Have you ever struggled with alcohol, depression or meaningfulness in your pursuit of a comedy career? You’re alone. Numerous comedians and entertainers get sidetracked by self-destructive behavior. Fortunately for us audiences everywhere, Jeff Allen was able to get his act together on and off the stage. This veteran comedian started in 1978 and weathered many…
– Rik Roberts | www.SchoolOfLaughs.com Many aspiring comedians don’t feel welcomed in their own town. The most common complaints are: “I can’t get any spots.” “It’s like a good ol’ boys club.” “They ain’t letting nobody else in.” I hear ya. We’ve covered this topic a little bit in the past. (See: “Cracking the Comedy Clique”)…
Going to your first comedy open mic? Welcome to the jungle, baby! In this episode we offer up 11 song titles that perfectly describe a comedy open mic night. Don’t get me wrong, they aren’t all bad. But man, you do see a common thread unravelling if you attend a dozen or so. CLICK…
With the talk of presidential candidates in the air here in the United States, I got to thinking about what I want in a leader. Oddly enough, many traits we identified are also traits of great comedians. Candidates are definitely characters. Comedians are as well. But what are the common links that cross over from…
You may feel like you are making huge strides in your comedy career, but are you? Most performers find a comfortable little comedy “safe place” and never wander beyond it. We all know comics who could be SO MUCH BETTER. Maybe, that comic is yourself. This episode gives more than 23 actionable tips you can…
Okay, no doubt there is room to disagree on this topic. Everyone has the things they like in a club – and things they hate. This episode is chock full of what I would LOVE to see in a comedy club set-up. From the floors to the ceiling, the sound and lights, to the stage…
It takes a lot of stand-up comedy shows – both good and bad – to help you become a true professional. How you handle odd circumstances will separate you from the amateurs. You will have to experience these firsthand in order to learn from them. So enjoy them and be ready to learn on the fly…
Why do I love stand-up comedy? Let me count the ways! Check out this episode! If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes , or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking. In this episode we talk about nine attractive characteristics of stand-up. Not that the other art forms aren’t pretty in their own way. But…
What To Do When Your Calendar Is Wide Open by Rik Roberts | School Of Laughs This post is about taking action when there seems to be nothing going on in your career. Whether you are a full time or aspiring performer, I hope this gives you a few ideas to get your bookings back on track.…
You have been thinking about trying stand-up comedy for awhile. Your friends all say you should try it. In conversations with strangers you easily get laughs. People gravitate towards you at parties. You fire off comebacks and retorts like a Gatling gun. In short, you think you have what it takes. Maybe, you even went…