Anyone here written a stand up routine?

I am working on one now, and it's a lot harder than I thought it would be. I don't think I have the balls to actually get up on stage and say it all, but it's fun writing it anyway.

So... to people that have done stand up before, any advice in terms of writing or performing or practising or anything...?

Thanks.

You have to try it out on people.  So get a group of your friends together and try it.  Otherwise, you won't get the timing or reaction right.

It's really hard to do.  So don't give up if you can't get people to laugh right off.  It takes practice.  

Oh, and one more thing...when you are "on" and out socializing with new people...slip in some of your jokes, so that you can see an unbiased reaction.


EDIT: And in case you were wondering when I did this, it was when I was in school taking a Comedy class - one of the topics we covered was Stand-Up and yes we had to perform it.  

EDIT: And for my assignment - I chose story time and I told a fairy tale called Snow White and the Seven Druggies.  And if you're wondering who the seven druggies were, they were:
Trippy, Speedy, Stony, Giggly, Freaky, Dopey and Drunk.    

Yes.

Advice.

You know what I said to Clorox earlier. Well, you need bigger ones than I have.

And a fecking thick skin. Thick as three short planks.

Hardest job in the world. Apart from coal mining. And bridge repair. And art. And script writing. Er, you get the idea.

Hecklers. Deal with them. Definitely.

And, for the love of Jesus, test it before you show it. You know worra do.

I've seen Ricky die on stage a coupla times. And he's funny. And not daft. It was many things. But pretty it most certainly was not.

The only time Bill Hicks died anywhere was when the big man upstairs called.

L&P TP

R

Quoted from Tommyp Anyone here written a stand up routine? I am working on one now, and it's a lot harder than I thought it would be. I don't think I have the balls to actually get up on stage and say it all, but it's fun writing it anyway. So... to people that have done stand up before, any advice in terms of writing or performing or practising or anything...? Thanks.

Tommy,

Tommy,

Tommy,

Don't practice anything!!!! Just be you and have fun!!!

Don't try and perform for anyone. Only connect with people on that level we all know.

Sandra

I think Sandra and Rx definitely should not try to stand up.

Tommy , you could start with the OWC and take it from there. I mentioned it to my boss today (as material goes) and it went completly into punntown.

Fuck the audience, lets talk material. come on a vegan and a carnivar.

I wish Phil had gone comedy on this one. so many stand up possibilities.

A cow walks across a field, looks down and say's to carrot top, I thought you were still in vages?

carrot top replies, Not enough cabbage, what have you been up to? the cow replies, I did a rib jabber in the movie pork chop hill.

Was the pay good ask the carrot?

Hell no, they ran me through the grinder.

Hello? Is this thing on? Tap...Tap...

Shawn.....><

Quoted from mcornetto I think Sandra and Rx definitely should not try to stand up.

I was being serious though, Michael.  

If you're thinking of doing stand up comedy, you'd better lose any fear you have of impressing anyone because people will see and feel that and the hecklers will heckle the hell out of you. Which might be a good thing if you're full of hell and need to get rid of it.

Really, you need to be having fun, walking on the wire and if you can be in that "improve mode", you'll make a killing. Don't over think yourself. That's for obsessive writers.   Stand up comedians live on the wild side. Learn to do that and everything else will fall into place. Your routines might be written, but you'll be able to flow with the spontaneity that happens and changes from night to night.

Most important thing is that you're having fun. If you can do that, others will have fun with you.

One of my favorite comedians right now is Russel Peters. He's relaxed and can laugh at himself and his family and heritage.

If you have a routine that you ever want to test out. I'll volunteer. I can use some good comedy.

Sandra

Hey Tommy,

I've also considered this route before and came to realise I didn't have the balls to go through with it.

Anyway,

I go to a lot of stand up and have discovered that there are comedy places (where there is more than one comedian in the night), which will help train you to become a comedian.  But that's here in London.  Not sure about your area.

Some uni's do a course on it, usually in acting courses.  You could possibly look for a summer course in it.

Javier

Quoted from jayrex Hey Tommy, I've also considered this route before and came to realise I didn't have the balls to go through with it. Anyway, I go to a lot of stand up and have discovered that there are comedy places (where there is more than one comedian in the night), which will help train you to become a comedian.  But that's here in London.  Not sure about your area. Some uni's do a course on it, usually in acting courses.  You could possibly look for a summer course in it. Javier

Hopefully you'll develop the courage. Our world needs more of you.

