School Of Laughs

Have you ever wondered about adding characters to a stand-up comedy show? That and a whole lot more is discussed during this "after school special" episode.

After wrapping up the third writing class here in Nashville, several students hung around and fired off questions. They asked ...

• How do you survive your first open mic night?
• What tips do you have on preparing for the first show?
• Should I run the jokes by my friends?
• How do I get to be on a speaker's bureau showcase?
• How can I take characters from my video series and use them onstage?
• Will acting classes help me develop characters?
• Would Improv classes help with character development?
• How do you know if you've found your comedy point of view?

and a lot more.

comedy classes To find out when stand-up comedy classes are being offered in Nashville, TN visit: http://www.schooloflaughs.com/upcoming-live-classes/ If you want to take the class online ... now is a great time to grab this huge coupon below!

Don't want a class, but would like some coaching and accountability? CLUB 52 IS THE ONLY WEEKLY PROGRAM DESIGNED 100% FOR COMEDIANS!

"Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take a serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more.

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at [email protected]. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or, if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

Have you ever wondered about adding characters to a stand-up comedy show? That and a whole lot more is discussed during this "after school special" episode.

After wrapping up the third writing class here in Nashville, several students hung around and fired off questions. They asked ...

• How do you survive your first open mic night?
• What tips do you have on preparing for the first show?
• Should I run the jokes by my friends?
• How do I get to be on a speaker's bureau showcase?
• How can I take characters from my video series and use them onstage?
• Will acting classes help me develop characters?
• Would Improv classes help with character development?
• How do you know if you've found your comedy point of view?

and a lot more.

comedy classes    To find out when stand-up comedy classes are being offered in Nashville, TN  visit:   http://www.schooloflaughs.com/upcoming-live-classes/     If you want to take the class online ... now is a great time to grab this huge coupon below!

Don't want a class, but would like some coaching and accountability?   CLUB 52 IS THE ONLY WEEKLY PROGRAM DESIGNED 100% FOR COMEDIANS!

"Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take a serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more.

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at [email protected]. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or, if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

Have you ever wondered how to add humor to a speech? For many, this is terrifying territory. But, if you don't know how to add humor to a speech it doesn't have to scare you. It is just one more skill you need to develop. Lucky for you, I an joined this week by two experts in this field!

Jessica Petit uses A LOT of humor (and cuss words unless you tell me not to) in her workshops, trainings, and keynote speeches to keep the attention of participants and entertain them. It isn't until the end of her programs when participants realize she snuck in there, undercover, and taught them something.

Karen Eddington [Episode 060 Comedy & Confidence] is the author of Understanding Self-Worth and she uses her experience in stand-up comedy and improv to teach laughter as a form of self-care. She's researched identity for 15 years looking for patterns of self-confidence and created original solutions to help people understand what it means to say, "I Know Who I am." Her real talent is getting a family of five in the car.

The three of us talk about how to begin to incorporating humor and comedy into your speech or motivational program. One of the points I really liked from Jess was about the way the audience is like a bag of microwave popcorn. Some laughs pop a little early. Most pop together in one big explosion. A few pop on the tail end of that explosion. Some never pop. And some kernels just burn no matter what you do. I will add that NONE OF THEM POP if you don't bring the heat. HOW TO ADD HUMOR TO A SPEECH

Specifically, we discuss ...

• A few ways you can get started with comedy
• Where to look for funny things
• How to take notes and organize those thoughts
• When to make use of the environment around you
• How to trouble shoot heckling
• The importance of contrast
• How to use tension to fuel a laugh
• Ways to avoid the fear of getting started

And a lot more! If you would like to follow Jessica Petit, click on over to: http://iamsocialjustice.com To follow Karen Eddington head on over to: www.KarenEddington.com And to listen to the previous episode where I interviewed Karen, just go HERE CLUB 52 IS THE ONLY WEEKLY PROGRAM DESIGNED 100% FOR COMEDIANS!

"Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take a serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more.

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at [email protected]. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or, if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

Have you ever wondered how to add humor to a speech? For many, this is terrifying territory. But, if you don't know how to add humor to a speech it doesn't have to scare you. It is just one more skill you need to develop. Lucky for you, I an joined this week by two experts in this field!

Jessica Petit  uses A LOT of humor (and cuss words unless you tell me not to) in her workshops, trainings, and keynote speeches to keep the attention of participants and entertain them. It isn't until the end of her programs when participants realize she snuck in there, undercover, and taught them something.

