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…
Every road comic knows the frustration of leaving town with hours to spare only to find themselves stuck in traffic, construction or an airport for a rediculous amount of time. On the road, time is your enemy and technology is your friend. We discuss some of our favorite travel apps. We also discover a few new…
by Rik Roberts (www.SchoolOfLaughs.com) This question was asked as a follow up to the post on hosting tips last week. As with nearly every comedy topic the short answer is, “find what works best for you by experimenting and see how it goes.” So that’s one answer. More specifically, I feel the host (or as…
Be funny. That’s really the only rule in stand-up comedy, right? It is a biggie, and it trumps everything. The funnier you are the more you can get away with, no doubt. But there are countless unwritten rules of comedy. Most of these unspoken expectations are unsaid because only an idiot would have to…
Great comedians come in all shapes and sizes. And they all excel in one or more of these “traits of the comedy greats.” Some combine three or more traits, while others get by with just one or two. What traits are we talking about? Brilliant Material Ability to connect with an audience Perseverance Unique Delivery Sharp Comic…
Understanding your value is the only way to be confident in charging a “full fee” for your show. In the comedy clubs, you have very little (if any) leverage. You are told what they have to pay and you take it or leave it. Check out this episode! If you are pursuing corporate, fund raiser,…
by Rik Roberts (www.SchoolOfLaughs.com) Are you in the middle of nowhere? Are you miles from a city with a comedy night, let alone a comedy club? Do you want to start putting shows together to get some stage time? You are not alone, even though you may feel isolated. Joshua, a podcast listener from Iowa,…
Have you ever wondered how to get into writing comedy for TV, Radio or other comedians? Comedy writer Scott Dunn has written for such television shows as Foxworthy’s Big Night Out, The CMT Music Awards, The Larry “The Cable Guy” Christmas Special, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, and The Dove Awards. Scott is…
– Rik Roberts | www.SchoolOfLaughs.com Every performer will have to deal with a “tough” crowd from time to time. It’s part of the job, part of the learning curve, and part of the fun. Let’s dig into how you can dig out of a tough audience. I’m going to eliminate from this discussion the tough…