# How can I make money with my joke? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 28, 2009, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677 "2009-04-28T23:39:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/1 "2009-04-28T23:39:09Z")
So I created a joke. -and no, I won’t type it here because I’m wondering if there’s anyway to profit on it. It’s a really good joke, but it seems the late night comedy shows don’t take submissions owing to that opening them up to potential lawsuits. It’s too ribald for Reader’s Digest, but clean enough for late night telly. Anyway to make a buck here? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/2 "2009-04-29T00:22:13Z")
Here literally? On the SDMB? Sure, if someone offers to buy it from you. Are you willing to guarantee a refund if they don’t think it’s funny? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/3 "2009-04-29T00:24:24Z")
One joke? That’s kinda thin for a stand-up act. Come up with some more and ask around about agents. It’s _almost_ impossible to make a living via comedy, but a number of people have camped out on that narrow ‘almost’ for decades without being thrown off. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/4 "2009-04-29T00:24:53Z")
Is it the kind of thing that would be good as a t-shirt or bumper sticker? if so, check out cafe press. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/5 "2009-04-29T11:41:48Z")
Sell it to the War Department. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/6 "2009-04-29T12:17:23Z")
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say, no. There is no way to make money from one joke. As **PatriotGrrrl** pointed out, you can try and merchandise if it’s a short, clever saying or idea. But if you want to be real about it, you’ll barely make a dime. Unless you charge people a dollar every time, just tell the damn joke. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/7 "2009-04-29T12:34:32Z")
One joke? You won’t get no respect. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/8 "2009-04-29T13:12:16Z")
Stalk Jay Leno until he buys it. Or Sarah Silverman. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/9 "2009-04-29T13:26:22Z")
I’ll bite. I’ll give you a buck for it. But I get to claim complete authorship for it if it’s good, and if it isn’t, you have to give me my buck back. ---
**Author:** ![Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fake_Tales_of_San_Francisco)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/10 "2009-04-29T13:27:32Z")
Auction it on Ebay. No postage and packaging costs to worry about. Or alternatively set up a website, hyping up your joke with a lot of flashy internet show biz and then give them a link to pay you via paypal for this mindblowingly amazing joke. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/11 "2009-04-29T13:36:11Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > So I created a joke. > > -and no, I won’t type it here because I’m wondering if there’s anyway to profit on it. It’s a really good joke, but it seems the late night comedy shows don’t take submissions owing to that opening them up to potential lawsuits. It’s too ribald for Reader’s Digest, but clean enough for late night telly. Anyway to make a buck here? You’re a gay fish. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/12 "2009-04-29T13:36:15Z")
I’ve heard it. 😉 Here’s a joke I made up: What’s white and creamy and comes at you from all directions? Quadrophonic rice pudding! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/13 "2009-04-29T13:40:11Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Here’s a joke I made up: > > What’s white and creamy and comes at you from all directions? > > Quadrophonic rice pudding! Me like. Take a buck out of petty cash. My undeveloped joke: Have you heard about the new naughty magazine for Catholic sailors who are into naked bottoms? It’s called _Nuns and Cans_. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/14 "2009-04-29T13:42:23Z")
My second husband managed tosell 3 jokes to Joan Rivers. They were one liners that she used one night when she guest-hosted The Tonight Show. He recieved $10 each for them. It’s hardly worth the effort, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Tamarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tamarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamarin)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/15 "2009-04-29T13:50:34Z")
If you can get Reader’s Digest to publish it you could make $100.00. > **[Tell Us Your Joke!](https://www.rd.com/submit-joke/)** ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/16 "2009-04-29T13:54:42Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > It’s too ribald for Reader’s Digest Are there other magazines (like Playboy) that publish jokes and pay something if you submit one they publish? ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/17 "2009-04-29T13:54:53Z")
You could send it to Playboy. I think they pay $50 or $100 for jokes they publish. (Edit - Thudlow beat me to it…) ---
**Author:** ![Tamarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tamarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamarin)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/18 "2009-04-29T14:21:25Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > It’s too ribald for Reader’s Digest… Oh geez, I need to try reading for comprehension…carry on. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![EpicNonsense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@EpicNonsense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EpicNonsense)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/19 "2009-04-29T14:51:38Z")
YouTube? Maxim?.. I dunno… ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677/20 "2009-04-29T15:03:05Z")
I [wrote a punch line](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11088190&postcount=40)earlier today. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-money-with-my-joke/494677.md?page=2)