Free Comedy Course – Week 4

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12 Week Free Comedy Course – Week 4

Click HERE for the course intro and other chapters:

Before we dive into this weeks assignments let’s look back at last week and get refining things.

Last week, you watched videos by Patton Oswalt, Jay Larson, and Dan Mintz.

Patton Oswalt’s “KFC Bowls” clip demonstrated how to play multiple characters in a bit while maintaining clarity about who is speaking.

Jay Larson’s example reinforced this lesson with multiple people talking.

The Dan Mintz video showcased a deadpan comedian who still conveyed an emotional point of view, showing that not all jokes need changing emotions like Jay or Patton’s.

Dan’s humour often stems from the disconnect between what his character says and how he seems to feel about it.

Now, let’s discuss your progress. Congratulations on completing three weeks of standup! You’re almost at ten sets, a cool milestone.

If any of your jokes have worked consistently, identify the elements from the last three weeks’ lessons that contributed to their success.

For your Comedy Refinement Process, follow these steps:

1. Write down the most consistently successful jokes from last week.
2. Consider performance-based improvements like body language, facial expressions, or vocal emphasis.
3. Trim unnecessary words and use more colourful language if applicable.
4. Clarify your emotions about the joke’s content.
5. Place these improved jokes at the top of this week’s set list.
6. Work on enhancing a less-consistent joke by ensuring clarity of content, emotions, and setting up clear expectations for the audience.
7. Arrange your set into a Shit Sandwich format, with the strongest jokes at the top and another consistent one to close, while placing new material in the middle.
8. Gradually “graduate” consistently successful jokes from your setlist to make room for new material. Repeating the same jokes too often can diminish their impact.

With dedication and refinement, you’ll develop a strong standup comedy act with solid go-to jokes that make up your showcase set.

Keep honing your craft and don’t be afraid to experiment with new material!

Now let’s build on things from here

Task One: Get Organised!

Create a computer doc or note on your phone or go old school with a notebook to organise your comedy material effectively.

Divide the file into three groups:

1. “Group One”: Your best jokes, character lines, and story beats for a showcase set. These are the jokes you’d perform for a real audience at a bar or comedy club.
2. “Group Two”: Jokes that get some laughs but still need work at the Open Mic level before being showcase-ready.
3. “Group Three”: Bits that aren’t working and need time and insight to improve. Don’t discard anything.

This bit file will help you track your progress, identify what works and what needs improvement, and maintain a tangible record of your comedy career.

Aim to fill up “Group One” with a solid five minutes of comedy — a fundamental building block for a comedian.

Be honest with yourself about your material’s readiness when asked about your performance time by bookers or clubs.

Group one jokes are for the clubs! Groups two and three are to be worked on at open mics!

Task Two: Prep your set list

Make your set list for this week’s Open Mics, exactly as you have been doing. Get used to the Process until it becomes second nature.

Get making a shit sandwich again!

Task Three: Watch More Standup!

We said we wanted you to  experience as much comedy as possible and we meant it! This week we want you to check out Kyle Kinane and Jim Gaffigan

To fully appreciate the comedy in these performances, watch Kyle Kinane’s bit titled “World’s Largest Pizza” on this video starting at the 4:30 mark: http://youtu.be/WoeQybA7gqM.

If the link is no longer working, you can search for “Kyle Kinane Big Mama’s and Papa’s Pizza” or “Kyle Kinane Acme” on Google.

Next, enjoy Jim Gaffigan’s hilarious breakdown of Hot Pockets in this video: http://youtu.be/N-i9GXbptog. If the link is no longer active, you can find it by searching for “Gaffigan Hot Pockets” on Google.

These two comedians share a common theme in their performances, using long sets filled with numerous individual jokes.

Food is a rich comedic topic due to its essential nature in human life, its association with excess, and the strong emotions people have about it.

After revisiting the “Giraldo Questions” from week one, consider the following:

1. How many individual jokes can you identify in Jim Gaffigan’s set?
2. How many individual jokes can you identify in Kyle Kinane’s set?

Now, express each individual joke as a simple declarative sentence:

1. Jim Gaffigan: “Hot Pockets are like sleeping bags filled with regret.”
2. Kyle Kinane: “The giant pizza at Big Mama’s and Papa’s is so enormous that it comes with its own zip code.”

Express each comedian’s entire piece as a simple declarative sentence:

1. Jim Gaffigan: Jim humorously criticizes Hot Pockets by highlighting their unappetizing qualities and making comparisons to other foods and scenarios.
2. Kyle Kinane: Kyle humorously explores the absurdity of a gigantic pizza at Big Mama’s and Papa’s Pizza, sharing his hilarious observations and reactions to the concept.

Both Jim Gaffigan and Kyle Kinane convey strong feelings about their respective topics.

Jim clearly despises Hot Pockets and humorously portrays them as unpalatable and regrettable.

On the other hand, Kyle finds the idea of a giant pizza amusingly ridiculous and pokes fun at the concept of such an enormous pizza.

Throughout their sets, both comedians communicate their feelings through clever observations, sarcastic remarks, and unexpected twists.

They establish expectations within each joke and then deliver surprises that lead to laughter.

Each individual joke serves as a distinct unit, contributing to the larger premise and keeping the audience engaged and amused.

Now, as you examine your own writing, consider the following:

1. What is the main point or premise you want to convey?
2. What individual points or sub-topics are you using to illustrate your main point?
3. Are each of these individual points distinct enough to stand as its own joke?
4. Do you have a way to make each point funny, with a clear expectation and a surprising twist?
5. Are you organizing each bit within the larger piece in a way that allows the audience to follow and appreciate each point separately?

As a comic, it is essential to maintain clarity and ensure that every component of your act elicits laughter.

Following the blueprint set by comedians like Kyle Kinane and Jim Gaffigan can help you craft well-structured and hilarious multi-joke bits.

Keep practicing and refining your skills in identifying premises, expectations, surprises, and emotional angles to develop your own comedic style.

Bit of a shorter one this week but you’ll be glad for the break!

Refresh your jokes, refresh your mind and get back out there!

That’s it! That’s Week Four.

See you back again here in a week!

This is an adaptation of the free 12week course Jon Roy offers HERE

Learn more about the Comedy Basics here

COMEDY BASICS