Finding a Niche Market - Joey's Story
©2020 Joey Novick
Joey will be presenting his workshop Take Your Story to Corporate Market at Sharing the Fire 2020.
Register today at https://www.nestorytelling.org/conference-details/
I've been doing standup comedy since the late 80s. I was elected to the Borough Council in Flemington in 1995. And for 20+ years I have spoken at many state leagues of municipalities – conferences of elected officials – around the country, including the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, and the American Bar Association.
I was able to create a unique speaking niche for myself as a storyteller by recognizing that the presenters at conferences I was attending were not particularly good storytellers. Most of them lacked one or more of the essential rules of good storytelling – to be inspirational, informational, and educational.As a standup comedian, I have appeared at the legendary Catch A Rising Star, the nationally known Comedy Cellar in New York City, and at Dangerfield's. Along with dozens and dozens of comedy clubs and theaters over the years, I have television credits including MTV and Rascals comedy hour. I have opened for Jerry Seinfeld, Paul Reiser, Chris Rock, and Rosie O'Donnell.
I discovered storytelling quite by accident when I wished a Happy Hanukkah/Merry Christmas to a group of email recipients to whom a comedian friend of mine had sent his well-wishes (that's a story in and of itself). On that email list was a woman by the name of Sherry Weaver who ran a storytelling night called "Stories From the Backroom" at the Cornelia Street Café. I went to one of her shows there, and I was hooked.
And so, I began my journey in storytelling about 10 years ago with appearances at Yum’s the Word, The Liar Show, Twice-Told Tales, – and many of my own storytelling productions around the New York-New Jersey area, including This Really Happened at the Hopewell Theater.
Somewhere in the middle of all of that activity, I found time to go to law school. I enrolled in law school at 47, graduating at the age of 50 licensed to practice law in the state of New Jersey.
And so, I put into the same 'mixing bowl' several elements: my ability as a storyteller, my skills as a standup comedian, my professional engagement as an attorney, and my experience as an elected official for 15 years in my town. And voila: A new profession---storyteller at conferences.
I have been able to create two unique niches for well-paid speaking engagements utilizing all of these elements. Attorneys and elected officials hire presenters for many conferences. My presentations are marketed and branded under the titles "The Improvisational Lawyer" and "Comedian Elected to Town Council in New Jersey" (stories from my solo show). Both require strong skill sets in storytelling – being informational, educational and inspirational – as well as persistence and marketing skills.
About Joey: Joey Novick is a stand-up comedian and storyteller with appearances at The Liar Show, Yums the Word, Sideshow Goshko, Mostly True Tales, and many others. He has performed at Capital Fringe (nominated for Best Comedy Performance), Philadelphia Fringe, and the Jersey Fringe. Recently Joey won the NJ Storytelling Festival Slam and the Cape Cod Story Slam. www.improvforleaders.com
