Archived Comments

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164 Replies to “Archived Comments”

  1. For me, rehearsal is probably the most difficult part of the whole process, from the initial concept of a bit to actual performance! And, as Frank suggests, rehearsal can be confused with memorization.

    I like the comparison of thee preparing comedian and a musical performer or band — and Frank’s suggestion of a ballerina. Considering rehearsal in this light gives it much more importance. Really, we aren’t just practicing “saying our lines” , are we? We’re actually choreographing our performance — determining body movement, facial expression, voice inflection, tone, etc.

    This article has really given me a totally new perspective on rehearsing in a much more practical and focused way, for both phases: initial AND professional. I really hadn’t thought in those terms before. Thanks so much!

    • David, if you have not already, let me as an innocent bystander encourage you to get Steve’s Killer Stand-up Course. He goes into graphic detail on how to rehearse.

  2. I enjoyed this article very much because it caused me to reflect on how I get initial ideas, prepare and remember those funny ideas when I am performing. This idea of constructing jokes from scratch — I believe you express it as writing jokes from thin air — is foreign to me. When I am preparing/exploring a topic, I usually “hear” the jokes in my mind before I write them down. If I don’t hear the joke in this way, I usually don’t use it. Also, I often visualize myself delivering the individual jokes, and I gradually build a set in this fashion.

    I really don’t know if this is unusual, because I really never discussed it with others; in fact, I guess I had assumed most people did it this way…until I began reading your blog!! I knew from my earlier reading and online research over the years that there seemed to be a lot of emphasis on joke-writing, though.

    Really appreciate what you are doing with this website! Even though I am an experienced public speaker and performer, I have really learned a great deal from the information you and your readers are sharing. Kudos to all!! 🙂

  3. Excellent advice once again in this article and the two videos, Steve! The questions are thought-provoking and are quite helpful. I paused to consider several and revisited many of them, and I was particularly intrigued with the first 3 or 4 of the 22 questions. I have been grappling with those very issues: Am I adequately selecting topics that are personal enough to me? and Am I too narrow in my focus — in treatment of my topics as well as in selection? I still haven’t answered those questions to my satisfaction! I guuss that’s an indication of an area in which I need to grow! Thanks again for your insight.