Need paying gigs? Here's how to launch you comedy career. Try this, it works.

In my last stand-up course, I offered that anyone in class could email me their jokes and I would help punch them up. Out of 50 students, only three took me up on my offer. Want to make it in showbiz? You need to take advantage of all opportunities that come your way.

Opportunity is everywhere and don't let it pass your door. When I was 20, I took a class in video production at Pasadena City College and the teacher invited a local NBC News Junior Anchor to come talk to us. His name was Tom Brokaw. Tom invited everyone in the class to come to NBC and he'd show us around. I got there an hour early to avoid the mob of fellow classmates to ensure I had a chance to take him up on his incredible offer. Surprise! I was the only one. I spent two weeks at the station learning the news business - shadowing a different person each day, going up with the traffic guy in the helicopter, going out with the producer and learning about TV production. I made connections that later serviced me in my professional life.

Comics seem to focus energies on getting an agent and a manger, but talk to any working comic and they will tell you the real stories about how they got their break.

I just did an engagement with the Navy where I was the closing keynoter for a leadership conference. How did I get a gig like this? By having an agent? No. Because a year and a half earlier I sat next to the meeting planner on a plane. We kept in touch, and I got the job.

When I was an unemployed comedy-magician, freshly fired from my teaching job at Harvard Boys School, I thought that working Playboy Clubs would be perfect for me. At the time, they were the biggest employer of comics, singers, and jazz musicians. There were not that many young female comedy acts then, and I figured that if the headliner was a singer, a female comedy act wouldn't compete. I looked up who booked Playboy Clubs and called Irvin
Arthur in the 9000 Sunset Bl. Building in Hollywood.

"Mr. Arthur doesn't take meetings with talent without representation."
"But I know I'd be perfect!"
"Sorry."

I went in anyway.

"Hello, I'm Judy and I'd be perfect to work Playboy Clubs."
"Mr. Arthur will not see you."
"I'll wait."

I waited for five hours with my bag of magic props. Mr. Arthur motioned for me to come into his office. I did my tricks for him as he sat at his desk.

"You're good. What are you doing tonight? I'll give you 50 dollars. You have dinner with me tonight and if your act goes over good, we'll talk."

For the next 5 years, I was playing the Playboy circuit. Some years I'd be booked for 43 weeks out of the year. Mr. Arthur left Playboy Clubs and became my manager and I got into TV and did over 100 TV shows making 25 times what I was making as a teacher, and doing what I loved.

Do I sometimes miss opportunities? Of course. Just this last week I had the producer of HBO Comedy Specials over for dinner and I was too nervous to pitch him my show idea. I miss that young 20 year old who had the innocence (and, perhaps cleavage) to do shameless self promotion.

So remember, right now you are probably only one degree from someone who can get you a job. First get good at what you do. Just don't forget to say "yes" to the opportunity that is all around you.