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Welcome back and congrats on ANOTHER killer week of Standup.
Before we dive into the assignments this week, we want you to think about some common themes you’ve noticed across peoples sets.
It might be starting to feel a little like groundhog day so try identify some now.
Most likely, you have. Among the common ones are porn, pot, alcohol, masturbation, and sex.
These topics resonate because they touch on aspects of life that make us uncomfortable, yet we can’t help but laugh at them.
While some brilliant jokes stem from these topics, they have also generated numerous clichéd and overused ones.
When writing new material, consider what evokes strong emotions in you and the audience. Follow your passions and care about the subjects you discuss on stage.
Louis C.K. once advised, “Write about what you can’t stop thinking about.” Combine this with topics that evoke discomfort and you’re on the right track.
When performing, avoid polling the audience or acknowledging a joke’s failure. Rhetorical questions can lead to unwanted interruptions, and confidently delivering your material without seeking constant approval is more powerful.
Embrace your authority on stage and trust that the audience is there to listen to you.
If a joke doesn’t land, avoid getting defensive or attacking the audience. Instead, maintain your composure and move on gracefully.
Not every joke will resonate with every crowd, and that’s okay. It’s all part of the learning process.
RIGHT let’s jump in.
Take note of anything hilarious you observe or say spontaneously in the moment. Gather these funny bits and transform them into jokes on a weekly basis.
Review what worked well last week and apply the adjustments we discussed in previous sessions. If any joke consistently lands with the audience, promote it to Group One. However, if a joke is becoming too familiar to your regular audience, set it aside for a while to keep things fresh.
Now, just like we did last week, build the rest of your set, using the Shit Sandwich approach. Perform this refined set at three Open Mic events as usual. Keep honing your comedic skills and remember that practice and audience feedback are crucial to success!
Task Two: Take A Seat Young Skywalker
Perform your set from the stool at one Mic this week, utilizing it as part of your work environment, just like renowned comedian Marc Maron. Afterward, reflect on these aspects:
Remember, experimenting with various performance styles informs and guides your ultimate artistic choice.
Please watch this captivating Marc Maron story starting at 2:24 in this YouTube video.
Afterward, let’s answer the “Giraldo Questions” as we did for Greg Giraldo back in Week One. We’ll also look at how Marc Maron effectively engages the audience while seated on a stool, using movement to enhance his storytelling.
While watching, take note of the punchlines scattered throughout the story and how Marc sets them up.
Ask yourself this: When does Marc set the Expectation for the audience for his story? When does he tell them Why They Are Listening?
When does he fulfill this Expectation? How does this serve the same function in a long story as it does in a joke?
In other words, what is the Set Up for the whole story? What is the Punchline?
How many other Punchlines can you find within the story? How are they set up?
Now, let’s shift our focus to Nikki Glaser’s standup HERE.
Note the topics she covers, each evoking strong emotional reactions from the audience. Nikki adeptly touches on various fears and emotionally uncomfortable subjects, infusing humour that turns these topics into a source of laughter.
For each joke, name an issue that the audience would have a strong emotional reaction to.
What fears does Nikki touch on in her jokes? Name one emotionally uncomfortable subject for each joke. There is one (at least) in each bit.
How does Nikki make the fearful subjects funny?
Now think about how you can take these principles and apply them to your own set!
This is an adaptation of the free 12week course Jon Roy offers HERE
Learn more about the Comedy Basics here
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