liverepurposingmonetization

Turning a One-Woman Show into a Content Franchise: Case Study of ‘Eat the Rich’

tthemes

2026-02-05

10 min read

A practical, step-by-step playbook to convert a one-woman show into podcasts, short-form clips, courses, merch, and licensed productions.

Hook: You're a brilliant solo performer — now monetize the work beyond the stage

Staging a one-woman show is hard. Turning it into a sustainable business that reaches an international audience is harder. If your pain points are low ticket caps, unpredictable touring income, and the endless grind of promoting every run, this guide shows a repeatable, stepwise playbook to convert a live solo show — using the 2025–26 trajectory of shows like Eat the Rich as a blueprint — into a diversified content franchise: podcasts, short-form social clips, paid courses, ticket+merch bundles, and licensed productions.

“If there’s one thing worse than classism … it’s FOMO.” — Jade Franks, Eat the Rich (NYT preview)

Why broaden a live show into a content franchise in 2026

Live theatre still creates cultural momentum — see the path many Fringe hits took in 2024–25 converting into streaming and TV adaptations — but the revenue from ticketing alone can’t sustain a touring life. Converting your show into packaged content creates recurring revenue, audience growth, and intellectual property that scales: podcasts reach commuters and international listeners, short-form clips create discovery funnels, and courses monetize the teaching behind your craft.

Key benefits:

New, lower-cost discovery channels (TikTok/Shorts, podcasts) that feed ticket sales.
Productized assets (VOD, courses, merch) that offset seasonality.
Licensable IP you can franchise or sell to producers and streamers.

Case snapshot: Eat the Rich — a route map

Jade Franks’ Eat the Rich — a semi-autobiographical one-woman show that moved from the Edinburgh Fringe to a London run and has a Netflix adaptation in development — exemplifies the route a solo show can take. The critical attention created a content halo that opened doors for adaptation. Use this trajectory as a model: festival buzz → recorded asset → distributed formats → licensing opportunities. For thinking about festival-to-fan mechanics, see resources on micro-event ecosystems and how daily formats feed wider discovery.

Step 1 — Map your content lifecycle before opening night

Start with a content map. Define the assets you want to extract from the live run and the cadence for releasing them.

Primary asset: High-quality multi-camera recording + multitrack audio of the full show.
Derived assets: Podcast episodes (long-form and serialized), 40–80 short-form clips (15–90s), a behind-the-scenes mini-doc, a paid online course or masterclass, and merch bundles.
Distribution windows: Live theater run → 4–8 week drip of clips and podcast episodes → VOD/course launch → licensing conversations.

Decide exclusivity windows (e.g., 60–90 days after live run for VOD) so you can stagger releases to maximize attention and revenue.

Step 2 — Technical checklist to record a live solo show

Recording a stage show requires capturing the performance and the audience atmosphere while keeping redundancy for post. Here’s a production checklist tailored for small teams or single-producer budgets.

Camera & capture

Multi-camera ISO: at minimum two cameras — a wide master and a close-up — with a third for audience reaction. Record ISO files if possible for flexibility in editing.
Shoot at 4K if you can (gives reframing options). Set all cameras to the same frame rate and color profile; use timecode sync or clap slates.

Audio

Capture multitrack audio: performer lavalier (main), shotgun/boom as safety, and a stereo audience/room pair for ambiance. Run direct feeds to a mixer/interface and simultaneously record a backup on a portable capture or recorder (Zoom H6/MKII, Sound Devices).
Save the house mix but prioritize raw ISO tracks for podcasting. Record at 48kHz/24-bit.

Lighting & staging

Make sure stage lights don’t clip skin tones for video. Include a video lighting pass during tech rehearsal.
Ensure sightlines for cameras; place the master camera dead center for a strong edit point.

Legal & release forms

Get performer consent and rights for adaptations. If you plan to sell a course or VOD, make sure your contract covers digital exploitation.
Post signage and collect an audience release if you intend to use crowd audio or identifiable audience shots in commercial content.

Step 3 — Turn the recorded show into a podcast adaptation

Not every live set maps cleanly to podcast audio. Your job is to preserve the energy while adapting structure for listening.

