How to Get Your Edinburgh Show Fully Sponsored

Maddy Anholt

Maddy Anholt

Hi, I’m Maddy Anholt and I am a creative agency… okay I get it, it sounds a little forced but by seeing myself as a creative agency rather than as a solo performer I’ve managed to secure eight to 10k sponsorship for my last four Edinburgh shows.

What do I mean by a ‘creative agency’?

Well, a creative agency covers everything – writing, performing, producing, filming, distributing, creating etc. By calling yourself and your team (who you will assemble) a creative agency, you suddenly become more attractive to brands and brands are where the money is.

I hate the term ‘struggling creative’, it takes all the power away from us when we are one of the hardest working industries. About ten years ago when I first started I fell into the ‘struggling’ rhetoric, I found myself telling anyone who would listen how hard this industry is, how little money there is, how it’s only the few who are well-connected or minted that can get anywhere. That thinking did nothing for my career, if anything I drew more unpaid work, less respect and more ‘good for your CV’ jobs to myself. I wanted to go to Edinburgh and do a one-woman show but when I started looking into the costs, I realised there was no way it could happen.

I took a job in marketing straight after drama school (which I’d scrimped, saved and worked five jobs for) and thought that was my lot. But it was whilst working in marketing that I began to see how much brands were willing to pay for campaigns and how, generally speaking, open brands were to new ways to grow their audience.

That got me thinking. I realised I could make myself into the commodity they were willing to spend money on. Edinburgh famously bankrupts all but a handful of big names, but was there a way to market my new show as a campaign to grow an audience for a brand? Spoiler alert if you hadn’t guessed it already… yes there was.

It’s not easy and it takes something us women find very difficult: believing in ourselves and bigging ourselves up, but it’s possible. I’m proof it’s possible, in my first year I secured seven grand, after that it’s been between eight to 10,000 per show. It takes about six months, it’s definitely not a get-rich-quick scam and it will test every bit of patience you’ve got left, but it’s worth it when you do manage to find a sponsor and get your fully-sponsored show to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh is gruelling enough without paying five to 10 grand of your own money. You have to realise you – as a creative agency, have something brands want, and that’s imagination, creativity and potential to bring in a whole new set of customers that they – the big, faceless corporates cannot, no matter how much money they throw at it.

Fundamentally, we do not have to be suffering artists, we can go to Edinburgh and be paid to do it and I am proof that, with enough hard work in the right direction you can be successfully freelance and not eating beans on toast for the month. It’s just a change in mindset. Imposter Syndrome, begone!

For the price of a coffee and a croissant you can watch my video tutorial which tells you in detail how you can get your show fully sponsored. You can watch it HERE. 

If you would like a more intensive version, I run a four-week evening courses, just one night a week where I take you through the entire process, and much, much more. The next one beings this January and the link to reserve your spot on that is HERE!

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Funny Women NextUp…Comedy Shorts Award

Are you a budding Director? Producer? Screenwriter? Are you collaborating with friends to make a funny video? Then we are looking for YOU!

If you have a short film or sketch that you think is hilarious, then enter your work for our Comedy Shorts Award to be in with a chance of winning some life-changing support and mentoring from comedy professionals.

WHAT KIND OF FILM ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

A 1- 6 minute film that can take the form of anything comical. It’s a great opportunity to show us your creative flair and have fun!

WHO CAN ENTER?

This award is open to all women filmmakers and content developers. The film must be an original narrative created, produced and devised by a woman, or women, although male cast and crew members are allowed.

ARE THERE ANY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MY FILM?

Yes – we require all films to be 6 minutes or under, to be entirely original dialogue, to not feature brand logos and most importantly, to only use music with the written consent of the performer and/or publisher either personally or via the PRS system https://www.prsformusic.com/ .

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We will broadcast selected entries on our Funny Women YouTube channel and social media (so keep an eye out) and the top 10 finalists’ films will also hosted on a dedicated Funny Women Comedy Shorts Awards page on our website. We will also broadcast the final 3 entries as part of the grand final night.

HOW IS IT JUDGED?

Films are judged for production, concept, delivery/performance, creativity, writing and overall funniness. The top 10 films are then viewed by an independent judging panel of top television and film industry professionals who will choose one overall winner and two runners up. The final three will be invited to attend the grand final in London on the 23rd September.

WHAT CAN I WIN?

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If you need further information please contact us here