Karen Eddington [Episode 060 Comedy & Confidence] is the author of Understanding Self-Worth and she uses her experience in stand-up comedy and improv to teach laughter as a form of self-care. She’s researched identity for 15 years looking for patterns of self-confidence and created original solutions to help people understand what it means to say, “I Know Who I am.” Her real talent is getting a family of five in the car.

The three of us talk about how to begin to incorporating humor and comedy into your speech or motivational program.   One of the points I really liked from Jess was about the way the audience is like a bag of microwave popcorn. Some laughs pop a little early. Most pop together in one big explosion. A few pop on the tail end of that explosion. Some never pop. And some kernels just burn no matter what you do. I will add that NONE OF THEM POP if you don’t bring the heat. HOW TO ADD HUMOR TO A SPEECH

Specifically, we discuss ...

• A few ways you can get started with comedy
• Where to look for funny things
• How to take notes and organize those thoughts
• When to make use of the environment around you
• How to trouble shoot heckling
• The importance of contrast
• How to use tension to fuel a laugh
• Ways to avoid the fear of getting started

And a lot more!   If you would like to follow Jessica Petit, click on over to: http://iamsocialjustice.com   To follow Karen Eddington head on over to: www.KarenEddington.com   And to listen to the previous episode where I interviewed Karen, just go HERE     CLUB 52 IS THE ONLY WEEKLY PROGRAM DESIGNED 100% FOR COMEDIANS!

"Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take a serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more.

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at [email protected]. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or, if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

Today I sit down with comedian and keynote speaker Nick Arnette. Nick has lived and performed comedy in Denver Seattle and L.A. However, I met Nick this summer in Des Moines, IA while doing a Speakers Bureau Showcase. Nick had a great set and I wanted to make sure to follow up and get his story soon after the showcase. I am glad I did.

We covered a lot of ground including,

Starting out in Denver and having to follow Roseanne in her heyday Being inspired by Tim Allen The talent level at the Denver Comedy Works Why headliners had a tough time at Wit's End His move to Seattle and the reason behind it How tough it can be to break into acting in L.A. What role I was told I was good for in a tv show The advantage of having a "point" and a "program" Tough situations when performing corporate shows Nick's books "Me, Wee & Glee", and "The Book of Dude" Pro's and Con's of Self-Publishing vs A Deal His approach for getting his books out of his head and onto paper His "Cool People I Know Or Meet" video project How many movies I've seen in the past 20 years The dependence on smart phones My kid's Youtube channel AAA TripTik's, Trucker Atlases and Tribble runs

Find out more about Nick Arnette by visiting any of his online outposts:

www.NickArnette.com , FACEBOOK , YOUTUBE

Tis podcast is a production of www.SchoolOfLaughs.com your one stop shop for comedy blogs, podcasts, live and online comedy courses.

Send your comedy questions and guest suggestions to [email protected].

Today I sit down with comedian and keynote speaker Nick Arnette. Nick has lived and performed comedy in Denver Seattle and L.A. However, I met Nick this summer in Des Moines, IA while doing a Speakers Bureau Showcase. Nick had a great set and I wanted to make sure to follow up and get his story soon after the showcase. I am glad I did.

We covered a lot of ground including,

Starting out in Denver and having to follow Roseanne in her heyday
Being inspired by Tim Allen
The talent level at the Denver Comedy Works
Why headliners had a tough time at Wit’s End
His move to Seattle and the reason behind it
How tough it can be to break into acting in L.A.
What role I was told I was good for in a tv show
The advantage of having a “point” and a “program"
Tough situations when performing corporate shows
Nick’s books “Me, Wee & Glee”, and “The Book of Dude”
Pro’s and Con’s of Self-Publishing vs A Deal
His approach for getting his books out of his head and onto paper
His "Cool People I Know Or Meet” video project
How many movies I’ve seen in the past 20 years
The dependence on smart phones
My kid’s Youtube channel
AAA TripTik’s, Trucker Atlases and Tribble runs

Find out more about Nick Arnette by visiting any of his online outposts:

www.NickArnette.com , FACEBOOK , YOUTUBE

Tis podcast is a production of www.SchoolOfLaughs.com your one stop shop for comedy blogs, podcasts, live and online comedy courses.

