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Tips for stand up comedy.

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Byron_tha_gr8
Posts: 4573 - Karma: 14,299
Everyone I know thinks i should do stand up and the opportunity has presented itself. I'm not a particularly nervous person, but the idea of being on stage telling my jokes just kind of seems daunting.

Anyone do stand up? Anything i should really watch for, do, or not do? I guess I just have no idea what im getting into.
Feb 16 2014 3:20AM
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LIL_WAT
Posts: 1900 - Karma: 475
Feb 16 2014 3:28AM
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Byron_tha_gr8
Posts: 4573 - Karma: 14,299
see the thing is i will post vids, no matter how it goes.
Feb 16 2014 3:37AM
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bigbromskier
Posts: 1175 - Karma: 330
confidence is key. there's no way you can be funny if you don't believe you're funny. practice, but keep it conversational while on stage. idk, who the fuck goes into standup comedy?? if you don't think you're funny you don't belong there.
Feb 16 2014 4:05AM
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Alex_G
Posts: 11902 - Karma: 1,019
i dont know shit i would just watch comedy podcasts see what those guys have to say
Feb 16 2014 4:05AM
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,029
yeah listen to a bunch of comedy podcast, they always discuss starting out (too much sometimes).. They are always talking about trying to speak in your own voice as if you were talking to a group of friends. That sounds way easier said than done. A must watch is Kill Tony on deathsquad.tv It is a show where they let beginners do a minute and then they give them advice and it is hilarious. Other podcast where they discuss comedy are the Joe Rogan Experience, Ari Shaffir's skeptic tank and the list goes on...

A Kill Tony episode:

KILL TONY #35 from Brian Redban on Vimeo.



Feb 16 2014 7:09AM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,485
You should be fine as long as you don't say anything you post on here....
Feb 16 2014 10:40AM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37393 - Karma: 120,172
don't suck
Feb 16 2014 10:43AM
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Byron_tha_gr8
Posts: 4573 - Karma: 14,299
all i needed
Feb 16 2014 10:47AM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
yup, came here to post this....hilarious
Feb 16 2014 10:47AM
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7springsprod
Posts: 2661 - Karma: 3,181
Hate me, but stand up comedy isn't and never will be funny.
Feb 16 2014 11:04AM
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,029
this would be the wrong thread for ya then...
Feb 16 2014 11:19AM
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Jeebus.
Posts: 4904 - Karma: 5,822
You must be too young to remember good stand up then, thats a shame.
Feb 16 2014 11:26AM
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theBearJew
Posts: 10951 - Karma: 15,633
Mitch Hedberg was the man.
Feb 16 2014 11:30AM
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HentaiHero
Posts: 298 - Karma: 1,099
done
Feb 16 2014 11:34AM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
If you're posting a thread like this on NS, you probably don't have what it takes to become successful in the stand up comedy business. It's like the kids in SG who post threads like, "How do I become sponsored? I'm pretty good and can do like...a 720."
Feb 16 2014 11:39AM
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Jeebus.
Posts: 4904 - Karma: 5,822
Disagree, anyone can do stand up, who says he's trying to make a career out of it. All it is, is being able to stand on stage and tell stories and rant in funny ways, pretty sure it also helps if your jewish.
Feb 16 2014 11:43AM
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,029
you have no clue what you are talking about. On EVERY single comedy podcast where they discuss starting they say everybody sucks. Nobody starts off funny. Even if you are the class clown, that doesn't translate to on-stage. You were trolling hard but you are just flat out wrong. It takes time (yrs) to develop a comedy voice..
Feb 16 2014 11:44AM
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Byron_tha_gr8
Posts: 4573 - Karma: 14,299
it was more along the lines of is there anything I shouldn't do, any thing seen as a party foul.

I don't want to be a stand up comic, I'm just going to perform at a mid sized venue with a few other people. I'm really not too nervous i can be funny for the 15 or so minutes I'll be up there.