Sandra

Quoted from Sandra Elstree. I was being serious though, Michael.   If you're thinking of doing stand up comedy, you'd better lose any fear you have of impressing anyone because people will see and feel that and the hecklers will heckle the hell out of you. Which might be a good thing if you're full of hell and need to get rid of it. Really, you need to be having fun, walking on the wire and if you can be in that "improve mode", you'll make a killing. Don't over think yourself. That's for obsessive writers.   Stand up comedians live on the wild side. Learn to do that and everything else will fall into place. Your routines might be written, but you'll be able to flow with the spontaneity that happens and changes from night to night. Most important thing is that you're having fun. If you can do that, others will have fun with you. One of my favorite comedians right now is Russel Peters. He's relaxed and can laugh at himself and his family and heritage. If you have a routine that you ever want to test out. I'll volunteer. I can use some good comedy. Sandra

Having done both, there is a big difference between improv and stand-up.  While I could easily teach improv (and have) it's much harder to teach stand-up.  Stand-up can contain improv but it is generally centered around a set act that can be performed the same or nearly the same every night. If there is any improv involved it is usually based on or brings in prepared material - so technically it's really not improv more of an ad lib.        

Quoted from mcornetto Having done both, there is a big difference between improv and stand-up.  While I could easily teach improv (and have) it's much harder to teach stand-up.  Stand-up can contain improv but it is generally centered around a set act that can be performed the same or nearly the same every night. If there is any improv involved it is usually based on or brings in prepared material - so technically it's really not improv more of an ad lib.

Yes, there are the fine points of what is classified as improv or stand up comedy. I'm not familiar with those because I haven't taken any classes like you have.

I'm speaking about connecting with people on a real and sincere level that is not "acted", even though it might be scripted verbatim.

There is nothing rehearsed about that. I think that anyone who has ever been a good salesperson will understand what I'm talking about-- them or anyone who truly does give into seeing what's really going on. I'm not sure, but I wager a good guess that you could perform the same routine on a different audience on the same night in the same city and get a very different response. But that aside...

If the comedian is "reading" his audience, he/she will be receiving something from them. I repeat, he/she will be receiving something from them and not attempting to perform in the same way. My meaning here is that he/she will be interpreting and responding TO THEM. Get my meaning?

We need to invent a word for that relationship that's wit filled and wonderful and bounces back and forth between the performer and the so called audience. Maybe there is one, but I can't think of it right now.  

The only way I can express it right now is that if there is a "bounce back" effect and then there's a magic  in the air that the comedian has initiated and it reverberates.

I don't think that it's the jokes themselves that are so funny so much as the people are.

Sandra

Quoted from mcornetto I think Sandra and Rx definitely should not try to stand up.

Where's my hammer?

Er. Mc nicked it. He's knocking me nails in again. Clever boy.

R

I saw Ricky Gervais' Fame at the Hammersmith Apollo back in Sept '07. It was funny - not the best I've ever seen, and not even the best I've ever seen from him (on DVD, of course), but funny. I only mention him because I know you're a Gervais fan, Tommy - I do think Animals, and particularly Politics, are great shows.

Anyhoo, for me by far the most interesting thing about that show was when I got the DVD for Christmas, and watched it back. It was the night after I went, but of course the routine was largely the same. There were slight differences (such as when he got into a one-on-one with a heckler, and ended up calling him a c*nt), but there was one moment in particular that fascinated me.

About halfway through the routine, maybe twenty-five minutes in, he was in the middle of a section about something-or-other, I can't remember what. But there was one joke in there, and when he did it he immediately groaned. Just to himself, just for a second - he winced, closed his eyes slightly, groaned, and carried on. You only see it because the shot happens to be quite close-up at that moment. But it's a really telling little detail.

Because he knew he'd screwed that joke up. And that shows you just how much painstaking preparation goes into these things. It's not just writing the material - every joke has a rhythm to it, like a piece of music. I actually think it holds true for all performative writing; any good sentence is like a melody, with pauses, intervals and cadences. Obviously this is true with verse, but it's true with prose, too. I do quite a lot of acting at uni, and when I'm learning my lines I repeat them to myself again and again until I'm happy that I've found the shape of them, and once I've worked out where to go high and where to go low, when to pause, when to gesture, then I stick to that. And if I'm rehearsing or even in a performance and I miss that shape, if I hit a bum note, I instantly know. It jars, like hitting the wrong key on the piano.

