--- title: "Release a Comedy Album or Special: A Roadmap | D.O.C." description: "A step-by-step roadmap to a comedy album or special: an hour worth keeping, the rights in writing, what a distributor asks for, and the next hour started." url: https://disciplesofcomedy.com/career-atlas-release-a-comedy-special.html updated: 2026-11-10 --- The Career Atlas · Discovery & recordings · stop 4 of 5 # An album or special: your roadmap Start the playbook → Your proof The short answer An album or special is a lasting record of an hour, and it retires that hour in the public eye. Record a set you’ve run again and again, get the rights in writing, choose a distributor or release it yourself, launch it toward your live dates, and start the next hour before this one comes out. - **13** steps, each with its “done when” - **2** buyers, in their own words - **1** places to send it - **4** notes ready to send By D.O.C. Editorial · [The Career Atlas](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html) ## This roadmap, in five parts Your roadmap ## From here to an audience that buys tickets Where you are, the tests for the next stop, and the steps between, in the order most comics take them. The steps are the Career Field Manual's; mark each one as you go, and the day goes in your passport. You’re here if… ### Headliner with an hour worth recording - You headline, and your hour holds paying rooms night after night. - The hour has run long enough that you’re ready to let it go. - You have, or can book, a room that will let you record. - You want a lasting record, and a way for new audiences to find you. You’re ready to move on when… ### …to [an audience that buys tickets](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/career-atlas-comedy-audience-that-buys-tickets.html) These are tests the next stop’s buyers set in their own published rules. Tick each one when it’s true for you. You can show attendance and ticket sales from your own shows: Lexy’s Comedy Club asks producers for attendance and ticket sales averages or reports. [Lexy’s Comedy Club ↗](https://www.lexyscomedyclub.com/booking) You know how many people are on your list: Flappers Comedy Club’s producer form asks, with your following on each platform. [Flappers Comedy Club ↗](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6uMEmqhr-Y5PNwJzGKC_bn8dutqbIBNCumMhGlJFBgTT7Ig/viewform) You can bring an audience without leaning on the lineup: Flappers asks whether you can get at least 30 people to your show on your own. [Flappers Comedy Club ↗](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6uMEmqhr-Y5PNwJzGKC_bn8dutqbIBNCumMhGlJFBgTT7Ig/viewform) People who found the release have come to a show, and you’ve counted them. 0 of 4 true ### The playbook 13 steps in 5 parts, from the Career Field Manual. Each has its “done when”, a D.O.C. tool for it, and your status, note and target date; star up to twelve for your 90-day plan. #### Have an hour worth keeping From the Career Field Manual: Grow the act without padding. In [the D.O.C. book](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html): topics 51–70, 115–131 and 435–455. 1. Grow the act without padding · set-07 #### Build forty-five minutes with a deliberate sequence **Done when** Audience-tested act, not just a timed draft. [How comics build an hour →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-build-an-hour.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 2. Grow the act without padding · set-08 #### Build and test an hour before promising an hour Record the hour once it has held paying rooms many times, not the week it first reaches sixty minutes. **Done when** A full headline-length performance in a real room. [Log the hour in Stage Time →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stage-time.html#log) [Read the tape in Comic Critique →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/critique.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date #### Plan the release From the Career Field Manual: Record without losing the act. In [the D.O.C. book](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html): topics 348–382. 3. Record without losing the act · release-01 #### Decide why you are recording or publishing this material **Done when** A specific audience or career objective. [An album, a special or a book →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-comedy-albums-and-books.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 4. Record without losing the act · release-03 #### Budget production, editing, captions and promotion Budget beyond the cameras: the room, the crew, the edit, captions, clearances and the launch. Taping more than one show protects the laughs and the sound. **Done when** A complete plan, not just camera costs. [What filming an hour takes →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-make-a-comedy-special.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 5. Record without losing the act · release-04 #### Confirm performance and master recording rights Get the room’s and each performer’s permission in writing, and clear any music before the edit. **Done when** Written permission and rights information. Asking the room to record → [Music, licensing and copyright →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-music-licensing-comedy-special.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date #### Read the deal From the Career Field Manual: Choose help when it solves a problem. In [the D.O.C. book](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html): topics 290–313. 6. Choose help when it solves a problem · team-05 #### Read commission, exclusivity, territory and termination terms A distribution deal is a rights deal: read the term, territory, exclusivity and how you’re paid, and get professional advice before you sign. **Done when** The agreement reviewed before signing. Questions to ask before you sign → [Do comedians need contracts? →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-comedy-contracts.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 7. Choose help when it solves a problem · team-06 #### Get suitable professional advice for consequential contracts **Done when** Lawyer or accountant engaged when needed. [Attorneys and business managers →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-publicist-attorney-business-manager.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date #### Launch it toward the live show From the Career Field Manual: Record without losing the act and Turn one good night into a return. In [the D.O.C. book](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html): topics 348–382, 348–366, 383–399 and 435–455. 