The Craft of Stand-up Comedy
What is Stand-up Comedy?
If the good people at Webster’s Dictionary were to come up with a definition for stand-up comedy it would probably be;
Stand-up Comedy- the precise use of body language, voice and emotions upon words by a solo performer to invoke laughter within an audience.
Those solo performers they are called comedians of which you are on your way to becoming one .As a teacher of stand-up comedy here is the most important definition I want you to learn. Stand-up comedy is an intimate pre-planned conversation between comedian and audience. The comedian shares opinions, feelings and attitudes based on his/her experiences. During much of the conversation the comedian does the talking and the audience responds by way of laughter.
The Craft of Stand-up Comedy
Is Stand-up Comedy a Form of Art?
Most definitely YES.
A great stand-up comedy performance, with the audience whirling in fits of laughter is as worthy as any Picasso, Monet, or Rembrandt hanging in a museum to be called Art.
The definition of Art is a skill acquired by experience, study or observation and the conscious use of that skill along with creative imagination to create. Stand-up comedy lives up to every aspect of that definition
George Carlin has my favorite quote on the art of stand-up comedy.
“It seems to me that of all the artist there are- poets, painters, sculptors- the stand-up comedian is the only one who gets to create the work in front of the people it’s intended for, allows the people to shape the work through their reaction at the time it’s being made.”
The Craft of Stand-up Comedy
Stand-up Comedy Needs You
Yes, You.
There are over seven billion people on this planet, and all of them love to laugh. Did you know laughter predates speech by about a million years? And are you aware that as humans laughter is instinctive? A human infant can laugh almost from birth. And people born blind and deaf still laugh. We not only love to laugh, we need to laugh. We’ve all heard the phrase “Laughter is the best medicine”. That phrase is one hundred percent true. Here is a list of what laughter does for us;
Boost Immunity
Lowers Stress Hormones
Decreases Pain
Relaxes Muscle Tension
Prevents Heart Disease
Eases Anxiety
Relieves Stress
Improves Mood
Enhances Resilience
Stand-up comedians are on the front lines of the world’s insatiable need to laugh. Stand-up comedians also serve as modern day philosophers easing tension and stress from a world that is confusing and growing more complicated each and every day.
The Craft of Stand-up Comedy
So where do you fit in all this funny business?
Glad you asked.
Every comedian brings to the stage their own individual perspective on life, not a single comedian is going to be able to resonate with all seven billion people. Another way of saying this is not everyone finds the same thing funny. Therefore in order to keep the world’s population laughing we need as many different perspectives as possible. We need as many comedians as we can find.
Okay so why you?
Glad you asked that too.
Because you’re the only one with your perspective……
Your mind, your opinion, your thoughts, your parents, your cat, your dog, your spouse, your kids,
And so on and so forth.
There is only one person on this Earth just like you. And that is you.
Share with us. And make funny too.
The Craft of Stand-up Comedy
Leave Your Fear Right Here
In the words of FDR” The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”. Fear does have another name it’s called irrational thoughts. I’ve performed stand-up comedy for over sixteen years. I still get nervous before every show but I never get scared. The reason I’m not scared is because I know how to suppress irrational thoughts. It’s easy and there are only five rules you must remember.
5 Important Tips to Disarm Fear
1 Set Attainable Expectations
Throughout my stand-up comedy career, I have set attainable expectations for myself. I am only expecting ten percent of what I do on stage to be great and I am expecting the other ninety percent to be garbage. I know what you are thinking “wow Julie those are some really low expectations” But here’s the deal, setting my expectations so low really sets my creative energy free. And it gives my creative energy the freedom it needs to create. For the most part I always do better than my ten percent expectation. But when I don’t do better, I don’t spend time feeling bad about it. I don’t let irrational thought paralyze me. I “move on” and create more material, practice more and get on with my stand-up comedy.
LOW EXPECTATIONS = CREATIVE FREEDOM
Also a good way to think of this rule is to remember to set your stand-up comedy goals at an attainable rate. Another way of saying this, “Don’t plan on having your Comedy Central Spotlight Special next month”. Instead a more attainable stand-up comedy goal for you right now would to be ready to perform in your first open mic in six weeks. Setting realistic goals with your stand-up comedy will also provide more freedom for your creative energy to grow and learn.
