Hints and Tips for aspiring Comedians

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A.A.K

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Mar 7, 2009
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I got a friend who's headlining a gig in a few months and he wants me to be apart of an open-mic thing afterwards...though I've never done any sort of public speaking. Not to crowds anyway.

Is there any hints or tips that you (the Escapist) can offer me (and every other wannabe comic out there)
 
Jan 11, 2009
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Do you mean in terms or material or general performing?

For material, you need to stick with one simple rule really. Never do anything that could alienate or exclude the audience, try to talk about things that include everyone and try to not talk too much about yourself other than a short bit of self-deprecation if that's your thing.

For general performing, be ready for hecklers, they're pretty common for open mic nights and have some stock insults ready but honestly, the best ones are thought or on the spot.
 

The Night Angel

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Dec 30, 2011
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As far as public speaking in general goes, the best thing is not to hype it up in your head or think about it too much. You don't need that extra pressure. As for jokes, I'm no good at observational comedy, but if you can do it, it's better than trying to remember a long list of one-liners :)
 

redisforever

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Oct 5, 2009
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Pinkie-Pie-Party said:
As far as public speaking in general goes, the best thing is not to hype it up in your head or think about it too much. You don't need that extra pressure. As for jokes, I'm no good at observational comedy, but if you can do it, it's better than trying to remember a long list of one-liners :)
If you can pull off the one liners well, it can be really funny, like Jimmy Carr. I'd recommend watching a lot of stand up, to get some ideas about performing, not taking jokes from them, but seeing how they behave. Interact with the crowd as well, make them feel included.
 

Rastien

Pro Misinformationalist
Jun 22, 2011
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Que cards can't stress this enough :) nothing worse than loosing your train of thought then getting frozen on stage. If its open mic night or something like that people will not mind in the slightest the use of que cards.

Recently at the comedy club i go to, one of the new kids really bombed hard the audience didn't heckle they tried helping but he just frooze up was painful to watch.
 

iseeyouthere

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Jan 21, 2010
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A little research into the areas he will be performing at won't hurt.
Some jokes respond better in different areas. Different rules, customs, events.. etc.
Can also avoid touching sensitive topics which might bring hate.
 

Zantos

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Jan 5, 2011
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Knowing the area (especially who are their rivals) is a great way to warm to the audience.

Also, be sure to try and gauge the reactions. Slightly offensive humour can be funny, but if people aren't really laughing ditch it and move on.
 

Sizzle Montyjing

Pronouns - Slam/Slammed/Slammin'
Apr 5, 2011
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Wear a hat!
Ummm... i have no idea... i like to think i'm funny, but mildly amusing is more what i'm afraid I am.
What is your comedic styling?
 

omega 616

Elite Member
May 1, 2009
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I would pick on a rival town, like people from Liverpool and Manchester hate each other, so if you do a show in Liverpool rip into people from Manchester.

I saw a comedian play the numbers he asked "how many people are over 30?" then "how many people are under 30?" then ripped into the ones with the lower noise. I don't mean insulted them but did observational humour about them.

I will see if I can find it so you know what I mean.


EDIT: Also try and get on first, you could walk up on stage and pretend it's karaoke for a few lines of a really bad song. Plus if you bomb hard people will forget about you by the end of the night but if you do well then you start the night off well for everybody
 

King of Asgaard

Vae Victis, Woe to the Conquered
Oct 31, 2011
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You just need to learn one joke:
Man goes into doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says "Treatmen is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up." Man bursts into tears. Says "But, Doctor...I am Pagliacci."
It's a good joke. Everybody will laugh. Roll on snare drum. Curtains.
 

Hollock

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Jun 26, 2009
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If you've got a couple months, go to open mikes on your own before hand to get good because if that's your first time, it's going to be bad. Everyone sucks their first time. Also when you write your jokes, don't write everything word for word, it's gonna sound stiff and weird. So just have an idea of what you want to say.
And when you go to open mics make sure to call before hand because the website you got your info from might be out of date.
the more you do it = the better you are. Only do things you think are funny, not things you think everyone will like, because that won't happen ever.
I'm actually a comedian.
 

Doclector

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Aug 22, 2009
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I've been thinking of trying a few open mic nights. Two things hold me back; The fear that a stage will instantly freeze me, and a fear that my friends who find me hilarious and have sometimes suggested I should are the only people who find me funny.
 

Kpt._Rob

Travelling Mushishi
Apr 22, 2009
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Good advice for any sort of public speaking event, treat the actual event as if it were practice. Now don't get me wrong, that doesn't mean you shouldn't practice before, but also don't go in with the attitude that it's your big shot. It's not. Just treat it as another chance to get some experience under your belt. If you fuck it up that's good. When you've never failed before, failure is much more terrifying. After you've screwed up a few times though, and seen that you could still get back up and try again, the fear won't be near as bad. So treat it like that, and remember that there will always be another opportunity to try again. As long as you don't let anything that happens get to you, you'll be just fine.

As for the actual material, just do the material that you want to do. With exceptions to a couple things (like keeping material appropriate for your audience so as not to offend) you shouldn't try to tailor your material to your audience. If you try to pretend that you're someone you're not, it'll be clear as day. An audience can smell a phony a mile away, being a good liar is way way harder than being honest. Our species is very attracted to those rare few who can be honest about themselves, we like people who are confident in who they are. So go up, and tell the stories or jokes you want to tell.

