Don’t hide your idea

Ever had a really exciting comedy idea and been worried someone might steal it?

Or maybe you had a great idea but just never got round to doing anything with it.

As creators we’ve all been there. But the thing is, an idea really isn’t worth anything on it’s own.

I read an article by Derek Sivers this week that really hit home and got me thinking about how well the principle of idea vs execution applies to comedy and creative arts in general.

Derek Sivers is a musician turned entrepreneur who founded CD Baby to help musicians without a record label make money for their work. He’s a bit of an inspiration for our mission to help comedy creators.

In the article he explains really clearly how a great idea is worth so little without great execution, and that a bad idea well executed can be huge.

Think of this in terms of comedy. When we have an idea and start actually writing it as a script, it will change. Later the script will be interpreted by actors, and it will change. The performance will be recorded and will change in the edit. Then the footage will be shown to an audience who will react in a way that will leads us to change every part again.

In one cycle we have come so far from the initial idea, and yet are so much closer to it actually being something real. We have brought the parts together and made something that people can experience.

There’s a great idea now on the collaboration board from a Comedy Crowder that created excitement and got people thinking. But who knows if it will be as good as a bad chat show host with an Abba theme tune, three priests and their housekeeper on a quiet Irish island, or a middle manager of a paper merchant with no self awareness.

Ideas are great because they are the initial spark that brings excitement and inspiration. Great execution of the idea by writers, actors and a production team are what makes it come to life.

If you have an idea write it down, find out what people think, see it acted out and how people react to it. Don’t waste the inspiration, because without executing an idea really isn’t worth holding on to.