2 Set Achievable Dreams
Now I am not saying “Don’t dream”. Because I believe in dreams. I think if people are willing to work hard they can accomplish anything they have set in their mind. What I am saying is be realistic about what is going to happen when you get on stage. Like I said each and every time I’m about to get on stage, I am nervous. But I have a realistic dream of what is going to happen. And my realistic dream is this:
I know I am going to do my best. I am going to enjoy my moment in the spotlight. I am going to help some of my fellow human beings have a good laugh.
That’s it.
I don’t allow my mind to have fantasy stand-up comedy sets. I don’t imagine a big Hollywood producer coming up to me after my set to offer me a television deal. Instead I imagine audience members coming up to me to thank me and me thanking them.
See that’s achievable. If the fantasy happens someday, Great.
Until then, I will enjoy the creative freedom provided to me by having achievable, realistic dreams about being on stage.
3 Celebrate You
Yes, celebrate even the smallest of victories. Okay I agree, it’s a sappy rule but a very important one. So hear me out on this.
You are about to embark on the really big task of writing and performing your first stand-up comedy set. Even as you read these words you are on your way to becoming a stand-up comedian. This is a huge task. It even sounds overwhelming. In fact you may even be feeling a little overwhelmed at this point. But here’s a little thing I learned from a mentor years ago. Every time I would go to my mentor and explain my overwhelming task. My mentor would just reply “How do you eat an elephant?” I would reply with the answer “one delicious bite at a time” And that’s exactly what we are going to do with you. You will become a stand-up comedian one step at a time. And I want you to celebrate each and every step you take towards your stand-up comedy goals.
Celebrate every exercise you accomplish in this book.
Celebrate every set-up.
Celebrate every punch.
Celebrate every joke.
Celebrate every open mic
Celebrate every performance.
Celebrate you, because you are amazing.
4 Never Compare Yourself to Any Other Comedian
Never hold yourself or comedy up to another. You are your own unique person and there is no one quite like you. It would be shame if the world did not get to hear from you because you didn’t think you were as good as someone else. Here’s a good example. There was a comedian starting out years ago and he admired the work of Lenny Bruce. Now if this comedian would have held his early performances up to the great Lenny Bruce, and decided he wasn’t good enough to be a stand-up comedian. Then we would have never heard from George Carlin. Wouldn’t that had been a shame? I think so.
And now for the biggest, most important Irrational Thought Suppressor ever……
5 The Audience is on Your Side.
Remember the above sentence as you are waiting to go on stage. It really does help calm that queasy feeling you have right before a performance. And best of all, it’s true. Everybody in the audience is rooting for you. They came out to have a good time. And they are looking forward to the laughs you are going to give to them. The audience is on your side. Nobody wants to hurt you. Nobody wants to see you fail. It’s a love fest when you’re on stage. Enjoy it.
So like this section title, I’m telling you ”Leave your fear right here” If you:
Set Attainable Expectations
Set Achievable Dreams
Celebrate Yourself
Never Compare Yourself to Another
Always Remember The Audience is on Your Side
There is nothing to fear. You may get nervous just like me (and every other comedian I know) but that nervous feeling disappears the very moment you get on stage. And the enjoyment you feel from the audience’s laughter outweighs the discomfort you felt by about a million tons.
Watch Stand-up Comedy
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Roll up your sleeves, let’s get ready to work.
We are going to do our first assignment. I want you to watch some stand-up comedy. It’s very important for this assignment for you to try to pick your favorite comedian. I know that is a daunting task within itself. Because we all like so many different comedians. But I want you to do your best at picking your favorite. Now you need to find about a twenty minute set from your favorite comedian. The internet is an excellent resource for viewing Stand-up comedy performances. You Tube has made stand-up comedy so much more available. Literally any performance from any comedian is right at your fingertips.
Now once you’ve found that twenty minute set of your favorite comedian. I want you to watch it three times.
On the first time watch and laugh your bottom off.
Before you watch it a second time, read the questions below. Now watch it and notice the information the questions are asking.
Watch it a third time, pen in hand and answer the questions. You might even want to watch the performance more times. The more you watch, the more you notice, the more you notice the more you learn.
Watch Stand-up Comedy Exercise
Name of Comedian_____________________________
What topics did the comedian talk about? List them.
What was the comedian wearing?
Did the comedian do any voices other than their own?
Did you notice the comedian using any facial expressions during their routine?
Did you notice any body language the comedian may have been using during their routine?
Did you notice if the comedian changed the tone of his/her voice during any particular parts of their routine?