Feb 16 2014 11:44AM
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,029
ignore the haters man. Even if you were trying to be a professional, or that was your goal, fuck him! Look up any comedian's history and look how long it took them to become a headliner. Years man.. It takes years to even hit the road as a middle. Watch Kill Tony, #1 advice they give is to get on stage as much as possible until you develop your voice..
Feb 16 2014 11:52AM
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swoger
Posts: 607 - Karma: 655
be yourself....express yourself in funny ways and dont pee yourself lol XD
Feb 16 2014 4:13PM
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SlurmrnHurnyBurn
Posts: 315 - Karma: 765
timing, a good joke can be told badly with improper timing, tone of voice, all the little things. humour is a very delicate thing of beauty.
Feb 16 2014 9:46PM
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SlurmrnHurnyBurn
Posts: 315 - Karma: 765
but just for the record i have no idea that just me assuming
Feb 16 2014 9:46PM
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Dr.Dealgood
Posts: 2587 - Karma: 1,352
I don't have pointers.

All I will tell you is that video better end up on this website.

Don't go all "eat your router" on us.
Feb 16 2014 9:55PM
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Mr.LemonPie
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 1,625
You're going up for fifteen minutes? What's a mid sized venue?

Fifteen minutes is a long time. That is a lot of jokes.
Feb 17 2014 12:51AM
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Byron_tha_gr8
Posts: 4573 - Karma: 14,299
its a bar with a stage in the back room, im not entirely sure how big it is. And its a 15 min limit, but they suggest at least 10.

I'm trying to figure out if I want to try to follow a script, but I think I can be waayy funnier if i just roll with where I'm going. I might make a flashcard for some direction.
Feb 17 2014 1:21AM
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lineskier10
Posts: 11339 - Karma: 796
if you think youre just gonna get up there and "roll with it" and be funny youre gonna be fucked, you need to plan out your set ahead of time for sure
Feb 17 2014 1:28AM
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Byron_tha_gr8
Posts: 4573 - Karma: 14,299
Well i don't mean just go on nothing, more like 4 or five joke themes ive already picked and thought about, and some reminders for the key funny point I want to hit. I meant more not scripting the entire thing or almost the whole, which I have seen done.
Feb 17 2014 1:31AM
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yangumane
Posts: 1816 - Karma: 3,347
Maybe I misread your thought process but please, whatever you do, don't whip out a notecard during a show
Feb 17 2014 1:37AM
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DolphinClit
Posts: 63 - Karma: 41
pick the most innocent person in the crowd and just bully them for an hour people will laugh their asses off
Feb 17 2014 1:56AM
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jibbpeter
Posts: 1613 - Karma: 4,083
This one got me.

Click for larger image

You can thank me later.
Feb 17 2014 6:03AM
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Jaskittin
Posts: 5606 - Karma: 195
Write your shit out, practice it, and don't try to play the shock card (eg don't start dropping faggot and nigger).
Feb 17 2014 6:43AM
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-benedetto
Posts: 5238 - Karma: 1,359
You try the comedy podcast yet? Kill Tony is chock full of pointers. So is Joe Rogans podcast. Have you ever done a public speaking course or any public speaking? Ad libbing sounds like a terrible idea. Having the balls is one thing but preparing like 5 minutes sounds like the feasible option..
Feb 17 2014 7:19AM
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freestyler540
Posts: 13083 - Karma: 18,725
Dont laugh when you are telling the joke or punchline. It kills the joke a little.
Feb 17 2014 9:09AM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,507
Feb 17 2014 9:32AM
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Kazabazua
Posts: 3529 - Karma: 1,128
I've got a few friends that are comedians and there is a huge difference between being funny in conversation and being funny in front of 50+ people on a stage by yourself. But don't let me discourage you, just know that you're probably going to suck big, gigantic balls the first few times - keep your expectations low and hate yourself as much as possible.
Feb 17 2014 10:04AM
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arnie_grape
Posts: 3451 - Karma: 11,683

Feb 17 2014 3:40PM
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