Most important of all though, just have fun with it. The more fun you're having with it, the more fun they'll have with it.
 

Firstmark_Bannor

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Aug 11, 2011
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Tip #1 Tell jokes.
Tip #2 Tell funny jokes.
Tip #3 Drink heavily.
Tip #4 Pretend the crowd is naked.
Tip #5 Practice ALL of your Jokes before hand. Your improv just isn't that good.
 

RagTagBand

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Jul 7, 2011
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Write down what you're going to say, word for word to be honest, and practice it like a son of a *****. You should know your material like the back of your hand so that A. you're not going to get lost B. it's going to sound more natural if you're not trying to remember what comes next, it will just flow out and C. You can adlib much more comfortably if and only if you are comfortable doing so.

For the most part though, stick to your internal script - It is your safety net.

Don't ask friends to rate your material, they will lie to you, You can ask them to be brutal but they will lie to you in 99% of cases.

Don't write stuff because you think other people will find it funny, write about stuff you find funny.

Your first time you will be nervous as shit so try not to rush, people need to be able to hear what you're saying and the speed at which you think you need to talk is almost certainly quicker than the speed other people need you to talk to understand.

Don't get drunk before going on, hell I wouldn't suggest drinking alcohol at all beforehand. "Dutch courage" causes more problems than it solves.

You might get heckled, Because you're new I would not suggest trying to tackle a heckler, just ignore them, At the most I would have a pre-prepared "put down", but don't do what professionals do and openly engage with them...you're simply not going to be mentally ready for that.

Don't do more than 10 minutes. Do 5 minutes if at all possible just to ease yourself in.

Good luck.

~ Ex Stand up comedian with an accredited Degree in Comedy writing and Performance.
 

Bassik

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Jun 15, 2011
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Never, ever picture the audience naked. This is a stupid thing made up by people who never stood in front of a lot of people.
What you should do is relax, and pretend you are just telling your friends a bunch of jokes. If someone heckles you, ignore it until you are more experienced.

Good luck!
 

DudeistBelieve

TellEmSteveDave.com
Sep 9, 2010
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King of Asgaard said:
You just need to learn one joke:
Man goes into doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says "Treatmen is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up." Man bursts into tears. Says "But, Doctor...I am Pagliacci."
It's a good joke. Everybody will laugh. Roll on snare drum. Curtains.
See, there were these two guys in a lunatic asylum?and one night, one night they decide they don?t like living in an asylum any more. They decide they?re going to escape! So, like, they get up onto the roof, and there, just across the narrow gap, they see the rooftops of the town, stretching away in the moonlight?Now, the first guy, he jumps right across with no problem. But his friend, his friend daredn?t make the leap. Y?see?y?see, he?s afraid of falling. So then, the first guy has an idea?He says ?Hey! I have my flashlight with me! I?ll shine it across the gap between the buildings. You can walk along the beam and join me!? B-but the second guy just shakes his head. He suh-says?He says ?wh-what do you think I am? CRAZY? You?d turn it off when I was half way across!?
 

BiscuitTrouser

Elite Member
May 19, 2008
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Act friendly like youre talking to a bunch of friends. Try and get a good natured rant going. Comment on funny current things. Hipsters. I love Russel Howard loads. Hes like a guy you WANT to have a beer with. Be like him. Light hearted. Friendly. A definate British Lad. Comment on the English, the city, other cities things in England. Be that guy you KNOW woudld be hilarious down the pub.

 

Firstmark_Bannor

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Aug 11, 2011
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SaneAmongInsane said:
See, there were these two guys in a lunatic asylum?and one night, one night they decide they don?t like living in an asylum any more. They decide they?re going to escape! So, like, they get up onto the roof, and there, just across the narrow gap, they see the rooftops of the town, stretching away in the moonlight?Now, the first guy, he jumps right across with no problem. But his friend, his friend daredn?t make the leap. Y?see?y?see, he?s afraid of falling. So then, the first guy has an idea?He says ?Hey! I have my flashlight with me! I?ll shine it across the gap between the buildings. You can walk along the beam and join me!? B-but the second guy just shakes his head. He suh-says?He says ?wh-what do you think I am? CRAZY? You?d turn it off when I was half way across!?
+100000 Internets to you good sir. I'm sure this joke just kills...
 

DionysusSnoopy

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May 9, 2009
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redisforever said:
If you can pull off the one liners well, it can be really funny, like Jimmy Carr. I'd recommend watching a lot of stand up, to get some ideas about performing, not taking jokes from them, but seeing how they behave. Interact with the crowd as well, make them feel included.
This essentially, some good comedians for one liner style jimmy carr, milton jones and stuart francis
Topical style Dara o'brian (the latinos have mutated"), russel howard, peter kay, robin williams. Most of mine are UK cos i'm from there. Also try and find videos of comics just breaking in on to TV like Daniel Sloss

Another thing is try to work out your audience quickly and will likely depend on where you are and the people in the audience, as some stuff won't translate such as UK to US comedy often won't translate but sometimes jokes play out differently from Liverpool to London or Bristol to Manchester.