Send your comedy questions and guest suggestions to [email protected].

Today we celebrate our 100,000th download with a special episode stand up comedy how to start from scratch. This is a great episode if you have yet to get started because you just feel it's all overwhelming.

I bring in my co-host Gavin Miller to walk through a few "first steps" I recommend to new comedians. Gavin, by the way, just saw his baby girl take her first steps this past week. And, before Gavin took his paternity leave, he had started to dip his toes in the stand-up world. All that changed with the baby. But now he has a little time to start back into it.

Starting comedy form scratch isn't easy. But it doesn't have to be difficult. Waiting for the right time to begin is a mistake. Because the right time was yesterday. The first step is grabbing a notebook and start accumulating the "seeds" of stories and jokes you will one day tell onstage.

The major points of the STAND UP COMEDY HOW TO START episode are:

• Realistic expectations as a beginning comedian
• Deciding what to give up in order to pursue comedy
• How long it may take to get traction doing stand-up
• Deciding when to "buy" and "sell" your comedy career
• The types of comedians you want to hang out with offstage

Specifically, we talk about:

• Taking an inventory of your life experiences
• Finding a writing place where you can be isolated and focussed
• Taking stock of the stories you like to tell at parties
• The importance of putting yourself in the stories and jokes you tell
• Gavin's "leg up" experience from his childhood
• Using other people in your stories to say the controversial things
• How a lot of stories can help you avoid writer's block
• Gavin's most recent embarrassing moment
• Asking friends what stories you tell that hey think are funny
• Making notes when you make people laugh in conversation
• Changing the stories and altering facts to make it comedy
• Avoiding judging your writing AS YOU WRITE
• Silencing the critical voice in your head
• The benefits of writing first thing the morning, while driving and before bed
• Deciding what to give up in order to pursue comedy
• Why Gavin was folding another man's underwear
• The pro's and con's of the open mic scene
• How many shows it takes to "get your feet wet" in stand-up
• Why now is the best time ever for you to start stand-up comedy

If you would like to get more specific information on getting started stand-up comedy, I recommend the following blogs and podcast episodes:

Overcoming Stage Fright

New Comedian Questions

Top Mistakes New Comedians Make

How to Write a Joke

If you would like to take an online stand-up comedy writing course to help you get things started in the right direction, please click HERE

This episode is brought to you by PATREON SPONSOR JOHN CHARLTON, and by Audible. Visit www.audibletrial.com/schooloflaughs for a free audio download and 3o day trial!

OUR SPONSORS

"Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take a serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more.

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at [email protected]. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or, if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

 

Today we celebrate our 100,000th download with a special episode stand up comedy how to start from scratch. This is a great episode if you have yet to get started because you just feel it's all overwhelming.

I bring in my co-host Gavin Miller to walk through a few “first steps” I recommend to new comedians. Gavin, by the way, just saw his baby girl take her first steps this past week. And, before Gavin took his paternity leave, he had started to dip his toes in the stand-up world. All that changed with the baby. But now he has a little time to start back into it.

Starting comedy form scratch isn’t easy. But it doesn’t have to be difficult. Waiting for the right time to begin is a mistake. Because the right time was yesterday. The first step is grabbing a notebook and start accumulating the “seeds” of stories and jokes you will one day tell onstage.

The major points of the STAND UP COMEDY HOW TO START episode are:

• Realistic expectations as a beginning comedian
• Deciding what to give up in order to pursue comedy
• How long it may take to get traction doing stand-up
• Deciding when to “buy” and “sell” your comedy career
• The types of comedians you want to hang out with offstage

Specifically, we talk about:

• Taking an inventory of your life experiences
• Finding a writing place where you can be isolated and focussed
• Taking stock of the stories you like to tell at parties
• The importance of putting yourself in the stories and jokes you tell
• Gavin’s “leg up” experience from his childhood
• Using other people in your stories to say the controversial things
• How a lot of stories can help you avoid writer’s block
• Gavin’s most recent embarrassing moment
• Asking friends what stories you tell that hey think are funny
• Making notes when you make people laugh in conversation
• Changing the stories and altering facts to make it comedy
• Avoiding judging your writing AS YOU WRITE
• Silencing the critical voice in your head
• The benefits of writing first thing the morning, while driving and before bed
• Deciding what to give up in order to pursue comedy
• Why Gavin was folding another man’s underwear
• The pro’s and con’s of the open mic scene
• How many shows it takes to “get your feet wet” in stand-up
• Why now is the best time ever for you to start stand-up comedy

