small handful of comics getting DVD deals.”

Teaming up with independent comedy producers Turtle Canyon they have set out to make the ‘Netflix of UK comedy,’ a pretty lofty claim but one backed up by the ease of service and the array of stand-ups on show. The first 30 days are free and there’s a £3.50 monthly charge, less than you might put in the bucket at the end of a ‘pay what you want’ Fringe show (or more, depending on what kind of terrible person you are) and gains access to an initial catalogue of shows new and old including a heap of specials from Canadian wildcard Tony Law.

This base will expand as time goes on, making repeat subscription a must, but the key to the content is in the niche areas. Netflix may have the bigger names with the likes of Jimmy Carr recently releasing an hour-long new show, but with NextUp there’s a chance to find hidden gems, or relive that smaller show you stumbled upon one night in Edinburgh.

The likes of Brennan Reece, Jordan Brookes and Fern Brady are included and for those that couldn’t make the Fringe or live too far from any of the various touring spots that comics hit, this is an ideal place to catch all your favourites, old and new, filmed professionally. Some will dismiss the idea of putting stand-up online as expediting the death of live comedy, but as you can see from the shows that they have produced they thrive on the audience that packs out the venue.

Live comedy will always be best experienced live, but the NextUp way comes a close second, exposing subscribers to acts they may not have heard of. “Audiences may be brought in by their favourite one or two big names but we hope they will quickly be encouraged to discover the breadth of great comedy the industry has to offer,” claims Henley.

As consumers are driven more and more by online content it is refreshing also to see a brand that is looking to put the money directly back into the pockets of the performer and in showcasing stranger acts like Ben Target and Lou Sanders that might broaden the horizons of comedy fans who’ll only see someone live if they’ve ‘been on the telly’. Taking a chance on comedy and discovering something new is one of the greater joys of the live scene and has transferred perfectly with NextUp’s eclectic roster.

It elevates the position of more comedians without having to appear on Live at the Apollo or one of the myriad panel shows. Henley also hopes acts can “be able to resurrect their favourite retired shows, or record their new ones as well as gain new fans from existing recordings.” Rather than being skeptical of the internet and its use in illegally streaming shows, NextUp are turning into the skid and hoping that folks will come with them for the ride. At the cost of less than a pint it’s well worth it, and may unearth a new favourite or two.