School Of Laughs

Rik Roberts took a business approach to pursuing comedy. Starting in 1991 at an open mic, he quickly got bit by the comedy bug. In this episode, Joel Byars (of the popular HOT BREATH podcast) interviews Rik Roberts in this "pod-swap" part two. In part one of the pod-swap, Rik interviews Joel about his 7 year career in comedy and how he got started. To listen to that interview, click here.

Episode 155 is brought to you by Patreon supporter Doc Kennedy. To learn how you can support the podcast visit www.SchoolOFLaughs.com/Patreon.

Rik Roberts grew up in the Lexington, KY area working on loading docks, as well as horse and tobacco farms. Often times working back to back shifts, Rik was never afraid to put in the work. Little did he know that his communication, speech and theater classes in college would all be put to use in a surprising direction after college. He took that same blue collar approach to hard work to his comedy career. In fact, comedy was a little easier than pulling in 80+ hours a week. Easier on the back and body at least. Just a few weeks prior to recording his 9th comedy album, Rik sits down to talk all things comedy.

We cover a lot of ground in this episode, including:

• Rik's early days with Midwest Comedy Tool & Die Improv Troupe
• Having a business mindset early on in the comedy journey
• Easing into speaking
• Being more productive
• Using Zone Focus time to achieve better results
• George Carlin's influence on my thinking
• How a weed eater and a hedge clipper can help
• Side Hustling until success
• The reward of leading the Christian Comedy Association
• Using comedy unselfishly
• Why Rik Roberts doen't chase "trophy goals"

and a whole lot more!

Find out more about Rik Roberts comedy shows and programs at:

www.RikRoberts.com

www.SchoolOfLaughs.com

Rik Roberts took a business approach to pursuing comedy.

We cover a lot of ground in this episode, including:

Rik's early days with Midwest Comedy Tool & Die Improv Troupe

Having a business mindset early on in the comedy journey

Easing into speaking

Being more productive

Using Zone Focus time to achieve better results

George Carlin's influence on my thinking

How a weed eater and a hedge clipper can help

Side Hustling until success

Using comedy unselfishly

AND A WHOLE LOT MORE.

Joel Byars Show Notes

Today's episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Tim Grable. To learn how you can support the podcast visit www.SchoolOFLaughs.com/Patreon.

I'm joined by Joel Byars of the popular HOT BREATH podcast. Joel started comedy about seven years ago in Knoxville. He lives in Atlanta and hosts a weekly open mic when not traveling and performing. His podcast features comedians and folks who have business tips that could benefit comedians.

Next episode, he interviews me. But today I talk to him about all things comedy. We cover a lot of ground, including:

• Keys to interviewing
• How he got his start in comedy 7 years ago
• Side jobs he had during his start
• Watching and learning from other comics
• What comics are hardest to follow
• Finding an ideal audience
• Jokes versus conversational style comedy
• Exploring the silence on stage
• Struggling with organization
• Categorizing material
• Connecting material via emotion or mindset
• Jeff Foxworthy's new material process
• Value of networking to grow your comedy circles
• Performing in Japan
• Hosting his own show
• How much work a podcast actually takes

And a whole lot more! Look up Joel Byars at the links below:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

==

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I'm joined by Joel Byars of the popular HOT BREATH podcast. Joel started comedy about seven years ago in Knoxville. He lives in Atlanta and hosts a weekly open mic when not traveling and performing. His podcast features comedians and folks who have business tips that could benefit comedians.

Are you starting comedy later in life? Trying to find a way to get more stage time? Looking for realistic goals? Then this episode is for you! Today I talk with former student Bo Shuster, about all things comedy.

This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Dwight McCormick and by the Clean Comedy Conference!

Bo is a great guy with a heart for the audience. We cover a lot of ground in this episode including:

• Setting up your own open mic
• The obsession with finding a stage persona
• Developing material for your Ultimate Audience
• His workshop offered at Third Coast Comedy Club
• The value of comedy goals
• His litmus test for what jokes to do

And a whole lot more! Look up Bo Shuster these following channels:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

More about Bo Shuster ...

Bo Shuster is the funniest Doctor in Tennessee…..probably.

Smarter than he looks, Bo is a psychiatrist and hospice medicine specialist. While he has practiced his profession for years, he has been a smart aleck his entire life. A native of Chattanooga, Bo grew up in Flat Rock, Alabama and attended school (which was a pretty smart thing to do). He grew tall and strong and moved back to Chattanooga for college, then to Atlanta to learn about doctorin'. He lived among the Yankees for a few years, to the puzzled amusement of the good people of Boston. With his ruddy good looks and irresistible charm he convinced a fine woman to be his bride and they raised their family in Birmingham for almost 20 years. In 2010, like so many of America's most talented, he surrendered to the siren song of Music City, USA and has made his home in Nashville ever since.

