LATEST COMEDY DOT COM NEWS

[M]

Take a look, updated weekly on Monday afternoons:

http://www.comedy.com.au/html/news/

Wow. That's it, is it? That's all the comedy that's happening in Australia - comedy.com.au? That's what the site's purporting to provide. I thought there was a whole lot more comedy going on in Australia but apparently that's it and there's only 15 comedians.

How about being up-front and reporting more acurately at the top of your "comedy.com.au" news page that this is just a big ad for "TOKEN ARTISTS" - and not a comprehensive list of all comedy going on in oz.

What an insidious misrepresentation.

[Munchkin]

At the top of the comedy.com.au page it does.

Originally Posted by www.comedy.com.au

This site is owned and operated by Token Artists PL

[the_podster]

thanks for the cool site, and the updates, will be checking it regularly.
Tripod are token artists.......even better

[the_podster]

thanks for the cool site, and the updates, will be checking it regularly.
Tripod are token artists.......even better

[Laney]

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Wow. That's it, is it? That's all the comedy that's happening in Australia - comedy.com.au? That's what the site's purporting to provide. I thought there was a whole lot more comedy going on in Australia but apparently that's it and there's only 15 comedians.

How about being up-front and reporting more acurately at the top of your "comedy.com.au" news page that this is just a big ad for "TOKEN ARTISTS" - and not a comprehensive list of all comedy going on in oz.

What an insidious misrepresentation.

don't post as a guest if you're going to make accusations. it's bad form, and it's incredibly rude.

[Mythor]

So unless they post a definitive guide listing everything that's comedic that is happening anywhere they can't post a list on their own website of what is happening?
It's like asking Telstra to post a list of Optus prices?

I think it's clear why they're anonymous - they're either a non-Token artist or are management from a Token competitor... Either way - :thumbs-u: - Very professional!

Petty anonymous sniping may be tolerated elsewhere, but it ain't kosher here. Cut it out, leave or be shown the door, it's up to you...

You really did force me to sign up!

Ok. I'll bite.

I'll come clean - I am a publicist hobbiest - ie. I don't get paid for it but I like to help my friends in my spare time because I have a great deal of experience in publicity and promotion of events. However, as I don't want the people I publicise to be entangled in my own comments, I remain pseudynomynous.

Here are my responses then I'll piss off and leave you all in peace.

Firstly - you would surely have to agree that by owning the domain name "comedy.com.au" that you are making a fairly bold statement about who you represent. Without being clear about your biases towards "certain" acts over others, you leave the indication that that page is about all comedy in Australia in general.

Secondly -Munchkin - I specifically referred to the news page because it is the entry point that you guys have been directed to - to find the "this site is owned" etc takes some searching.

Thirdly - The_podster - your biases are quite obviously stated.

Fourthly - Laney - I'm terribly sorry. As I explained, I do not wish my opinions to taint any performer I do work for. But some things shit me, and I guess I needed to vent. Until you try and promote an "unrepresented" comedy act in this country whilst trying to be in competition with companies like Token who have the media and the comedy festival on their side already, you'll not even realise how frustrating it is that they do things like this and make all of your hard work even harder.

Fifthly - Mythor - your comments are reasonable so perhaps I can clarify my position.

So unless they post a definitive guide listing everything that's comedic that is happening anywhere they can't post a list on their own website of what is happening?

Well, its not their own website, is it? They own www.token.com.au, why not post their acts news on that site? Its a website that is deliberately ambiguous about who owns it - it is "comedy.com.au". It is designed so that people less comedy savvy than yourselves will stumble across the page and think that it is comprehensive because it does not state anywhere that it isn't, and gives the impression that it is (by being "comedy.com.au").

I doubt whether the webmaster would post news about what other "non-Token" acts are doing.

It's like asking Telstra to post a list of Optus prices?

No. But its like Telstra posting a list of their prices on a website called "communications.com.au" and not stating that they are telstra prices. It's anti-competitive and deceitful.

Thankyou.

[Slaterface]

Erm. How did I do that? I signed in and it still posted me as a guest... oh well.

[Slaterface]

Just wanted to add, I think that Token represent some of the greatest comedians in this country (and only a couple of ordinary ones) - my gripe is with the anti-competitive nature of this recent action.

[Cherryish]

Why not use their own website? Normal people interested in comedy have no idea what Token is, let alone would they visit their website (its not one of the first pages to come up on google when searching for a token managed comedian!) and it does actually say on the front page that everyone else would visit " It's operated by one of Australia's biggest comedy managers, and largest live comedy producers… " right at the top of the page.... I'm not arguing.. I just dont see why its wrong for them to advertise when they're making it clear-ish that its only really the people they manage. Or maybe its just clear to me.

[aussiechica]

I kind of agree with Slaterface actually
What it comes down to is advertising ethics.

Cherryish, you said that most ppl dont have any idea what token is, which is fair enough.
But then again, they(the virgin internet comedy hunters) wouldnt directly make the connection between token being management of such a small minority of performers.

While it does say:
Welcome to Australian Comedy!

This website is all about the amazing, exciting, hilarious, human comedians you can watch, hear and go out to see in Australia right now!

(It's operated by one of Australia's biggest comedy managers, and largest live comedy producers… so you know, the good oil is here)
It doesnt say its exclusively ABOUT token artists (which lets face it children, it is).
Cmon, it all seems a bit McDodge to me.

[/i]

[Munchkin]

Slaterface I don't know how familiar you are with MOSH but when I saw that the post was by 'M' I knew it was from Token, they posted a link straight to the news page in a forum where many of the regular visitors already knew their association. Same for MSG and manbitesgod.

[Cherryish]

Originally Posted by aussiechica

But then again, they(the virgin internet comedy hunters) wouldnt directly make the connection between token being management of such a small minority of performers.

True, true.

[Mythor]

I doubt whether the webmaster would post news about what other "non-Token" acts are doing.

Have you asked?

If you feel that they're being deceptive and anti-competitive, why resort to anonymous online mud-slinging? There are official channels you can go through, such as the ACCC, that handle this kind of thing.
Assuming that they won't actually list any non-Token acts, which may be a fair assumption, but it's not a fact...