Written by Josh Leigh, Co-Founder and Director of Hynt
Josh Leigh is the co-founder and director of Hynt, a digital fundraising agency helping charities and purpose-led brands win new supporters and raise more money. Go to www.hynt.studio to learn more.
Ever wish for an act of God to strike you down midday through a f*ck-up? Just me?
Back in the day, I probably wouldn’t have ever prayed for an act of God. But for the past four years or so, I’ve been moonlighting as an amateur stand-up comedian. (Reading between the lines: I’ve spent the last four years bombing spectacularly on stage in front of hundreds of witnesses 🫠)
I’ve failed, flopped and floundered, and it often leaves me praying for some sort of act of God to smite me down and save me from embarrassing myself.
But I’ve now learned the hard way: what’s the point of being a huge loser if we can’t laugh and learn about it?
So here are the 3 things I learned about fundraising from moonlighting as an amateur stand-up comedian*
*I lied, there’s 3.5 things
- If you aren’t bombing, you’re not trying anything new – so what’s the point? Do what you’ve always done, and you’ll get what you’ve always got; and you deserve so much more!
- Fundraisers need to be a little braver in their day-to-day, and in the big picture. The world will keep moving, so if you’re standing still, you’re falling behind.
- (Real talk: it TERRIFIES me to try new material on stage. I’m a perfectionist, and hate for anyone to see a chink in the armour. But that doesn’t stop me from doing it!)
- Nobody is sitting there waiting for you to fail; you’ll be shocked to learn that most people aren’t even thinking about you!
- As a moonlit amateur comedian, I’m just one of a dozen desperados in the back corner of a pub. If you smash it, you’ll be the hero of the hour; if you bomb, nobody cares.
- I dread to think of all the great fundraising ideas that never see the light of day because people are worried about what others might think.
- At risk of an equestrian cliche, just get back on the horse! Take as long as you need, but always get back on the horse!
- (Caveat: unless you’re truly not funny at all, then stop telling jokes, maybe your talents lie elsewhere. Like equestrian care?).
- Fundraisers who give up might quietly fade into a hedge row; fundraisers who try and try again, are the ones who go down in history*
- *get booked to speak at Pizza For Losers
3.5 And for the last half-thing: fundraising and comedy really are the same damn thing. We have no budget, high targets, and people would rather buy Nikes and Netflix than give to charity. But we keep trying anyway.
- And if that’s not the definition of insanity/the most accurate description of a moonlighting amateur stand-up comedian, then I’ll quit comedy
- *I’ll never quit comedy, no matter how many times I bomb 🫠
If you’ve ever failed publicly, tripped over your own ambition, or just want a night of pizza and laughter, come to Pizza for Losers. It’s the day we celebrate all the losers of the world, and I think you might belong there.
Get your ticket now: use code LOSER15 for 15% off the ticket price when you book today!