Did the comedian use physical action to act out a part of his/her routine?
Did the comedian have any punch lines that totally took you by surprise?
Was there any point in the comedian’s set where the facial expression/body language did not match the words being stated?
What subjects did the comedian talk about that you found relatable to your life?
Did the comedian tell any stories during their set? What did they tell stories about?
How did the comedian start their routine?
How did the comedian end their routine?
What is the overall attitude of the comedian during their set?
What impressed you most about this comedian?
Is there anything about this comedian that you did not like?
Write out word for word one joke from this comedian’s set. (Please Note: You are never to perform this joke as part of your performance. This is for learning purposes only)
Getting to Know Yourself
Okay not that I am saying you don’t know you. But What I am saying
“Knowing one’s self is one of the strongest tool in the stand-up comedian arsenal”. And really sometimes we forget about ourselves as we take on roles in life. Example:
When men and women become parents sometimes they forget all about themselves and become wrapped up in their roles as parents. In stand-up comedy you need to cut through all the roles you play and get to the heart of you. Because that heart, that very center of you is going to be doing all the writing, the thinking, and the performing. This next exercise is designed to help clear out the cob webs and help you see the amazing, goofy, wonderful person that is you. This is a long exercise. I recommend you give yourself a few days or even a week to complete. If some of the questions bring a funny story to mind, write it down.
Describe your mother in three words.
Describe your father in three words.
What did your mom do for a living?
What did your dad do for a living?
What is your favorite thing about your mother?
What is your least favorite thing about your mother?
What is your favorite thing about your father?
What is your least favorite thing about your father?
Did your mother ever do anything that embarrassed you in front of your friends?
Did your father ever do anything that embarrassed you in front of your friends?
How did your parents punish you?
How did your parents tuck you in at night?
When you were a kid, were there monsters under your bed?
Did you believe in the Boogie Man?
Does your family have any traditions?
What was your first pet? What was its name?
What is your first memory?
What was your favorite toy as a kid?
What was your favorite piece of playground equipment?
Where did you go to school?
Did you study a lot in school?
What was your favorite subject in school?
Were you popular in school?
Were you ever picked last for a team in Gym class?
Did you ever tattle on anybody?
Did you play an instrument in school? If yes, what did you play?
Do you have any of the same friends you had in grade school?
What is your favorite memory of kindergarten?
What was your favorite grade in school?
Did you ever get suspended from school?
Were you ever a Boy Scout or Girl Scout?
What chores did you have as a kid?
What was your favorite sport as a kid?
How old were you when you learned to tie your shoes?
What was your favorite knock-knock joke as a kid?
What was your favorite cartoon when you were growing up?
What was your least favorite cartoon when you were growing up?
What cartoon character do you think you resemble?
Are you an only child?
Where were you born?
Do you have any birthmarks?
Were you a cry baby?
Did you have any nicknames when you were a kid?
Do you have any brothers and/or sisters? How many of each?
Where are you in the birth order?
Do you remember your first crush?
Do you remember your first kiss? Who was it?
How did your parents tell you about the “Birds and Bees”? How old were you?
Did you ever get caught making out when you were a teenager?
Did your mom ever tell you “You’re going to go blind”?
What is on your permanent record? Or what is the worst thing you did as a child?
Are you afraid of the dentist?
Do you prefer the ocean or the mountains?
Have you ever had a reoccurring nightmare?
Do you have a favorite position to sleep?
Are you a night owl or a morning person?
Are you good at returning calls?
What is the dirtiest word in the English language to you?
What is your favorite U.S. city?
What is the meaning of kindness to you?
What does the word “wealth” mean to you?
What is your favorite holiday?
Do you have any bad habits?
Is there anything that you did that makes you feel ashamed?
When you make a mistake, do you admit it?
Would you lie to save someone’s feelings?
What do you do to take care of yourself?
Do you keep a diary?
Have you ever lost your composure?
Have you ever been rejected by another person?
What attracts you most to a person of the opposite sex?
What is your favorite comfort food?
What do you like least about yourself?
What do you worry about?
What have you had to “let go of” in your lifetime?
Are you religious?
Is the glass half empty or half full?
Does the thought of getting older scare you?
Do you ever feel overwhelmed? If yes, how do you cope?
Would you say you are a patient person?
How far do you plan ahead?
How did or how would you propose marriage to someone?
Do you ever feel ugly?
