New stretch target
Even though we've hit our target, pledging money here is the best way to get a newspaper yourself so buy one here!
Extra money will be split between our contributors and making another edition of the paper...
Help LMAOnaise Comedy raise funds to launch a print newspaper about UK comedy shows!
by Zoe Paskett in London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Even though we've hit our target, pledging money here is the best way to get a newspaper yourself so buy one here!
Extra money will be split between our contributors and making another edition of the paper...
We are making a brand new comedy newspaper, packed full of features, news, show recommendations, arty bits, probably gossip, behind-the-scenes and more from across the UK’s incredible comedy scene. The funds we raise will go towards covering the creation, printing and postage, but you can read more below on what we're working towards!
LMAOnaise is all about weird, queer, alternative comedy and exciting new stand-ups. We focus mainly on the comedians who haven’t made it into the big news (yet!), or are less likely to get column inches because of all those biases we know and hate so well. We aim to be a positive force in the comedy world and are very clear about what we stand for (more on that below).
With our weekly newsletter, we take away the absolute nightmare of trying to find comedy shows to see when you don’t know what you’re looking for, by sending them directly to you. With our website, we offer a colourful online magazine that aims to reflect the fact that comedy is a fun thing to see in your spare time.
We have existed online for three years, gradually growing in our niche little corner of the comedy scene. But now we want to launch a print newsletter and bring these incredible shows and comedians to even more people - the kind of people who like to read off of paper as well as screens.
You might have noticed there isn’t much comedy coverage in newspapers anymore, so we’re making our own!
The print newsletter will be a proper newspaper, posted to you through your door like real mail, but instead of being scary and from HMRC, it will be not scary and from us! You’ll be able to read:
Shows to see!
Features written by comedians!
Interviews with comedians!
Photography!
Art!
Behind-the-scenes!
In selecting one of the reward tiers to donate to this campaign, you will receive a paper, but you will also be supporting live comedy, independent journalism and the concept of being nice to each other :)
We have a range of rewards as well, including limited lino prints, badges and collages - plus the knowledge you are part of a grassroots movement trying to make the world of live comedy better.
The main bulk of the funds raised will go to printing and postage costs, which is dependent on how many people donate. It will also pay for design, art supplies, everything we need to deliver the rewards you choose. Money raised after we cover the costs will be split between contributors to the paper.
We have a first edition firmly in the works now and the creation of a second will depend on us reaching our targets.
Everything we have done so far has been free to access and has been done entirely off our own backs with no funding - this will be the first money we will have ever received for this work, and every penny will go back into making LMAOnaise.
Every donation matters! So if we don’t quite reach our target, we’re still committed to making the newspaper for whoever wants it.
Creator, writer, editor-in-chief: Zoe Paskett
Zoe (me) is a journalist and comedy nerd. She (I) knows loads about comedy, has interviewed countless comedians, seen an obscene amount of comedy and wants to bring everyone along with her. She wrote about comedy at the Evening Standard, and launched their first LGBTQ+ section; before this she edited the arts/entertainment section of the Hackney and Islington Gazettes. So she knows about newspapers!
She was also shortlisted for the Women in Journalism Georgina Henry Award at the British Journalism Awards for LMAOnaise Comedy in 2023!
Designer, photographer, producer: Georgia House
Georgia is not only an incredible comedy producer and writer but also a talented photographer and designer. Zoe and Georgia worked together on FringeBEAT, a print magazine for Edinburgh Fringe based on your favourite teen mags of yore (co-created with Allegra Rosenberg).
Co-founder: Madeleine Bye
Maddy is a hilarious comedian, performing in a double act Siblings alongside her sister Marina, as well as producing countless comedy shows AND doing PR. She’s one of the hardest working people in the biz!
Logo design: Michael Julings
Michael is an excellent designer and creative director and creates our gorgeous LMAO mayo jar logo and titles. He also runs regular comedy night Piñata, which you should go to.
Our ethos is that comedy is fun, and writing about it should be too! We want to help make the world of comedy journalism a more positive place, where comedians aren’t worried about reviewers and audiences can easily find out about new, exciting performers without having to read any horrible takedowns. Some people don’t like those!
Our house rules reflect this
We have so many ambitions with LMAOnaise and many ways we are planning to grow, but everything we do is about properly showcasing what UK comedy has to offer. It's more exciting, daring and experimental than ever, and we think everyone should know!
(If you're a comedian who wants to be involved with the creation of the paper, or with LMAOnaise online, send us an email. Collabs R Us.)
This project offers rewards in return for your donation. Please select a reward below.