Decide the podcast format

Full-length performance episode: release the show as a single long-form episode (45–90 minutes). Add a music bed or intro that frames context for listeners new to the piece.
Serialized adaptation: break the show into thematic episodes (ideal for narrative-driven shows) and add narration or bridging audio to make transitions cohesive.
Companion podcast: convert performance plus commentary episodes where you unpack scenes, include interviews, and provide extra value. If you plan physical companion pieces, check guides on designing podcast companion prints.

Editing strategy

Clean the performance audio: noise reduction, EQ, and level matching across ISO tracks. Retain audience reaction but trim long applause to maintain pacing for listeners.
Add an intro/outro with calls to action: ticket links, merch stores, and newsletter signup (put links in show notes).
Transcribe and attach episode chapters and timestamps. In 2026, auto-transcription is reliable but always human-edit for tone and proper nouns.

Hosting & distribution

Choose a podcast host that supports advanced analytics and premium content: Transistor, Libsyn, or Audioboom (consider subscription gating if you plan paid bonus episodes).
Submit RSS to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and programmatic directories. In late 2025 many platforms introduced improved chapter and premium subscription support — leverage those for gated bonus content.

Step 4 — Create a short-form clip funnel for discovery

Short-form video drives discoverability and ticket sales. Break the show into shareable hooks that perform on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Reels.

Clip selection & editing

Identify 50–80 high-impact micro-moments: jokes, revelations, lines that stand alone without full context.
Edit vertical 9:16 versions, 15–60 seconds. Always open with the hook in the first 2–3 seconds.
Add captions (auto-generated but human-corrected) and on-screen text to boost retention without sound.

Batch production & frequency

Batch-produce clips after show capture: schedule a weekly cadence (3–5 posts/week) for the first 8–12 weeks to establish momentum.
Repurpose top-performing clips into paid ad creatives for ticketing or course pre-sales.

Tools & AI in 2026

Use Descript for quick transcript-based clip editing and AI filler removal, CapCut or Premiere for fine edits, and VEED or Headliner for captions.
Leverage AI-assisted A/B testing for thumbnails and hook variants (platforms provide creative analytics as of 2025–26).
For small teams, consider edge-assisted collaboration and cloud workflows to speed edits and approvals.

Step 5 — Build and launch a monetized course or masterclass

Turn the craft of writing and performing your show into a product. Your course can teach writing, staging, improvisation, or running a DIY tour — whatever your unique selling point is.

Course structure

Module 1: Concept & writing — origin stories, structure, character work.
Module 2: Staging & design — minimal tech setups, lighting on a budget, blocking for cameras.
Module 3: Touring & ticketing — budget templates, routing, promoters, and press.
Module 4: Recording for distribution — camera setups, audio capture, and post workflows.
Module 5: Monetization & franchising — merch, licensing basics, and contract templates.

Platform & pricing

Choose a host: Teachable, Thinkific, Gumroad (for one-off), or a dedicated VOD platform like Vimeo OTT for higher production-levels.
Price strategically: tiered pricing (basic $49–$99, pro $199–$499 with feedback or live workshop) works well. Offer early-bird discounts and bundle deals with tickets/merch.

Launch playbook

Pre-launch: validate with an email waitlist (use Substack or ConvertKit). Offer sample lessons as lead magnets.
Launch week: cross-promote via podcast episodes, short-form clips, and targeted ads.
Post-launch: host live Q&A sessions as bonus material for higher tiers and use customer testimonials as social proof.

Step 6 — Ticketing, merch, and direct sales that amplify revenue

Treat ticketing and merch as direct-to-fan products that can be cross-sold with your digital assets.

Ticketing best practices (2026)

Use flexible ticketing platforms: Ticket Tailor, Eventbrite, and systems that integrate with Stripe or Shopify for direct sales.
Experiment with dynamic pricing and limited VIP tiers (meet-and-greet, signed merch). Use early-bird discounts and promo codes for newsletter subscribers. For larger hybrid launches and red-carpet events, consult a hybrid premiere playbook.

