Travis Makes Money 595: Art Bell | Comedy Central Founder Gives Life Advice
Imagine starting something like Comedy Central and losing your sense of humor? Art Bell’s journey started at CBS, then HBO, where he started the Comedy Channel which later became Comedy Central. After that, he became the President of Court TV, then worked for a while as a consultant to several television companies. Art has now left the TV business and taken up writing which led to his first book, Constant Comedy, where he documents his experience building one of the most successful channels in history.
I can’t wait for you to dive in and get some world-class networking advice from the man who started Comedy Central.
Things you will learn in this episode:
[00:01 - 06:03] Opening Segment
- I introduce today’s guest, Art Bell
- Writer and TV executive
- Experience in TV
- Be sure to check out guestio.com and start booking
- Art goes into his background
- Growing up in Jersey Shore
- Early life
- An interest and love for all things funny
[06:03 - 21:28] Comedy Central Founder Gives Life Advice
- Art talks about watching the greats
- A story about Bill Murray
- Art shares about knowing what he wanted to do when he was young
- Told that you can’t make a living on the arts
- College career
- Keep your passions alive
- Making the pivot into TV
- What do you want to do for the rest of your life?
- Starting at CBS
- How networking led into HBO
- Becoming the founder of Comedy Central
- Pitching a comedy network at HBO
- Getting rejected
- Accepted by the chairman of HBO
- Learning the business of comedy
- Casting vision
- Teaming up
- The journey of Comedy Central
- The rough beginnings
- Growing through competition
- Starting all over again
- A word from our sponsor
[21:29 - 24:10] How Relationships Lead to Opportunities
- Art talks about the most fun times of the process
- Examples
- Relationships that led to something good
- The chairman of HBO
[24:11 - 34:36] Closing Segment
- Who you know or what you know?
- People want to know you because of what you know
- Advice for people who want to give back and help others
- The rewards of working with younger people
- The value of talking in classes and writing
- Last words of advice from Art
- Consider everyone you meet as a potential contact
- Be aware of your impression
- ThE RaNdOm ROunD
- How to engage with Art
- Links below
- Final words
Tweetable Quotes:
“Keep your passion alive, don’t abandon it just because it’s not gonna become the first thing you do, or what you study in college… then you’re going to have to make some decisions.” - Art Bell
“The reason people want to know you or want to mentor you is because of what you know, or what you can demonstrate as talent…” - Art Bell
“Consider everybody you meet as a potential contact, someone that can help you in some way even before they open their mouths… be aware of the impression you’re making.” - Art Bell
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Art on LinkedIn. Check out https://www.artbellwriter.com/ to learn more about Art and his life.
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