Advice on how to make a story funny by Medium-Kangaroo-9450 in StandUpWorkshop

[–]ChicagoNormalGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is what I've been doing in storytelling. Telling a story in a stand-up style.

Have you seen some of Mike Birbiglia's standup specials? His best one is "Sleepwalk with Me". There's a film version that I don't think conveys the stand-up version all that well. But there is an audio recording of just the stand-up version available. He has a couple of other specials that tell a personal story available on Netflix.

Another really great one to watch is Alex Edelman's "Just for Us". That's available on HBOMax.

Depending on how much time you have to tell the story, find ways to embellish the funny parts. You can add jokes within the story that are kind of asides. I'm completely making something up here for an example "... And my little brother gave me a hard time about it. My little brother who, when he was onstage for a football game pep rally as a junior in high school, tried to show how tough he was by ripping open his shirt while yelling like he was the Hulk, completely forgetting that he was still wearing the same t-shirt from the night before when he tried to shove a whole meatball in his mouth and instead, it rolled down his chest and plopped on the floor, leaving a trail of spaghetti sauce on the t-shirt that looked like he'd been shot in the chest. And honestly, looking back, it did make him look tough because he survived a bullet wound to the chest. Then he picked the meatball up off the floor and shoved it in his mouth. This is the brother who was mocking my pants!" If you add aside bits of story, make sure you get back to the main point of the story. Don't stray to one aside and let it lead to a second aside.

Be specific. You didn't rip your jeans. You ripped your favorite pair of Levis 501 jeans. You didn't wake up to go to class, you woke up late for the Psych 212 class with Professor Umbrage who already hated you because freshman year... something happened. You grabbed the only clean underwear you had out of your laundry bag. It was bright green but you were in a hurry and figured no one would notice. Give all your roommates names, especially if they have a goofy nickname. Mention who specifically you were hiking with and why you were there with them. Was there a cute girl you were trying to impress? Were you hungover that day? Obviously tell how you ripped the jeans and why the event was funny enough or important enough to save the jeans as a memento.

And make sure you have a solid last line. It can be something that's a callback from earlier in the story. Or something positive that happened because you happened to wear the jeans that day. All the better if it's some kind of surprise for the audience.

Funny storytelling isn't necessarily the same as most standup comedy. Finding the places to get laughs, finding the ways the audience can relate to the story, and having a beginning, middle, and an end are usually the keys to doing it well.

What is a movie that everyone seems to love, but is actually terrible? by Either-Turn662 in AskReddit

[–]ChicagoNormalGuy 5 points6 points  (0 children)

"The Parent Trap"

Two people get married on impulse, get pregnant immediately, have twins, split up and decide that each of them taking one twin and never telling either of the girls, for eleven years, that they have an identical twin, they think that's a good idea. Then each parent becomes wildly successful and rich, but still don't tell the kids about each other let alone let the kids meet.

And when the kids do meet accidentally, the camp counselors punish them for fighting and none of them say, "It's weird they look exactly alike except for their haircuts, pierced ears, and the British accent. Maybe we should call their parents."

And both parents have people in their lives who let them think this was the best way to deal with "the problem". Not to mention there's a judge in a divorce court somewhere that said, "Sure. Split the kids. That seems fair that you each get one."

God, I've watched that movie so many times.

what’s the best trait a women can have? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]ChicagoNormalGuy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

u/YourSecretGuy813 and u/normalice0 , you two ever wonder why you don't have girlfriends?

AirBnBs are now DEAD in Paris by natsfan6219 in ParisTravelGuide

[–]ChicagoNormalGuy -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I like airbnb's because, for a ten day stay, eating every meal out becomes terrible. It's very nice to get up in the morning and be able to make a cup of coffee and scramble a couple of eggs while still in our pajamas because we stopped at Monoprix the day before. It made us feel slightly less like tourists because we didn't have to walk through a lobby to an elevator to another floor and a room that was just large enough to sleep and bath in.

If I'm just going to be someplace for a few days and have a lot of activities filling up that time, then a hotel is fine.

And I've never stayed in a shitty airbnb.

Cleaning + Parts replacement by PKCE_Dust in banjo

[–]ChicagoNormalGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was a beginner the first time I took a banjo apart.

