Nikki Osborne on why male comedians are getting paid more than female comedians

Apparently, when it comes to budgets for TV shows, there is a rather huge pay gap between male and female talent.

Nikki Osborne. Picture: Jay Town

‘First we’re locking in the male cast members with our budget then we’ll come back to the females.”

This is an email my manager received regarding a TV show I was being considered for.

If you don’t find this email somewhat triggering then you might be part of the problem. My jaw hit the floor.

Not only did it indicate that they’re spending most of the budget to secure my male counterparts, but the fact that they so nonchalantly put this in writing shows that they didn’t even see the problem with this.

They didn’t even bat an eyelid!

As it turned out, they actually did blow their budget on the male comedian who was also looked after by my manager at the time, resulting in my not receiving an offer as I was too expensive now. The budget was blown. On the dudes.

Now, before you think I’m just being a sour grape, let me explain. I totally understand the measurement of star power. If someone has a larger profile then yes absolutely, pay them more.

Columnist Nikki Osborne.

However, when it’s specifically spelled out as men first, then women second, well, Houston, we have a problem. And we do, because it’s just happened again.

I was being considered for another job and I asked the director what the status was. Again, without any pause or hesitation, he said the client has locked in the three male actors and has blown the budget, so not sure if I should quote high.

Well, my price just doubled.

I called my manager, exasperated.

Not because of the job, but because this seems perfectly acceptable still in our industry and I needed him to understand how it feels to be undervalued because of my tits.

Thankfully he’s a smart dude and said “OK, we’ll quote double and if they say no then we’ll walk on principle”.

Little did he know that I was testing him and he passed with flying colours. Well done Mr Manager.

My husband, to his credit, is probably one of the biggest feminists I know.

He’s witnessed my being treated like a second-tier talent behind the men for years, especially in comedy, and he’s always reminding me of the value I bring. He’s like “half the audience are women! You cater for 50 per cent of the audience and you are the only woman in the line up!”! He’s right.

This is why I got so gee’d up about the Matildas and the ratings records they set not just for women’s sport, but for football across the board!

The WNBL is gaining momentum rapidly too. Then there’s Taylor Swift, and look at the Barbie movie! No, Margot didn’t win the awards but as far as I’m concerned she’s just been the architect of the greatest cinematic victory for women in history. All of a sudden, the “money” is realising, women not only have value but their stock just went up 10-fold!

Women consuming women.

Pardon my French but “f--k, yeah”. We’ve always been so critical of each other but something’s shifted, and I’m all for it.

Now, before anyone goes and gets their knickers in a knot, this is in no way a beat up on men.

I love men. I married one and created two more and I want every success for them. All I’m doing is highlighting that those who believe that women are of lower value in the entertainment industry will quickly find themselves in the dinosaur exhibit and they’re going to see their bottom line suffer.

Originally published as Nikki Osborne on why male comedians are getting paid more than female comedians