8. Record without losing the act · release-07 #### Give listeners and viewers one clear path to your live dates Plan the launch as one piece: the release date, clips, your list and the live dates it leads to. **Done when** An active official show or ticket link. The note to your list → **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 9. Turn one good night into a return · audience-01 #### Publish accurate upcoming dates with official ticket links **Done when** A date page with no phantom ticket links. [Your dates on your own site →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/tour-dates-widget.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 10. Turn one good night into a return · audience-02 #### Create a small, consistent set of show-promotion assets **Done when** A poster, feed caption and venue-approved photos. [Promo Studio →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedy-show-flyer-maker.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 11. Turn one good night into a return · audience-03 #### Build an opt-in email list with an unsubscribe path **Done when** A consent-based signup process. [Why an email list →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-email-list-for-comedians.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date #### Start the next hour From the Career Field Manual: Record without losing the act and Build a career you can keep. In [the D.O.C. book](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html): topics 348–382 and 400–455. 12. Record without losing the act · release-08 #### Review the next act you will perform after release Releasing an hour retires it in the public eye; have the next one growing in the rooms. **Done when** A plan for replacing published material. [The Writers’ Room →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/how-to-write-stand-up-comedy.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 13. Build a career you can keep · sustain-07 #### Archive your performance history with its source links **Done when** Backup of gigs, clips and agreements. [Your log in Stage Time →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stage-time.html#log) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date ### What speeds this up - **Tape more than one show** Alternate takes protect the laughs and the sound. [Filming an hour →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-make-a-comedy-special.html) - **Clear the music early** A song can hold up a finished release. [Music and copyright →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-music-licensing-comedy-special.html) - **Think audio too** An album reaches listeners who prefer to hear it. [Albums and vinyl →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-comedy-albums-and-books.html) - **Record the room** The audience’s laughter is part of the record. [Record your sets →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-record-your-stand-up.html) - **Sell it at the table** A release can sit beside the merch after the show. [The merch table →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-merch-table.html) - **Keep the dates beside it** Viewers who like the hour look for the next show. [Tour Dates Widget →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/tour-dates-widget.html) Each week ## Your weekly rhythm here Habits, not a timetable: the atlas has no stopwatch. Keep these going, and the proof for this stop builds up week by week. - **Run the hour** Do the full hour where a room gives you the time, and log what held. - **Fix one stretch** Rewrite the weakest five minutes before the next run. - **Price one piece** Get one real quote this week: a room, a crew, an editor or captions. - **Read one term** Read one clause of a deal or release slowly, and note what it lets the other side do. - **Feed the new hour** Try one new bit for the next hour at a mic. - **Grow the list** Ask for sign-ups at each show, so the release has people to tell. What buyers check ## In their own words Each buyer's published rule, quoted from its own page, checked on 10 November 2026. They differ, so send each one what its page asks for, and read the page again before you send. A distributor’s published submission rules ### NextUp Comedy It takes existing recordings, from a 10-minute set to a full special, filmed on at least two HD cameras with clean sound and an audible audience. - We accept submissions of existing comedy shows whether it's a 10 minute short set or long form comedy special. - Please ensure there's at least 2 HD cameras with clean sound and an audible audience. [NextUp Comedy’s page ↗](https://nextupcomedy.com/pages/be-on-nextup) · checked 10 November 2026 A comedy label’s own page ### Stand Up! Records Its contact form goes to press, mail order or distribution, and it doesn’t accept demos. A label that takes no demos isn’t a place to send the record: release it yourself, or through a distributor that asks for submissions. - Emails sent from this form will only go to Press, Mail Order or Distribution. - Stand Up! does not accept demos. [Stand Up! Records’s page ↗](https://standuprecords.com/pages/contact) · checked 10 November 2026 ### Where to send it Places that publish how a recorded special gets in, each checked on 10 November 2026. Save one to your booking desk to keep its status, a follow-up date and a note. [62 places in all, on the Career Atlas →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html#ways) Published route London, England · Distribution · Form #### NextUp Comedy, submit a recording Submissions of existing recordings, from a 10-minute set to a long-form special, filmed on at least two HD cameras with clean sound and an audible audience, for its apps and partner platforms. It can also film or stream a show. **Worth knowing.