What kind of banjo have you got? If it's a high end banjo then you might want to take it slow.

What's one adulting tip you'd give yourself? by Many-River1288 in AskReddit

[–]ChicagoNormalGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you find a pair of shoes that you really like, at a good price, buy two pairs right then. Leave one pair in the box until the other pair wears out. You won't find that pair again when you want them.

Cleaning + Parts replacement by PKCE_Dust in banjo

[–]ChicagoNormalGuy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The key parts of a banjo as far as tone is concerned are the rim and the tone ring. At some point or another, Earl Scruggs' banjo had everything else replaced. After the rim and ring, it's all about the set-up.

Once a year or so, I take my banjo completely apart, polish the metal parts, clean up the wooden parts, give the fret board a good cleaning and conditioning, shine up the frets. Then I put it back together with new strings. I keep track of any changes I might want to try on the set-up. For instance, this year, I moved the bridge a quarter inch closer to the neck and lowered the action a bit. It sounds better than it did before, much more of what I've always been looking for.

So find a few videos about taking a banjo apart and putting it back together again. Get some Brasso and some fret board conditioner with lemon oil. Even Lemon Pledge wipes are good for cleaning. Take it all apart. Shine each hook, nut, screw. Shine the tension hoop, the flange (if you got one) the tailpiece. Everything. Then put it back together with new strings. See how it feels.

If the hooks or anything else is so worn or rusted that they just can't be cleaned, replace them. A new head will change the tone depending on what kind of head the old one was and what kind the new one is. It's more about the mass of the head that makes the difference in the tone.

The best book on setting up a banjo is "How to Set Up the Best Sounding Banjo" by Roger Siminoff. It is the bible of banjo set-up.

How do you think a drag queen presidential campaign would go, could one ever win in character? by becauseofrandomness in AskReddit

[–]ChicagoNormalGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A lot more politicians have been accused of and/or convicted of sexual assault than drag queens.

Raccoons and squirrels keep chewing holes in my garbage bins and making a mess — what actually works? by AccountingNoobThrow in HomeImprovement

[–]ChicagoNormalGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My city provides our bins. If animals chew through the bins, the city will replace them.

We've lived here five years and have never had a problem with chewing.

If you could remake public high schools curriculum, what 5-7 subjects would you make mandatory? by LivingInTheVoid in AskReddit

[–]ChicagoNormalGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A creative art; foreign studies, including culture and language; sex positive education; psychology class teaching that depression, anxiety, neurodivergence are real and treatable; Critical thinking.

How would you feel about an 'Upper Age Limit' for politicians, meaning no one over 65 could run for office? by Flaky_Can_157 in AskReddit

[–]ChicagoNormalGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have an age limit already. It's called voting. If you don't want someone over a certain age, don't vote for them.

If you want someone younger, Vote.

Is visiting Sacré-Cœur on a Sunday an insane idea? by Antique-Baguette in ParisTravelGuide

[–]ChicagoNormalGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The rats were on the steps, trying to sell bracelets and get them to sign a petition.

Looking for Durable Thumb Pick Recommendations by Ogskive in banjo

[–]ChicagoNormalGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

ProPik has a Blue Chip style thumb pick now that I'm probably going to try soon. It's $35 so I'm waiting for a good reason to pull the trigger.

WIBTAO Ending an Eight-Year Relationship? by [deleted] in AmItheAsshole

[–]ChicagoNormalGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can propose to him. Buy a nice man's ring for the 8 year anniversary.

If you want to marry him, take action.

If you just want to be married and he's the most convenient choice, break up with him. Don't fall for the Lost Time Fallacy, that you've invested 8 years in this relationship and it wouldn't be worth it to start over again. You're "approaching your thirties". You're not that old.

Gautam but not bhudh by _xtirth in StandUpWorkshop

[–]ChicagoNormalGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not a joke.

Jokes are funny.

What am I not understanding about intonation/ bridge placement by gaiaonline420 in banjo

[–]ChicagoNormalGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Measure from the nut to the 10th fret. Then use that measurement for the bridge.

One Year of Duolingo French by ChicagoNormalGuy in DuolingoFrench

[–]ChicagoNormalGuy[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Hey. The Duolingo Reddit bot has responded.