Have you ever seen a therapist?
What do you like best about your face?
What do you like least about your face?
Do you like Valentine’s Day?
Do you like to give and receive hugs?
Have you ever felt empty?
What is your version of a happy life?
Do you get bummed out at sad movie endings?
Have you ever had a guilty conscious?
Would you consider yourself a liberal or a conservative?
Are you clumsy?
Who is the bravest person you know?
What makes you blush?
Do you have any regrets?
Do you gossip?
Do you like to listen to gossip?
Where do you like to be touched?
Who is the wind beneath your wings?
Are you a litterbug?
Are you a good worker?
How do you amuse yourself when you get stuck in traffic?
Do you make a “to do “list? If yes what was on it today?
Do you sweat a lot?
Do you swear a lot?
What is your favorite toy as an adult?
Can you do math in your head?
Do you smile first?
Do you like to write? If yes what do you write?
What are you going to do when you retire?
Who do you respect the most?
What is a requirement to be your friend?
What is your favorite piece of junk in your house?
What do you hate most about your home?
What is your ethnic background?
Are you happy with your name?
Do you ever lie about your age?
Would you rather be too hot or too cold?
Do you crack your knuckles?
When you stump your toe, do you cry or curse?
Do you like to snuggle?
Are you good with babies?
How many hours of sleep do you need?
Are you friendly with police officers?
What chores around the house do you do now?
Are you a perfectionist?
What is the sexiest music in your opinion?
What is your panic button?
What makes you angry?
What do you do when you are depressed?
What do you do when you are angry?
How do you know when you are nervous?
At the beach, are you in the water or on the shore?
Are you a cat person or a dog person?
Do you have any nutty people in your life?
Has anybody ever described you as a drama queen?
What do you consider your life’s work?
Do you swim upstream or downstream?
Do you follow the herd or do you break away from the pack?
In your car, is the radio set to AM or FM?
Do you like sports?
Have you ever been in a fight?
What is the most disgusting thing you ever ate?
What has been your favorite concert?
What was your least favorite employment experience?
What was your most favorite employment experience?
Have you ever been in the hospital?
Have you ever been in a car accident?
Where do you want to go that you haven’t been?
What is your favorite news source?
Do you have any trophies?
Have you ever broken any bones?
Do you have a real life ghost story?
What was your worst vacation?
Describe your best friend.
Have you ever gotten even with someone?
Have you ever been boating?
Have you ever went hunting?
Do you ever lie about your weight?
What is the wildest thing you ever done?
Describe the worst place you ever lived.
Have you ever had your fortune read?
Have you ever passed out?
If you were on a deserted island, what is the one thing you would want to have with you?
If you were on a deserted island, who is the one person you would want to have with you?
Would you or do you sky dive?
What is the best party you’ve ever been?
What is the most stupid thing you have been persuaded to do?
Do you like to travel by airplane?
What is the longest flight you’ve taken?
Do you vote in election years?
Have you ever ridden a horse?
Would you ever pose nude for a painting?
Have you ever been through an earthquake?
Have you ever had a bad rash?
How many times have you fallen in love?
Have you ever collected unemployment?
Have you ever told a friend’s secret?
Have you ever fell asleep at a totally inappropriate time?
Have you ever broke wind at a totally inappropriate time?
Where did you go to college?
What is the bravest thing you have ever done?
What is the most bizarre thing that’s happen to you?
Are you a regular anywhere?
Have you ever bought anything from an infomercial?
Have you ever traded something and then wished you could trade it back?
Have you ever traveled by train?
Have you ever went camping?
Have you ever gotten lost?
Have you ever had to serve on a jury?
Have you ever suffered withdraw symptoms?
Do you get car sick?
Have you ever adopted an animal?
Have you ever had to make a speech?
Have you ever screamed really loud?
Have you ever ripped your pants right in the buttocks?
Has someone ever been rude to you?
Have you ever been rude to someone?
Have you or would ever go to a nudist colony?
Do you ever sit outside at night and look at the stars?
Have you ever had a boss that was a tyrant?
When was the last time you were at the doctor’s?
Do you know how to roller-skate?
Do you ever go to dive bars?
Have you ever been on a cruise?
Have you ever been to a Drive-in movie?
At amusement parks, what is your favorite ride?
Have you ever stuck your foot in your mouth?
Have you ever stuck you neck out for someone?
Do you go to art galleries?
What is your favorite museum?