Merch strategy

Start with low-risk print-on-demand (Printful, Printify) for t-shirts, posters, and zines. Consider limited-run drops to create scarcity — night-market tactics and compact kits are helpful for on-the-ground sales (night-market craft booths).
Bundle merch with VOD or course purchases to increase average order value (e.g., ticket + signed script + digital masterclass).

Step 7 — Franchise, licensing, and scaling the format

If your show is a reproducible format, you can license it to regional producers or create local-language adaptations.

Packaging a franchise kit

Include scripts, staging diagrams, music cues, lighting plots, and a recorded reference performance.
Create a producer’s manual with recommended run-time, cast requirements (solo), and merchandising rules.

Business models for franchising

Royalty model: flat fee + percentage of ticket sales (typical range: 5–15%).
Licensing for adaptation: charge an upfront licensing fee for TV/streaming conversations or allow revenue-sharing with producers. See practical pitching resources for international streamers (pitching to platforms).

Step 8 — Distribution, audience building, and community

Distribution is marketing. Use your shortest content to build an audience and then convert that audience into ticket buyers, course students, and licensees.

Channels & funnel

Top-funnel: short-form clips, social discovery, trending tags.
Mid-funnel: podcast episodes, email newsletters, longer YouTube videos, and community (Discord/Substack).
Bottom-funnel: tickets, merch, paid courses, VOD.

Community tactics (high-ROI)

Run a Patreon or Substack premium tier with early access to recordings and behind-the-scenes content.
Host monthly live salons (Zoom/Discord) to collect feedback and convert superfans into evangelists. Future-proof your community approach with playbooks on creator communities and micro-events.

Step 9 — Metrics to track and optimize

Measure funnels and let data drive decisions. Key metrics differ by product.

Short-form: view-through rate (VTR), engagement, click-throughs to ticket links.
Podcast: downloads per episode, listener retention, conversion rate to email signups.
Course/VOD: enrollment rate, completion rate, churn for subscription access.
Merch & tickets: average order value (AOV), bundle conversion rate.

Step 10 — Protect the IP and clear rights

Rights management is non-negotiable. If you plan TV or streaming adaptations (like the path Eat the Rich is following), maintain clear ownership and chain-of-title documentation.

Have written agreements with the performer (if not you), co-writers, and any collaborators.
Clear music: replace unlicensed music in recordings or obtain sync and master rights before commercial distribution.
Engage an entertainment lawyer when negotiating licensing deals or TV option agreements.

Production timeline & quick checklist (8–12 week sprint post-recording)

Week 1–2: Ingest multi-cam/ISO, create offline edit, transcribe.
Week 3–4: Produce podcast episodes, finalize show notes, prepare VOD master.
Week 5–6: Batch short-form clips, design merch, build course outline.
Week 7–8: Soft-launch podcast and clips, open course waitlist, run ticketing promos.
Week 9–12: Launch VOD/course, scale ads, and start licensing outreach.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Over-fragmentation: Don’t repurpose everything; prioritize high-quality moments and keep the performer’s voice intact.
Neglecting legal clearances: Get releases and music rights before monetization.
Under-investing in audio: For podcasts and courses, audio quality matters more than 4K video.

Actionable takeaways — start today

Audit your show: pick 10 clip moments and 1 module idea for a course this week.
Book a recording date: schedule a filmed performance with multitrack audio during your next run.
Create a pre-launch email list: use Substack or ConvertKit and offer early-bird course discounts to subscribers.

Final notes: The future in 2026 and beyond

In 2026, the best-performing content franchises are hybrids: they combine the authenticity of live performance with data-driven distribution and AI-accelerated production workflows. Shows with a clear voice and a packaged format will attract platforms and licensees more easily. The Eat the Rich pathway — festival buzz to recorded asset to streaming interest — remains an example, but today’s creators can accelerate the process by owning and monetizing the content from day one.

Call to action

Ready to turn your solo show into a content franchise? Download our free 8‑week production checklist and sample licensing contract, and join a live workshop where we build your 90‑day launch plan. Sign up now — take the first step from one-woman run to multi-format franchise.

themes

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.