KevOnStage wanted to compete with Netflix. Then he had to shut down his own streaming platform. He joins Earn Your Leisure to explain what went wrong, what he learned, and how that experience helped open the door to his Tubi partnership.

Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings sit down with KevOnStage for an honest conversation about the business behind the comedy. From posting three to four videos a day to building an audience that actually buys tickets, Kev breaks down how he turns attention into income and why owning his content matters.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why his $5.99 streaming subscription was harder to sustain than he expected
• How Safe Space and his audience helped him build his relationship with Tubi
• The difference between having followers and having paying fans
• How content ownership and licensing create opportunities to earn beyond the first release
• How his wife helped him change the marketing for Successful Failure
• His thoughts on Druski’s church comedy and the backlash
• Why protecting his marriage helps him protect his focus and energy

Kev also opens up about losing his brother and creating Grief Sucks, sharing how he uses comedy to honor his brother and connect with people navigating loss.

What’s a business setback that taught you something success couldn’t? Share your experience in the comments.

Chapters:
00:00 Mystique vs Money
00:07 Content Speed Strategy
00:31 Equity and Ownership
00:48 Monogamy and Focus
01:25 Earn Your Leisure Intro
01:48 New York Bodega Talk
02:21 Awards and Invest Fest
03:19 Relatable Comedy Style
04:05 Arbys Cheesesteak Review
05:06 Daily Content Workflow
12:36 How Much to Share
14:54 Building a Creator Ecosystem
16:53 From Plays to Internet Fame
18:45 Funnel and Singles Approach
20:46 Why Mystique Doesnt Work
25:00 Book Launch Pivot
28:23 Authenticity as Currency
29:51 Tubi Partnership Tease
29:56 Netflix Dreams Reality Check
30:43 Pricing Cuts and Platform Fees
31:36 Why the Platform Wasn’t Scalable
32:10 Content Crunch and Free Trial Abuse
33:51 Churchy Opens Doors at Tubi
35:11 Building the Tubi Creator Partnership
37:02 Drewski and Church Comedy Backlash
40:03 Ownership IP and Long Term Wealth
45:07 Grief Sucks Origin Story
50:22 Tour Life and Healing Through Laughs
53:24 Cracker Barrel Modernization Roast
56:08 Monogamy as a Success Strategy
01:02:01 Tour Dates and Final Sendoff