Bo is the co-host of Comedy on Tap, a bimonthly comedy open mic at the Belcourt Taps in Nashville. He's also the caretaker of the Comedy Gym, a rehearsal sweatshop for local comics.

Now on the far side of 50 years old, Bo appears to be on the verge of abandoning a successful medical career to pursue fame and fortune in comedy.

Smarter than he looks isn't the same thing as smart.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:

CLEAN IS GREEN!

If you want to get 'More Laughs - More Gigs - More Money'

(USE CODE SCHOOLOFLAUGHS AT REGISTRATION to get 20% OFF!)

The Clean Comedy Conference is designed for comedians of all levels to come together and learn more about working clean. There's an old adage, "Clean is green." Working clean allows you to work a variety of different venues and get paid for it. Whether it's corporate work, cruise lines, churches, colleges, or comedy clubs, clean comedy can be a great way to reach a wide audience and earn money while doing it.

Through the CCC you will learn from professional comedians and bookers, who will address the pitfalls and show you how to navigate the challenges of making money as a clean comedian. In addition to working at clean comedy venues, many of these speakers and panelists have written for television (late-night and TV shows).

This year, the theme for the inaugural Clean Comedy Conference is "Clean is Green." Come and see why for yourself.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• WHO - Maria Herman and Brandon Young - Co Directors
• WHAT - Clean Comedy Conference
• WHY - Connect comedians with bookers to network and show comedians how to make more money from working clean
• WHEN - Thursday October 12th - Saturday October 14th
• WHERE - The Comedy Palace. 8788 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. San Diego 92123
• HOW - Various daily conferences and evening showcases geared to direct comedians on how to make money and possibly work full time.
• MORE INFO AT cleancomedyconference.com

REGISTRATION COST

NOW - Sept 15th ONLY $149

Sept 16th - Oct 5th $199

Oct 6th - Oct 12th $1,000,000 (LOL)

SCHOOLOFLAUGHS 20% OFF - USE CODE AT REGISTRATION

Are you starting comedy later in life? Trying to find a way to get more stage time? Looking for realistic goals? Then this episode is for you! Today I talk with former student Bo Shuster, about all things comedy.

This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Dwight McCormick and by the Clean Comedy Conference!

Bo is a great guy with a heart for the audience. We cover a lot of ground in this episode including:

• Setting up your own open mic
• The obsession with finding a stage persona
• Developing material for your Ultimate Audience
• His workshop offered at Third Coast Comedy Club
• The value of comedy goals
• His litmus test for what jokes to do

And a whole lot more! Look up Bo Shuster these following channels:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

More about Bo Shuster ...

Bo Shuster is the funniest Doctor in Tennessee…..probably.

Smarter than he looks, Bo is a psychiatrist and hospice medicine specialist.  While he has practiced his profession for years, he has been a smart aleck his entire life.  A native of Chattanooga, Bo grew up in Flat Rock, Alabama and attended school (which was a pretty smart thing to do).  He grew tall and strong and moved back to Chattanooga for college, then to Atlanta to learn about doctorin'.  He lived among the Yankees for a few years, to the puzzled amusement of the good people of Boston.  With his ruddy good looks and irresistible charm he convinced a fine woman to be his bride and they raised their family in Birmingham for almost 20 years.  In 2010, like so many of America's most talented, he surrendered to the siren song of Music City, USA and has made his home in Nashville ever since.

Bo is the co-host of Comedy on Tap, a bimonthly comedy open mic at the Belcourt Taps in Nashville.  He's also the caretaker of the Comedy Gym, a rehearsal sweatshop for local comics.

Now on the far side of 50 years old, Bo appears to be on the verge of abandoning a successful medical career to pursue fame and fortune in comedy.

Smarter than he looks isn't the same thing as smart.

 

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:

 

CLEAN IS GREEN!

If you want to get ‘More Laughs - More Gigs - More Money’

(USE CODE SCHOOLOFLAUGHS AT REGISTRATION to get 20% OFF!)

The Clean Comedy Conference is designed for comedians of all levels to come together and learn more about working clean. There's an old adage, "Clean is green." Working clean allows you to work a variety of different venues and get paid for it. Whether it's corporate work, cruise lines, churches, colleges, or comedy clubs, clean comedy can be a great way to reach a wide audience and earn money while doing it.

Through the CCC you will learn from professional comedians and bookers, who will address the pitfalls and show you how to navigate the challenges of making money as a clean comedian. In addition to working at clean comedy venues, many of these speakers and panelists have written for television (late-night and TV shows).

