I am a fairly humorous person, and I do comedic improv at a local club. However anytime I try to sit down and think of some funny stand-up material my mind goes blank. Any suggestions?
2007-03-04 16:39:39 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
DON'T sit down and try to think of material. GO SOMEWHERE (a mall, a park, a restaurant, etc.) and WATCH and LISTEN to people - they do funny and odd things. Kids can be a great source, too, as they see things from such an innocent, matter-of-fact, non-political perspective - in ways that adults have forgotten to see things. Watch for situations where people have to stifle a laugh or comment in public because it isn't appropriate - they'll be eager to be reminded of and laugh at those things in a more relaxed setting. Everyday life is often the funniest thing, and ANYBODY in your audience can relate to it.
Consider everyday objects, and how amusing or ironic they can be - how humans sometimes make "improvements" that actually make things worse. For example, remote controls were supposed to make watching TV so much more convenient and efficient - but now, instead of walking a few feet to push one button on a TV, you have to look all over the room for the remote, and in some cases, you CAN'T control the TV WITHOUT the remote. Then, you spend more time trying to figure out which button to push than you would have spent just getting up and pushing the button on the TV.
Keep a pad of paper and pencil or PDA with you at all times, for jotting down notes or doodles of funny things you see. Then, sit down later and fine-tune it for performance purposes.
2007-03-04 22:36:54 · answer #1 · answered by gelfling 7 · 9⤊ 2⤋
I don't do improv or open mic, but I do write.
The problem I've found with sitting down to write is that you have nothing to feed off of when you do that. My own jokes are based upon observations, sometimes to the point of swiping word for word dialogue directly from friends and elaborating on it with a twist.
I've learned to carry a pen with me at all times and my day planner whenever possible. I've written material on the back of reciepts and I've even sent voicemails to myself. When th e inspiration hits, it will be in the middle of something, and you've got to record that moment when it happens or as soon as possible afterward, before it slips and you've lost the humour it had.
But observation and experiences are the best source for raw material.
2007-03-04 20:09:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think you are trying to hard. The most successful comedians don't try to "invent" material..they merely present observations and personal experiences in a humorous light. Start thinking about things that happened to you...your first kiss, getting your drivers license, your first job etc..there is amterial there!
2007-03-05 06:29:25 · answer #3 · answered by techrecruitatlanta 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My guess is that it would be pretty hard. I think you would have to have the personality for that kind of comedy. Jerry Seinfeld is a funny comedian. Maybe you can study a certain comedian that YOU like. You can go to a comedic show and see if you can meet a comedian. I think it would be cool to be able to meet someone who does stand up comedy.
2007-03-04 16:49:12 · answer #4 · answered by rosie_B_19 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Take note of the obvious absurdities in life (like the playtoy that comesin a kids meal that has a "warning: do not use as a life saving device" on it.
There are plenty of examples in the real world
2007-03-04 16:47:39 · answer #5 · answered by freshbliss 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
welcome to the club. Think'n up **** is hard. Start with the marx brothers, and the Goons, Benny Hill. Little Britain. and Lenny Bruce. You can't go wrong.
Provis'O, : seeing how other folks do it, wont help you all that much, (you have to find your own way.-- I paint,-- but seeing Rembrandt didn't help me all that much) but at least you can appreciate them.
However,; a life without 17thcentury (rembrandte) dutch art is unthinkable to me; Bit like a life without Shakespeare.
2007-03-05 01:08:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you need to be thinking about it all time. Whenever something funny happens - or you hear something funny - right it down. It hink it's important that most people can relate to what you're talking about.
2007-03-04 17:03:34 · answer #7 · answered by liddabet 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont look in to comedy to lots yet i be responsive to who dane prepare dinner is I have not any thought who kathy griffin is. is she some one from kinfolk guy? the long lost sister of peter griffin or something?
2016-09-30 05:23:28 · answer #8 · answered by barnell 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