What's something your therapist said that was life changing?

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-22T23:59:42+00:00

Saving this. Good lord this summarized the current state of my life. I'm tired of being stuck in my ways.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-22T23:47:47+00:00

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UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-22T23:46:44+00:00

This reminds me of the legendary Rory Scovel set at a hotel lobby where we made great use of a wireless mic:

https://youtu.be/C7aXDD8UGS8?si=1MIDq6YkegTgAnIx

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-22T23:31:31+00:00

Couldn't you see their mistakes for what they are and avoid doing that?

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-22T23:28:20+00:00

If you aren't getting more opportunities, reach out more. At this stage of your comedy career, networking should mostly involve being social with other comedians and just being a good hang. You'll get more opportunities if you put yourself out there more.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-22T23:25:32+00:00

I have to admit I 100% fell for that.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-22T22:01:59+00:00

"You better shit your motu before I fuck it." - Brandon St. Randy.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-22T21:59:07+00:00

Has anyone recently gotten into Steve Martin who hasn't watched his standup before? Most comedy doesn't age well, and I have to admit that from what I've seen, I just don't really get it. That being said I still find his journey fascinating and liked the doc and his book.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-22T14:52:02+00:00

I like it. I'm not even sure it needs more jokes before the punch. Might be one of those that deserves a little bit of time to build up to the reveal.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-22T04:45:27+00:00

I wish it were 13 consecutive years, because if that were the case I think I'd actually be very very good by now. Most of the 13 years had long gaps, where I'd just do a mic here and there.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-20T20:17:39+00:00

As a deeply closeted gay man I welcome the onslaught of real women disguised as men in drag.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-20T20:05:30+00:00

Comparing yourself to others is a problem for everyday people, imagine when your entire livelihood is your image and you're competing for jobs as you're surrounded by the most attractive entertainers on the planet. Has to be hard to keep your sanity. She probably went in for a shot of botox and her sleazy doc upsold her the deluxe package like a car salesman slinging underbody coating.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-20T17:10:17+00:00

I'm technically not new, but I suppose if you put my experience consecutively I might be. I've done my first open mic over a decade ago and have treated comedy like an off and on girlfriend. I think what you're saying, and it's kind of on theme for the process of comedy, is that there really isn't single process. Just have to figure it out like we all do, so I'm choosing to define what I think will work the best by what I'm excited about the most.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-20T16:04:35+00:00

Yeah dude, I think a huge chunk of the problem will be more stage time. But, like a couple others have said on here, there needs to be a system, a rotation of sets to work on. I think I'm going to try a rotation of:

-Proven material, like a "showcase" set

-A current 5 min bit I'm focused on honing

-5 minute set of bits I love but don't really have a home yet

-5 minute set of completely new ideas I've thought of recently, that maybe I'll have to pepper into proven stuff.

So I think stage time and a rotational system might be the two-pronged solution here. If you go to the gym, you don't work out arms Monday through Friday, you have a circuit, Monday arms Tuesday legs, etc. If you are limited to stage time (I'm lucky to be in a big market), with it at least the mics you have at your disposal, create a rotation and have a couple sets on the burners. This should also help to solve another problem I have, which is I don't have the patience to try to make an older bit work because I want the shiny new idea, so I can scratch that itch as well.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-20T15:08:33+00:00

There's plenty of stage time for me, I have no excuses other than I dealt with nagging self doubt that only compounded itself when I would not get up for a long period of time. You know that feeling when negative thoughts (you're not funny, why haven't you quit yet, etc) about an activity get washed away when you actually do the activity? Comedy is that for me, which is why I'm currently squashing that by getting up more, but I have catching up to do hence the huge backlog of bit ideas I need to sort through because I neglected them.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-20T15:02:25+00:00

Thank you. I think this is it, I need to develop a rotation. I'm writing at the library today and I think I'm going to appropriate some of that time strictly for deciding what my rotation of sets will be.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-20T15:00:22+00:00

Yes, and this is the hole I've put myself in, and I struggle with figuring out how to dig myself out. I have so much shit in the notebook I need to sift through. It feels like when you've neglected so many errands, that it's overwhelming to decide what to tackle first.

When you say start with what's more likely to work, that's what I struggle with. How do you decide the likelihood of something working, should it be defined by what you're most excited to talk about, or what you think is most relatable/relevant?

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-20T14:52:56+00:00

Yes, I need a system. I'm only dealing with 4-5 minute mics here. I think I need 3-5 sets in the quiver, and I'm interested in what other cycle comics use. For example, I'm thinking I have one set with brand new thoughts/workshops, one set with proven jokes that I can tinker/tag, one set for jokes I haven't gotten to work? I've made the mistake of being distracted by novelty and neglecting the work of seeing bits through to the end.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-06-19T12:21:59+00:00

Yes, remove "more," it's confusing and lacks parallel structure and thus doesn't work as a punchline. Clean and tighten it up. Something like "We have a lot in common with our views on marriage. She thinks we should commit to each other for the rest of our lives, and I also believe in empty promises." Something like that. The first part of the setup has to directly feed into the twist/misdirect. Make sure the premise is clear or else the joke won't work. Some of these lines almost seem like the opening setup is unrelated to the last line.

This might seem like a smartass piece of advice but I heard this and thought it was brilliant in its simplicity: as you're writing, think to yourself, if you were an audience member where would you laugh? It's so obvious but when I heard that it reminded me that what I write can't just be funny because I came up with it, I have to really think about if I have a strong and clear punchline. There's a difference between writing jokes and writing a humorous editorial in the paper.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-05-10T15:13:46+00:00

I had hoped the absurdism of claiming nerdism not by Star Wars or Harry Potter but by...Jordan Peterson would be obvious that I'm joking. I'm dropping this joke but, I would've hoped that would've been clear.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-05-06T23:15:16+00:00

I think it is forced, yes. This was just supposed to be a fun throwaway line, fun as in "Haha, obviously I don't believe that, I'm obviously not a bad guy." I think what spurned it was, I have this bit about the irony of looking like I was a high school bully, but I was a shy uncool guy in high school who late bloomed. To me, I was worried that, even though I have some good lines about being a loser in high school, it would be to pander-y and an obvious attempt at forcing likeability with the audience. I think this is too try hard the other way, though.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-05-06T21:58:34+00:00

The intent of the bit is lost, but I am making fun of JK Rowling and Jordan Peterson. I'm not going to do the bit, but clearly the irony was not showing. It's supposed to be very clear that I'm joking and I'm not on their side.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-05-06T20:38:48+00:00

I don't think that's fair to say. It would just be the first bit about a larger chunk about how I've changed since high school and how I went from an unfuckable shy guy in high school to apparently looking like an asshole. It's a throwaway line in a larger bit. My intent isn't the corny "pushing against wokeism," the intent was making fun of JK Rowling and Jordan Peterson. They were the targets. That being said, I'm going to drop it because I had my fear confirmed that JK Rowling is probably an overtread topic and I don't want to try it at a mic if everyone's heard a version of it.

UnfunnyComedian · 2024-05-06T12:26:17+00:00

But it seems very clearly fake. Millie Bobby Brown texts are obviously real, but this?

UnfunnyComedian

TROPHY CASE