Unique Tips On How To Be A Successful Stand-up Comedian
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Leading stand-up comedy educator and trainer, providing proven 21st century strategies and techniques for individuals who wish to become comedians on a professional level. For a detailed stand-up comedy resume go to: Steve Roye's Stand-up Resume.
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Great insight. I can tell, when I write material, if I’m struggling because I’m trying to make the reading experience funny. And comedy is performed, not read. Also, I was SO surprised to see how much time he got from such a small amount of written material. I think many ‘comedians’ miss the performance part of the act.
Hi, Steve…
I just watched your video introducing the 2 and a half minutes of comedy standup, transcribed and the 4 questions to follow, and then the actual video of the comic doing the routine.However, there was no transcription…no questions…and no video of a guy to a bit. Maybe I didn’t something wrong. Can ya help?
One other thing: You say that standup material that’s funny when spoken is not funny when read. I’ve read Steven Wright’s stuff and I find it extremely funny when read. Is he the rare exception?
I realize the older comics…like Bob Hope…had material that was funny when read. But that was because their writers wrote actual jokes, rather than rants about stuff that pisses them off -- which the current trend of comedy writing is all about.
Anyway, can you help me find the transcript, questions, and video you mentioned in your video?
Thanks.
Jim
Jim,
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Stand-up comedy material can read funny if one is able to visualize the comedian for whom the material is associated.
In other words…
If you did not know the material you were reading was from a particular comedian, you will find that very little of it will actually read funny from paper. It doesn’t matter if it material performed by Rodney Dangerfield or Brian Regan.
The important point is this: folks who are trying to “write” their way to big laughs on stage using only words that “read” funny from a piece of paper are severely screwed — end of story. Conventional “writing” may work for greeting cards which are designed to be “read”, but does not for stand-up comedy, regardless of the the “style” a comedian uses
Developing stand-up comedy material for the stage that actually works well actually has little to do with words and sentences as they are “written” on paper — usually “written” in a format designed to read instead of being said and expressed in a manner that accentuates an individual’s natural comedy talent and skill set.
Couldn’t get the “Click here to unlock the rest of this update” to work or do anything.
BTW, Loved both videos. Very helpful.
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