Reddit Reddit reviews Stand-Up Comedy: The Book

We found 5 Reddit comments about Stand-Up Comedy: The Book. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.

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Stand-Up Comedy: The Book
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5 Reddit comments about Stand-Up Comedy: The Book:

u/GGabe · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Though this book is more on the stand up side, I found that its a great starter, guideline, and workshop for those interested getting into comedy

http://www.amazon.com/Stand-Up-Comedy-Book-Judy-Carter/dp/0440502438

u/gusbustafunk · 2 pointsr/IAmA

This thread has inspired me!

i got this book a LONG time ago for one of my friends who I thought was hilarious but he never used it (it's kind of like a workbook).

About 2 years ago I bought for myself because I make people laugh a lot, but it has just been sitting on my bookshelf. I think I may bring it along on my winter vacation and work out some material. There's tons of amateur stand up things in my town.

u/napjerks · 2 pointsr/Standup

I love this question. All writers, no matter the medium, have faced this question. You're doing the right thing starting and ending strong with what you've got. You can tell where your week points are. That honesty is good!
It shows you have a high standard for yourself. A certain level of taste, if you will. And you're trying to meet it. So just keep working on generating new material.

Always be writing things down. You should have a notebook stuck to your hand like glue that's a constant stream of funny things you encounter, whether you said it or it was a daily experience. You might not write every day but keep it handy. Not writing something great that popped into your head is a huge missed opportunity. You never know what will build into something great. These don't come often. So most writers seriously sit down an hour or two a day for the express purpose of thinking about their material and coming up with new bits. Stories from childhood they can reflect on as an adult, recent personal or world events, you name it.

Figure out what your rules are for what works for you. Don't just curse to curse or be gross to be gross. It has to convey a story or an insight into life or who you are. Keep searching for your style, your voice.

Also, and this is gonna sound totally high school stupid but it helps... Remember why you're doing it. Why are you doing it? It's not just to make people laugh, that's why all comics are there. But why are you doing it. that's a different answer. A very personal one. Get this on paper to your satisfaction. Let it be your driving reason for creating material.

Test your new material out in the middle of your set. See how well you can work the crowd differently each night based on the vibe and city. You know you can't settle for chuckles. You want full guffaw. That's what sitting down with your stream of consciousness writing is for. To filter and edit what you have newly discovered. Don't stay out too late. Be well rested every morning (or whenever you usually get up) so you can continue working on your material and writing things down with a clear head. Watch how Jerry did it. When you get stuck, check out a book on how to write comedy. There are many. Good luck!

u/accidental_asshole · 1 pointr/AskReddit

This book might help get your creative comedic juices flowing. If you feel you have a talent for funny then practice makes perfect. Use this book as a starting point.

Go down to open mic nights in your city (I’m assuming you are old enough) and observe, it can be a lot of fun. The open mic that I go to has a mixture of stand-up beginners, amateurs, and some professionals and no matter what happens I have respect for any person who can get on stage and try to make a room full of strangers laugh… It’s not easy! Remember that making friends laugh and making an audience laugh are two completely different dynamics. Observe how some of your favorite comedians perform a set and try to understand the subtle complexities involved.

As for the intelligence part I suggest reading a book or a newspaper. Do anything beyond video games or mindless activity. You need material for your jokes and you need to do interesting things to fuel that creative fire. Always carry a small note pad and a pen with you and write down anything you find interesting or humorous when out and about.

If you practice you will find that your quick wit might come back and you will get that laughter high that you have been missing.