Where was the best sunset you have ever seen?
What is the most expensive meal you have eaten?
What is the worst hairstyle on you?
When you go to baseball game, do you stay for the whole game?
Do you still like fireworks?
Have you ever been fishing?
Do you go crazy around the full moon?
Have you ever been on a blind date?
Do you ever break the speed limit?
What is the happiest you’ve ever been?
Do you like to cook?
What’s your favorite meal?
Are you married or have you been or do you plan to be married?
Do you watch TV News reports?
What is your favorite part of a relationship?
What is your least favorite part of a relationship?
What sports do you play?
Do you play any instruments?
What do you do to be kind?
Have you ever won something?
Do you have an entourage?
Do you like to dance?
What is your favorite charity?
What is your favorite drink?
What is your favorite Board game?
What is your favorite cheese?
Do you have any pets? If so what are their names?
Do you floss every day?
What is your favorite kind of shoe?
Do you have any tattoos?
Do you like magic?
What is your favorite marching band instrument?
Do you like roll coasters?
What is your favorite TV Show?
Do you have any kids? How many? What are their ages?
What does your voice mail greeting say?
What is your favorite game to play in Las Vegas?
Do you believe in ghosts?
What is your favorite fruit?
What is your least favorite vegetable?
What is your favorite fairytale?
Zipper or button fly?
Do you like jewelry?
What is your favorite magazine?
Do you have any vision problems?
What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
Do you collect anything? If so, what do you collect?
Do you take a bath or a shower?
Do you people watch?
How would you end a war?
Do you like guns?
Do you believe marijuana should be legal?
What is your favorite letter of the alphabet?
What do you do to entertain yourself?
Do you have a will?
What is your favorite soft drink?
Would you rather be too hot or too cold?
What do you wear to sleep?
What is your favorite quote?
Who is your favorite writer?
Do you have any phobias?
Do you like to have your picture taken?
Do you have any piercing?
Do you know how to fix anything?
What is your favorite animal at the zoo?
What kind of houses interest you?
Have you ever protested something/
Do you enjoy quiet time?
What type of music do you enjoy?
Who is your favorite rebel?
Have you ever forgotten a loved one’s birthday?
Have you ever been caught in a bad storm?
What is your favorite food to eat at a carnival or fair?
Have you ever been overweight?
Do you believe in elves?
Do you think you have the endurance to run a marathon?
What in the world today causes you the most confusion?
Do you have any consultants?
Are you a pack rat?
Are you afraid of clowns?
What is your favorite month?
What is your favorite season?
Do you like bugs?
What is your least favorite bug?
Do you believe in Bigfoot?
Do you know how to swim?
Do you have a green thumb?
Do you know self-defense?
What are you going to do tomorrow?
What are you going to do later tonight?
Do you know any magic tricks?
Do you like to bike ride?
Do you like to go to the dentist?
Do you have a walk in closet?
What is your favorite bird?
Do you like Halloween?
Do you own a Halloween Costume?
What is your favorite beach?
Do you use your cell phone while driving?
Do you like Charmin or Quilted Northern?
Do you exfoliate regularly?
Are you afraid of spiders?
What is your favorite animal at a pet shop?
What is your favorite slang word?
What is your least favorite slang word?
What is your favorite Slurpee flavor?
What is your favorite gum?
Do you know how to blow bubbles with bubble gum?
What is your favorite car?
What kind of car do you drive?
Do you have a scrapbook?
Have you or do you have a mood ring?
Do you like to go bowling?
Are you afraid of snakes?
What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Do you kill bugs with a bug spray or by stomping them?
Do you have any allergies?
Do you drink bottled water or tap water?
Do you like your beer warm or cold?
What card games do you know how to play?
What is your favorite TV theme song?
What is your favorite part of a news cast?
What is your favorite scary movie?
What is your favorite Chick Flick?
If you could be a guest star on a TV show, which one would it be?
Do you own any flip flops?
If you could be a vegetable, what would you be?
Do you like birds?
Do you recycle?
Do you like your toes?
What is your favorite department store?
What snack do you like to have at the movies?
What is your favorite sandwich?
Do you like to send greeting cards?
What is your favorite football team?
What is your favorite baseball team?
What kind of soap do you use?
What is your favorite kind of pie?
What is your favorite color M&M?
What is your favorite Beatle’s song?
Are you a vegetarian?
What is your favorite restaurant?