This year, the theme for the inaugural Clean Comedy Conference is "Clean is Green." Come and see why for yourself. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

• WHO - Maria Herman and Brandon Young - Co Directors
• WHAT - Clean Comedy Conference
• WHY - Connect comedians with bookers to network and show comedians how to make more money from working clean
• WHEN - Thursday October 12th - Saturday October 14th
• WHERE - The Comedy Palace. 8788 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. San Diego 92123
• HOW - Various daily conferences and evening showcases geared to direct comedians on how to make money and possibly work full time.
• MORE INFO AT cleancomedyconference.com

REGISTRATION COST

NOW - Sept 15th ONLY $149

Sept 16th - Oct 5th $199

Oct 6th - Oct 12th $1,000,000 (LOL)

SCHOOLOFLAUGHS 20% OFF - USE CODE AT REGISTRATION

 

 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to build a comedy club from the ground up? Do you wonder what the best set up for an Improvisational Comedy club would be? Curious how you even go about finding a pace and raising the money? Then today's interview with the founders of Third Coast Comedy Club is all for you!

This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Sean Sellers and by the Clean Comedy Conference!

Luke Watson and Scott Field co-founded Third Coast Comedy Club in Nashville, TN. What began as a quest to find a steady performance space for improvisers became a journey to open the first full time improvisational comedy space.

Third Coast Comedy Club Show Notes

• We cover a lot of ground in the episode including:
• Scott's background with Improv Boston
• Luke's experience with LOL Nashville
• Teaching Improv Comedy
• Finding a need and solving it
• Searching for venues, and searching and searching
• Battling the hot Nashville real estate market
• Avoiding fatal building mistakes
• Maxing out credit cards, loans, refinancing homes and Kickstarter
• Overcoming adversity and finishing a vision
• Having to have an electrician to set up a Paypal account
• Trying to find time to perform now that they are businessmen
• Using the space for ore than just Improv
• Supporting local comics who move on to other cities
• Hosting the Broken Record Comedy Show during the Wild West Comedy Festival
• Classes that are offered at Third Coast
• How they book the club in "Seasons"
• The value of having a business partner

And a whole lot more!

More about the co-founders:

Scott performed with Improv Boston before moving to Nashville in 2004. He co-founded Improv Nashville, a company that went on to produce improv and sketch shows from 2005 to 2009. In its last year, the company leased a space it built out as a comedy theater on 12th South--earning rave reviews for its Christmas sketch show and the very popular Life Interrupted improv show featuring local celebrities. He now directs and performs with Music City Improv, the longest-running improv show in Nashville.

Luke performed in Atlanta, GA before moving to Nashville. He founded LOL Nashville in 2013, one of the most successful troupes in the city. They've sold out nearly every show in venues such as The Basement, 12th & Porter, and City Winery. Luke also produced the Third Coast Comedy Festival shortly after co-founding Third Coast.

==

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:

CLEAN IS GREEN!

If you want to get 'More Laughs - More Gigs - More Money'

(USE CODE SCHOOLOFLAUGHS AT REGISTRATION to get 20% OFF!)

The Clean Comedy Conference is designed for comedians of all levels to come together and learn more about working clean. There's an old adage, "Clean is green." Working clean allows you to work a variety of different venues and get paid for it. Whether it's corporate work, cruise lines, churches, colleges, or comedy clubs, clean comedy can be a great way to reach a wide audience and earn money while doing it.

Through the CCC you will learn from professional comedians and bookers, who will address the pitfalls and show you how to navigate the challenges of making money as a clean comedian. In addition to working at clean comedy venues, many of these speakers and panelists have written for television (late-night and TV shows).

This year, the theme for the inaugural Clean Comedy Conference is "Clean is Green." Come and see why for yourself.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• WHO - Maria Herman and Brandon Young - Co Directors
• WHAT - Clean Comedy Conference
• WHY - Connect comedians with bookers to network and show comedians how to make more money from working clean
• WHEN - Thursday October 12th - Saturday October 14th
• WHERE - The Comedy Palace. 8788 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. San Diego 92123
• HOW - Various daily conferences and evening showcases geared to direct comedians on how to make money and possibly work full time.
• MORE INFO AT cleancomedyconference.com

REGISTRATION COST

NOW - Sept 15th ONLY $149

Sept 16th - Oct 5th $199

Oct 6th - Oct 12th $1,000,000 (LOL)

SCHOOLOFLAUGHS 20% OFF - USE CODE AT REGISTRATION

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to build a comedy club from the ground up? Do you wonder what the best set up for an Improvisational Comedy club would be? Curious how you even go about finding a pace and raising the money? Then today's interview with the founders of Third Coast Comedy Club is all for you!

Luke Watson and Scott Field co-founded the Improvisational comedy based club in Nashville. This is their story of survival, teamwork and perseverance.

Today I get to talk with the wonderfully talented and super sweet Karen Knotts. Does that last name sound familiar? Yes, her father was the one and only Don Knotts! Karen grew up in Glendale, CA and was interested in becoming a child actor. But her father wanted her to wait. Show business can be tough on a childhood. So she did. Later in Junior High School she found out she was funny (even when she wasn't trying to be).