"Fascinating," I hear you say, "but what has this got to do with stand-up?" Well, stand-up is the ultimate solo performance. Being in a play is like an orchestra; you only really have to worry about your part, and just hope everyone else will stay with you. But stand-up is like the longest solo ever. These guys rehearse and rehearse, working out the shape of every section, every individual joke. And I'm pretty sure that once they find it, they stick to it. Of course you have to be able to improvise, of course you do. I actually think that's Gervais' weakness, hence why he came off so badly when he was stuck in the headlights at Diana's memorial concert a few year back, but by and large I think confident improvisation comes from knowing the material itself so well - after all, you don't try a skateboard trick until you know you can land it. Okay, you might, but if you don't know what you're doing you're bound to end up with some grazes.

So, sort-of-tying-this-up, Gervais reacted like that because he missed a note. It jarred, and he knew instantly that he'd done it. Like any good solo performer he shrugged it off and kept playing, but he couldn't help but react. Stand-up is like a musical solo, not an improvised, free-form guitar solo but a grand piano on a raised platform with everyone's eyes boring into you. AND you have to make them laugh. Basically, I agree with those who say you need to know it inside out. You need to know it, hear it in your head, and then try and make it seem natural and as if it's coming to you as you speak. I can make people laugh in conversation, and I can play the piano pretty well in a relaxed environment, but I could never do piano recitals and I could never do stand-up. You're a brave bloke if you want to try - good luck!

Here endeth the lesson.

Quoted from JonnyBoy Stand-up is like a musical solo, not an improvised, free-form guitar solo but a grand piano on a raised platform with everyone's eyes boring into you.

The words "everyone's eyes boring into you" are a great metaphorous example of the detriment that undermines most "would be" comedians' comedy.

I'm glad you brought that forth because the ability to "let go" is what can't be learned. If a comedian is looking out to the audience and they have this perception of them as being "the enemy", then how on earth are they going to make them laugh? Rather, the comedian needs to see a part of themselves within that audience. If they do that, they're not afraid of someone staring them down, but they're seeing them as someone else, but just like them, with a great big fat need to LAUGH!  

My biggest concern in this discussion is to think that there are damn good comedians that don't share themselves because they're afraid. To me, that is a very sad thought. If you think you're inclined towards comedy, please don't stop because you're afraid. We need you.

Sandra

Johnny Vegas. Frank Carson. Spike Milligan, Brendan Grace. Frank Skinner. Denis "Bill Hicks erm" Leary.

Bernard Manning. Dave Allen. Dylan Moran, Dara Ó Briain, Ardal O'Hanlon, Sean Hughes and Ed Byrne.

Eric Bana. Paul Hogan. Graham Norton. Jeremy Hardy. Peter Kay. Eddie Izzard.

Now. Bit male dominated. But, Alexie Sayle and The Dangerous Bros, Woody, Roy 'Chubby' Brown,  Rob Brydon, The Joan Collins Fan Club, Harry Enfield, Monty and Co, Frankie Boyle, Steve Allen and Lenny Bruce need a mention before

Ruby Wax. French and Sounders. Joan Rivers. Rita erm, doodah and countless others.

There's stacks of great ones. They are just some that sprung to mind once Wiki refreshed it.

If you're gonna do it learn from the best. Stand up is tough. But those folks made it look easy. Which means they are special. And they put the work in previous to stepping out there.

Being funny is not easy. I'm frankly just a bit strange.

Respect where due. You're a spring chicken. I'm an autumn / summer one. Guys like you have a chance of making it work. Whereas my days on the boards are long passed. Damn good luck. But I doubt you'll need it. Good luck anyway.

P&L

R

Quoted from JonnyBoy So, sort-of-tying-this-up, Gervais reacted like that because he missed a note. It jarred, and he knew instantly that he'd done it. Like any good solo performer he shrugged it off and kept playing, but he couldn't help but react. Stand-up is like a musical solo, not an improvised, free-form guitar solo but a grand piano on a raised platform with everyone's eyes boring into you. AND you have to make them laugh. Basically, I agree with those who say you need to know it inside out. You need to know it, hear it in your head, and then try and make it seem natural and as if it's coming to you as you speak. I can make people laugh in conversation, and I can play the piano pretty well in a relaxed environment, but I could never do piano recitals and I could never do stand-up. You're a brave bloke if you want to try - good luck! Here endeth the lesson.

And quite a good one it is too. Just read that so I thought I'd add this: all sounds good.

If a guitarist drops a bum note he repeats it. As it makes it sound deliberate. Hell, he might even getta way with it.

Comedians can't. Drop one and you may as well drop your trousers.

Watch the best and learn. It's there to find. It's just not easy. Fair warning bro. Hell, you may even find it easy. Who knows apart from yourself?

R