Free Comedy Course – Week 11

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12 Week Free Comedy Course – Week 11

Click HERE for the course intro and other chapters:

A Course Refresh!

Unlike traditional classes with final exams, standup comedy is a journey of continuous improvement and refinement. Today, we’ll revisit the Comedy Refinement Process, this is something that we looked at in the early weeks of the course and is something that you’ll keep coming back to throughout your career!

Task 1: Revisit your Group One Material

In a regular class, graduation is marked by completing specific milestones. In standup comedy, however, you graduate when you have crafted a solid five-minute showcase set of “Group One” material that consistently gets laughs from any audience.

There’s no fixed timeline for graduation since everyone improves at their own pace. You may already be halfway there or still perfecting your act. Embrace the process and celebrate when you’ve mastered the art of engaging your audience with laughter.

Task 2: Get Back To Refining

And remember to work through these 4 steps!

1. Daily Thoughts: Your comedy journey begins by jotting down every funny thought or bit of conversation that makes you or others laugh. This forms the foundation of your material.
2. Joke File: Craft your daily thoughts into complete jokes, ready to be performed in front of an audience. This file will evolve as you refine your material and find what works best.
3. Bit File: Organise your jokes into three groups – Group One (consistently successful jokes), Group Two (jokes that need work), and Group Three (jokes that currently don’t work). No joke is to be thrown away; they all have potential.
4. Set Notes: After each performance, jot down any insights or notes to improve your act for the future.

Task 3: Refresh Your Joke Crafting

Remember the steps to writing a good joke?! They can always be revisited! Come back to some old jokes with what you’ve learnt in the course and give them a refresh! Remember to always box off these 4 things

1. Set an expectation for the audience and fulfil it in a surprising way.
2. Use colourful language to invoke the audience’s senses.
3. Ensure your language is clear and understandable.
4. Use the least amount of words to convey the idea effectively.

Task 4: Give Hosting A Go

As you progress in your comedy career, you may be asked to host a show. Hosting is an art that requires you to set the tone and energy for the audience. Remember that you are the first comedic element they encounter, and it’s essential to grab their attention and get them excited for the show.

Dos and Don’ts for Hosting:

• Start with a warm greeting and tell the audience about the upcoming show.
• Use crowd work or interaction sparingly, as the audience may not be ready for jokes immediately.
• If you have a specific stage persona, maintain it throughout your hosting, ensuring consistency.
• Keep the show moving smoothly, introducing acts and maintaining energy.
• Avoid self-indulgence and excessive material between comics.
• Address problematic situations or hecklers tactfully if necessary.

Task 5: Watch More Stand Up Comedy

Watch Jay Larson’s standup and observe his storytelling techniques

Jay Larson, Creepy Unfinished Basement

Note how he sets clear expectations for the story, even without a specific sentence outlining it. Pay attention to his speech patterns, how he builds and drops energy, using his voice as if performing a musical piece.

As you continue on your standup comedy journey, embrace the Comedy Refinement Process and the joy of continuous learning. Whether you’re crafting jokes, hosting a show, or analysing successful comedians, remember that laughter is the ultimate goal, and refining your material is a never-ending process.

That’s it! That’s Week Eleven.

See you back again here in a week!

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

Learn more about the Comedy Basics here

COMEDY BASICS