** Its catalog is mostly British comedy. Read the rights, the term and the territory before you agree to anything. [Its page ↗](https://nextupcomedy.com/pages/be-on-nextup) Checked 10 November 2026 The money here ### Get the rights in writing A release costs before it earns: the room, the crew, the edit, captions, clearances and promotion. Neither page here publishes a fee or a split, so this page gives none; get professional advice before you sign a distribution deal. **Settled before you record** - The room’s written permission to record, and any fee - Releases from everyone else on the recording - Who owns the master, and how long a distributor may use it - The distributor’s term, territory and exclusivity - How and when you’re paid, and the reports you’ll see - Music, clips and images: what’s cleared, and by whom - Who pays for editing, captions and promotion Questions to ask before you sign · [Road Maps: the Math of a Gig, with your own numbers](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedy-road-maps.html#math-of-a-gig) · [Get Paid, Get Back: the deal in writing](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/get-paid.html#deal) · [The IRS on gig work ↗](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/manage-taxes-for-your-gig-work) Ready to copy ## The notes to send Fill in what you know once: it fills every note below and stays on this device. Anything left blank shows in [brackets], to fill in by hand. Your details Your name The venue’s booker The room The recording dates An album, a special or both The crew, cameras and sound The release’s title Its length, in minutes The screener or release link Your SUCDb record or website The release date ### Asking the room to record ``` Subject: Recording an hour at [The room] Hi [The venue's booker], I'd like to record my hour at [The room] on [The recording dates], for release as [An album, a special or both]. The crew would be [The crew, cameras and sound], set up before doors and out of the audience's way. I'd credit the room and send people to its shows. Could we put the permission, any fee and the use of the room's name in writing? Thank you, [Your name] ``` ### The submission to a distributor ``` Subject: Submission: [The release's title], [Your name] Hi, I'm submitting [The release's title], a [Its length, in minutes]-minute stand-up [An album, a special or both] recorded at [The room]. Screener (unlisted): [The screener or release link] Cameras and sound: [The crew, cameras and sound] Rights: I own the recording, with written releases from the venue and everyone on it. My record and dates: [Your SUCDb record or website] Thank you, [Your name] ``` ### The note to your list ``` Subject: [The release's title] is out [The release date] Hi, My [An album, a special or both], [The release's title], comes out on [The release date]. It's the hour some of you saw in the rooms, and thank you for that. Where to find it: [The screener or release link] And the next hour is already growing, live: [Your SUCDb record or website] [Your name] ``` ### Questions to ask before you sign ``` 1. Who owns the master, and for how long may you use it? 2. Which territories and platforms, and is it exclusive? 3. How and when am I paid, and what reports will I see? 4. Who pays for editing, captions and promotion? 5. May I post clips, and when? 6. What happens when the deal ends? 7. Who clears music, clips and images? ``` Your proof ## Proof for your passport Tick each piece when you have it: the day goes in your passport with it. The passport keeps your whole career's record on this device, to download, print and review once a year. The evidence ### This stop is done when you have An hour performed again and again in paying rooms before you record Written permission to record from the room and everyone on the recording A finished master: clean sound, an audible audience, the edit done The release terms in writing: who owns it, where it goes, how you’re paid The next live hour started before this one comes out Your status ### Release an album or special A link to your proof: a tape, a booking, a review Your private note **On your record** Nothing yet: your status changes and ticks appear here, each with its day. [Your whole passport: the timeline, your booking desk, your 90-day plan, the printable career record, the yearly review and the cloud copy →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html#passport) Saved in this browser ## Next stops [Discovery & recordings · The amplifier **An audience that buys tickets** An audience of your own can open several paid routes at once.](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/career-atlas-comedy-audience-that-buys-tickets.html) [Your own shows · Set the route **Run your own ticketed tour** Build a route because the demand is there, not because the map has gaps.](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/career-atlas-run-your-own-comedy-tour.html) ## Go deeper - [How do you make a stand-up comedy special?](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-make-a-comedy-special.html) The explainer, from the D.O.C. book - [Should comedians release an album or write a book?](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-comedy-albums-and-books.html) Albums, vinyl and books - [Chapter 17, Recording and Specials](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html) In D.O.C.’s companion book, Stand-Up Comedy: From Writing to Touring ## Sources The buyers' rules are quoted from each buyer's own page, checked on 10 November 2026. A buyer can change its rules at any time, so read its page before you send anything. - [NextUp Comedy, be on NextUp ↗](https://nextupcomedy.com/pages/be-on-nextup) A distributor’s published submission rules. - [Stand Up! Records, contact ↗](https://standuprecords.com/pages/contact) A comedy label’s own page. - [Lexy’s Comedy Club, booking and opportunities ↗](https://www.lexyscomedyclub.com/booking) A club’s published booking rules. - [Flappers Comedy Club, independent producer submission form ↗](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6uMEmqhr-Y5PNwJzGKC_bn8dutqbIBNCumMhGlJFBgTT7Ig/viewform) A club’s producer form. - [The D.O.C. book](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html) The playbook's book topics, matched to the book's contents on 10 November 2026. ## About this roadmap **By D.O.C. Editorial.** This is one stop of [the Stand-Up Career Atlas](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html): discovery & recordings, stop 4 of 5. It's a way to plan, not a promise of bookings: it gives no expected years, its only figures are the ones buyers and venues publish on their own pages, and the buyers' rules are theirs. For how comics make and release a special, read [How do you make a stand-up comedy special?](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-make-a-comedy-special.html). Updated 10 November 2026 · [The Career Atlas](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html) · [Comic's Corner](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/tools-for-comedians.html) · [Privacy](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/privacy.html)