*Takes it on the chin*
God that hurt.
(, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:13, archived)
2. Don't chat with audience members that you know.
3. Cohesion. Move from one subject to the other smoothly. If you just say "Chavs, eh?", it just sounds awkward
4. If something feels like it's not working, wrap it up. Don't just stop the story half way.
5. Swear for comedy effect only.
6. There's nothing wrong with jokes. Stories are fair enough, but only if they're funny and work. Next time, get some jokes on stand-by. Like the typical one-liner.
7. Slow down the pacing. The bit where you describe the driving instructor is a funny chain of words, but you rushed through them; slowing down means the audience can hear you, and if there's a joke being said, they need to be able to hear it.
(, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:18, archived)
2. Constructive criticism
3. Constructive criticism
4. Constructive criticism
5. Constructive criticism
6. ...
7. Constructive criticism
My first gigs were shit, then I was told how to improve them. If I wasn't told, I wouldn't have improved.
(, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:22, archived)
My arse could have made a noise that rivalled a dog whistle I was that nervous.
(, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:22, archived)
Try small. Try like, a table of friends. Whenever I get a new stand up idea, I usually go through it with friends or I do a truncated version on YouTube to seek response, and *then* I put it in my act.
(, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:29, archived)
it was bad enough when I had to give talks at Uni in front of 5 or 6 people.
But this is why I don't attempt to do stand up comedy!
Maybe I will do one day, though. Sometimes I imagine myself doing it.
(, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:30, archived)
Oddly enough the guy who signed me up suggested I do more. And I was bloody nervous. Perhaps a dose of valium before I go on stage would be a good idea.
(, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:24, archived)
You seem to be into the "story telling" comedy. If you do, there is nothing wrong with exaggerating things for comedy effect. Rhod Gilbert's stand up about luggage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGAD1uTR1SY) is only about 15% true. Make things funny, and they become funny
(, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:26, archived)
also don't get drunk before.
Also stuff like this helps alot.
www.laughinghorsecomedy.co.uk/comedycourses/twodaycourse.htm Doesn't teach you how to be funny, just polishes and gives you tips.
But sometimes, some people aren't that funny. Not everyone (in fact hardly anyone) can do stand up comedy. Otherwise everyone would be doing it.
(, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:24, archived)
I'll have a closer look at that.
/Edit
Edinburgh? Interesting! I was planning on buggering off up there for a few days.
(, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:25, archived)
Confidence was good.
Delivery, not bad but needs work.
Content was crap. You need some good material to work with.
And at least you had the guts to do it.
(, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:27, archived)