Help with my stand-up routine - any comics in the house?

DailyGeek

DailyGeek

DailyGeek

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Hey folks.

As some of you may know I'm in the process of putting together some material for my first stand-up performance. I'm writing my routine, but the problem I'm having is that written down, a lot of my material doesn't look funny, but I know most of it is down to delivery. I've shown two people my first draft and it's had good responses, I'm just concerned that they are being polite.

Stand-up isn't really something you can rehearse without actually doing it, as you need to gauge audience resposnse. I think a little of my difficulty comes from me being fairly quick witted in person, and material written down doesn't always seem to flow right?

Just wondered if there are any comics or writers on here that can give me a little help.

I'm goning to invite you all to my first gig by the way :p
 
Hornchurch said:
I declare you do some of your routine to us on teamspeak! :D

As for advice i'd say to watch some of the comedians of today e.g peter kay * jimmy carr and just watch their timing :)
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I've studied hours and hours of stand-ups. I've been compared to jimmy carr/ricky gervais mostly, just through the way I am in person. I want to try and get that energy on to the stage - which is what I am scared about getting wrong, because I can't practise! :p
 
MookJong said:
Have you ever videod yourself and watched it?
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That was my initial idea, of course the problem being is that I'd be performing to an empty room. My work colleagues have suggested I perform to them but I have to see them every day, and if I'm not funny - that'll be horrible :p

This bit in particular is bothering me, now I know that if I perform it right, it could be quality - but no matter how many times i read it, it's not funny to me. I have been told otherwise though - what do you guys think?

Routine said:
The social faux-pas for a big guy like me is that if you eat out with someone else, you can never, ever, order a salad without it being questioned.



The Spanish inquisition itself goes a little like this



Me “Yeah, can I have the tuna salad please”



Waiter “Err... Heh, yes sir… would you like any sides with that, onion rings perhaps?”



Me “No, just the salad please”



Friend “You’re having a salad?!”



Me “Yes, I’m having a salad’



Friend “You not feeling hungry today, you feeling ok?”



Me “Yes, I’m fine, just wanted a salad, is that ok?”



Friend “Well, yeah… I suppose so”



Me “You suppose-! Good, thanks”



Friend “You know, you don’t need to lose weight”



Me “Who said anything about losing weight?”



Friend “Well,… you ordered a salad?”



Me “I KNOW!!”


Friend “Alright, calm down ...fat boy!”
Click to expand...
 
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I know it wont work well but give us one of your lines or shorter jokes.

test the material :O
 
Hornchurch said:
Ooooh i had another idea. You could record yourself and put it on youtube and then look at peoples comments and criticisms to help improve your act :)
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The issue with that, is that I'd be performing stand up to a single camera in an empty room. No laughter, no audience feedback, it'd seem a bit - wierd?
 
Quick bit for EFour2

Routine said:
Went to the loo at work the other day, and there was a sign saying "Please leave these toilets as clean as you found them"

I went that extra mile as they asked so nicely.

So I ****** on the seat, didn't flush and farted on the way out.
Click to expand...
 
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andy said:
aye , you need a "test" audience really :(

something like teamspeak wich someone asked for would be better than you tube
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Might look into it, I guess it'd be more like radio at least then, so if I do fail miserably, I won't cry like a big girl in front of people! :p
 
DailyGeek said:
Quick bit for EFour2
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haha, that made me laugh, you have some talent mate keep up the good stuff, get a friend to record you at your gig and share it with us if you want to.

but seriously good talent their.
 
First of all there is never any point in asking friends or family to test any kind of material. You arent really asking them 'is this funny?' your asking them 'are you a good friend?'.

Imho your best bet would be to flim yourself and post it on here. We, the internet masses, are impartial, hard to please and suffer from lapses of keyboard warrior syndrome.

What better place to try out a comedy routine :p
 
Sinny said:
haha, that made me laugh, you have some talent mate keep up the good stuff, get a friend to record you at your gig and share it with us if you want to.

but seriously good talent their.
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dmpoole said:
Delivered correctly your two routines would work with me and are both in the Gervais mould.
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Thanks guys :) means a lot for two strangers to say nice things!
 
DailyGeek said:
Quick bit for EFour2
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Got a chuckle from me :)

I wouldn't say your material is particularly gervais/carr like, but it's quite good so far.

If you're happy to take the mick out of yourself with some of your jokes, you'll go down well with a crowd I think :)
 
Deiwos said:
Got a chuckle from me :)

I wouldn't say your material is particularly gervais/carr like, but it's quite good so far.

If you're happy to take the mick out of yourself with some of your jokes, you'll go down well with a crowd I think :)
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Thanks :)

My material is nothing like gervais or carr, but people around me often liken me to them, particularly carr. It's because I'm quick witted, very dry and, well, horribly sarcastic I guess :p

I'm pretty good at self-deprication, it's where my humour stems from, bullied at school and all that.
 
DailyGeek said:
Quick bit for EFour2
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heheh got a smirk from me possible a little laugh out loud too :)

have you calmed the language down for the forum? mind you if you are deadpan that would probably work just as it is. I do like vulgar stuff :O

I have a mate who is a stand up, He's quite deadpan but jesus when he goes off on one the twisted stuff he/we come out with we are on the floor in tears. I cant repeat it here.

His stand up stuff is a bit more subdued but the undertones of depravity are there. Hes quite small time at the moment lots of student gigs and local stuff.
 
Efour2 said:
heheh got a smirk from me possible a little laugh out loud too :)

have you calmed the language down for the forum? mind you if you are deadpan that would probably work just as it is. I do like vulgar stuff :O

I have a mate who is a stand up, He's quite deadpan but jesus when he goes off on one the twisted stuff he/we come out with we are on the floor in tears. I cant repeat it here.

His stand up stuff is a bit more subdued but the undertones of depravity are there. Hes quite small time at the moment lots of student gigs and local stuff.
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I'm trying really hard to not be too blue tbh, knob gags aren't really my thing. I'm quite a 'creative moaner' as I was once labelled, so a lot of my stuff is observational and dry I guess. I'm fairly deadpan (look like I've had a stroke.. on both sides) and I swear like a sailor in person.

Trying not to swear too much is quite difficult, but I think if I can at least limit that, it gives me more opportunity different audiences, and, you never know, maybe my own gameshow :p
 
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