This episode is brought to you by Patreon Sponsor Christy Largent and the Clean Comedy Conference (CleanComedyConference.com). Click HERE to learn how you can support the podcast.

Karen Knotts Show Notes

We cover a lot in this interview including:

• What it was like to visit the set after seeing The Andy Griffith Show on TV
• Her first meeting with Ron Howard
• Watching her dad study up for episodes
• A fun and unique activity the family would do around the house with her Dad
• How a cockroach changed the trajectory her acting career
• The beauty of small town America
• Visiting Paris France for a month as a teenager (alone)
• Performing in front of (and with) her dad
• Don's role on Three's Company
• John Ritter's under appreciated acting ability
• Pursuing acting
• Developing the "Tied Up In Knotts" theater production
• Speaking at Mayberry Days
• Writing a book

And a whole lot more!

(From WikiPedia) Knotts works as a stand-up comic and SAG/AFTRA actor. She studied at USC School of Cinematic Arts, and previously Beverly Hills High School. Her one-woman show, "Tied Up in Knotts", is the story of growing up with her comedian dad. She also performs standup comedy on the road. Her television and film credits include Return to Mayberry, An Occurrence at Black Canyon, One of Our Own, and the Vice Academy series.

Karen Knotts also writes for the stage; her one-woman play Roger and Betsy was nominated for the Merce Awards in 2009. She has written two plays, Dates from Hell the Musical, and a farce, But We Open Tonite

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT KAREN KNOTTS by visiting her Web Site www.KarenKontts.com.

Karen's Upcoming Performances:

Fri, Sep 22 @ 11:30 am - 12:30 pm 1:30 am - 12:30 pm 'A Deputy's Daughter' - MAYBERRY DAYS FESTIVAL Mt. Airy, North Carolina

Sat, Sep 23 @ 11:30 am - 1:00 pm "Tied Up In Knotts" - MAYBERRY DAYS FESTIVAL Mt. Airy, North Carolina

Wed, Oct 11 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Vitello's, 4349 Tujunga Ave Studio City, CA United States

Upstairs at Vitellos presents "Tied Up In Knotts!"

Thu, Oct 19 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Gaslight Music Hall, 13005 N Oracle Rd Oro Valley, AZ United States

Gaslight Music Hall presents Tied Up In Knotts!

Sun, Oct 22 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm The Wild Bunch Film Festival Keynote Speech: "Don Knotts Rides Again!" Growing up with Don and tall tales featuring his western movie days. This event will take place Sunday evening of the festival. This is a Fabulous film festival all about Westerns!

Sat, Mar 10, 2018 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Effingham Performance Center, 1325 Outer Belt W Effingham, IL 62401

Sat, Apr 21, 2018 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm McPherson Opera House, Kansas

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:

CLEAN IS GREEN!

If you want to get 'More Laughs - More Gigs - More Money'

(USE CODE SCHOOLOFLAUGHS AT REGISTRATION to get 20% OFF!)

The Clean Comedy Conference is designed for comedians of all levels to come together and learn more about working clean. There's an old adage, "Clean is green." Working clean allows you to work a variety of different venues and get paid for it. Whether it's corporate work, cruise lines, churches, colleges, or comedy clubs, clean comedy can be a great way to reach a wide audience and earn money while doing it.

Through the CCC you will learn from professional comedians and bookers, who will address the pitfalls and show you how to navigate the challenges of making money as a clean comedian. In addition to working at clean comedy venues, many of these speakers and panelists have written for television (late-night and TV shows).

This year, the theme for the inaugural Clean Comedy Conference is "Clean is Green." Come and see why for yourself.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• WHO - Maria Herman and Brandon Young - Co Directors
• WHAT - Clean Comedy Conference
• WHY - Connect comedians with bookers to network and show comedians how to make more money from working clean
• WHEN - Thursday October 12th - Saturday October 14th
• WHERE - The Comedy Palace. 8788 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. San Diego 92123
• HOW - Various daily conferences and evening showcases geared to direct comedians on how to make money and possibly work full time.
• MORE INFO AT cleancomedyconference.com

REGISTRATION COST

NOW - Sept 15th ONLY $149

Sept 16th - Oct 5th $199

Oct 6th - Oct 12th $1,000,000 (LOL)

SCHOOLOFLAUGHS 20% OFF - USE CODE AT REGISTRATION

Today I get to talk with the wonderfully talented and super sweet Karen Knotts. Does that last name sound familiar? Yes, her father was the one and only Don Knotts! Karen grew up in Glendale, CA and was interested in becoming a child actor. But her father wanted her to wait. Later in Junior High School she found out she was funny (even when she wasn't trying to be). Today she tours with her one-woman show "Tied Up In Knotts" in which she showcases here talents and shares stories about her beloved father.