2011: Ben Pobjie performs his debut Melbourne International Comedy Festival show, Ben Pobjie's Funeral. Some people come, and some people laugh.
2013: Ben Pobjie performs his second Melbourne International Comedy Festival show, Let's Put On A Show. Some people come, and some people laugh.
2014: Ben Pobjie performs his third Melbourne International Comedy Festival show, Trigger Warning. Thanks to the generous efforts of Indiegogo sponsors, lots of people come, and lots of people laugh, and Ben becomes very famous and goes around wearing gold jewellery and having slumber parties at Louis CK's house.
OK, here's what we're dealing with here: I've done the comedy festival a couple of times, and been reasonably happy with the results, but it's been done on a shoestring each time. Less than a shoestring even: it's been done on an aglet. I'd like to actually put on a festival show with enough funds to get a really top-notch venue for a couple of weeks, and to put some proper marketing behind it - in previous shows, a few posters has been all I've been able to afford, and mainly I've relied on social media and word of mouth.
As I said, I've done OK, but I want this next one to be bigger and better and for the word to spread far and wide. My MICF show for next year, if this goes to plan, will be Trigger Warning, a show about things that people tell me I shouldn't joke about. My hope is that it will be deeply offensive, and even more deeply funny. My comedic progression, which in the last couple of years has encompassed improvisation with Let's Put On A Show, and will go into more personal territory with my upcoming Fringe show Wearing A Towel, will hence move into the "possibly pissing people off" area, which should be fun.
And basically, I want as many people as possible to see it, and talk about it, and spread the word. I also want to put the show on with only as much worry and stress and stomach ulcers as are strictly necessary - to achieve both these goals I'm asking for a tiny bit of your help, because my own funds are severely limited and mainly spent on feeding and clothing my children, which is of course less important than comedy, but more punishable by imprisonment if I don't do it.
All I'm asking for is ONE DOLLAR from you. Seriously - that's it. ONE DOLLAR. As you see my goal is $13,111. I chose that figure because as of the 21st July, 2013, that's how many Twitter followers I have. If I get just one dollar from each of them, I have my goal.
Now of course some of my followers are spambots, so they won't give me a dollar. But hopefully a few people who aren't on Twitter will kick in, and MAYBE I can even get more than a dollar from a few of you who can afford it and who really want this show to happen. If you do give more than one dollar, there are lots of sweet rewards on offer as you see. If you only give one though, you'll still be recognised on the Trigger Warning Honour Roll.
Hopefully I can reach this target, or even beyond it. If not, hopefully I'll still have enough to get Trigger Warning up and happening. The funds I raise will be spent on registration, venue hire, marketing and advertising, and other expenses like props, costumes, travel, etc, the sundries that go into a festival show, and basically making life a little easier for me as I try to pay the bills and mount a really professional show at the same time. Anything left over will be put toward my touring fund, and hopefully contribute to my being able to take one of my shows on the road and show off to other cities around Australia. So that's right - your donation could assist me in getting to YOUR town. Exciting right?
ONE DOLLAR. Twitter hashtag is #GiveBenaDollar. It's a very small amount, and it's all I ask. If everyone does it, this Trigger Warning is well on its way to reaching everyone it should reach, and naturally quite a few it shouldn't. Come on guys, let's shake this comedy world up a little, huh?