If you would like to get more specific information on getting started stand-up comedy, I recommend the following blogs and podcast episodes:

Overcoming Stage Fright

New Comedian Questions

Top Mistakes New Comedians Make

How to Write a Joke

If you would like to take an online stand-up comedy writing course to help you get things started in the right direction, please click HERE

This episode is brought to you by PATREON SPONSOR JOHN CHARLTON, and by Audible. Visit www.audibletrial.com/schooloflaughs for a free audio download and 3o day trial!

OUR SPONSORS

 

"Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take a serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more.

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at [email protected]. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or, if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

 

Greg Warren (most recently seen on Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Late Show and Comedy Central Presents) has built a strong fan base with an act inspired by his Midwestern upbringing. His CDs, Running Out of Time (Sept 2013) and One Star Wonder (June 2009) hit #3 and #6 respectively in iTunes Top Comedy Albums. An honest mix of self-deprecation, frustration and an arsenal of lifelike characters highlight Greg's colorful perspective.

More importantly than all that, Greg is my buddy and we had a chance to sit down and talk about the craft of creating comedy. Specifically, I ask to Greg Warren about:

• Having a joke cut from some tv shows and not others
• The benefit of picking on yourself first before anyone else
• Getting good before going full time
• Digging into his previous sales job at Proctor & Gamble for jokes
• Wondering if he would work at Denny's forever
• Selling Duncan Hines to "Sak-n-Sav" in Texas
• Finding a "way in" to write jokes about previous experiences
• One experience I should be writing about!
• Advice from comedian Ron Morey that helped Greg get rolling faster
• How he goes about getting a set ready for late night tv
• What jokes work better on late night shows
• Why "tags" don't work as well on late night shows.
• Working with Billy Gardell on his Mike And Molly audition material
• Performing on Seth Myers when Billy was guest hosting
• His wrestling mocumentary "Stall Camp"
• Bouncing ideas off of fellow comics
• His new exclusive CD project with Laughs USA/SiriusXM

and much, much more!

GREG WARREN INFO

You can find out a lot more about greg Warren on his website: http://www.gregwarrencomedy.com

Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube today!

This episode is brought to you by PATREON SPONSOR BRIAN BATES and by Audible. Visit www.audibletrial.com/schooloflaughs for a free audio download and 3o day trial!

OUR SPONSORS

"Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take a serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more.

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at [email protected]. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or. if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

Greg Warren (most recently seen on Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Late Show and Comedy Central Presents) has built a strong fan base with an act inspired by his Midwestern upbringing. His CDs, Running Out of Time (Sept 2013) and One Star Wonder (June 2009) hit #3 and #6 respectively in iTunes Top Comedy Albums. An honest mix of self-deprecation, frustration and an arsenal of lifelike characters highlight Greg’s colorful perspective.

More importantly than all that, Greg is my buddy and we had a chance to sit down and talk about the craft of creating comedy. Specifically, I ask to Greg Warren about:

• Having a joke cut from some tv shows and not others
• The benefit of picking on yourself first before anyone else
• Getting good before going full time
• Digging into his previous sales job at Proctor & Gamble for jokes
• Wondering if he would work at Denny's forever
• Selling Duncan Hines to "Sak-n-Sav" in Texas
• Finding a "way in" to write jokes about previous experiences
• One experience I should be writing about!
• Advice from comedian Ron Morey that helped Greg get rolling faster
• How he goes about getting a set ready for late night tv
• What jokes work better on late night shows
• Why "tags" don't work  as well on late night shows.
• Working with Billy Gardell on his Mike And Molly audition material
• Performing on Seth Myers when Billy was guest hosting
• His wrestling mocumentary "Stall Camp"
• Bouncing ideas off of fellow comics
• His new exclusive CD project with Laughs USA/SiriusXM

and much, much more!

GREG WARREN INFO

You can find out a lot more about greg Warren on his website: http://www.gregwarrencomedy.com

Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube today!

This episode is brought to you by PATREON SPONSOR BRIAN BATES and by Audible. Visit www.audibletrial.com/schooloflaughs for a free audio download and 3o day trial!

OUR SPONSORS

"Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take a serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more.

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at [email protected]. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or. if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.