School Of Laughs

This episode is brought to you by Patreon sponsor Brina Morgan and the Clean Comedy Conference.

Rob Durham, author of "Don't Wear Shorts On Stage" joins us to day to discuss what to expect as you explore your first open mic nights and road gigs. I first met Rob when I lived in Columbus, OH. He has since moved on to St. Louis where he is a full time high school English teacher and part time comedian.

We cover a lot of ground in this episode including:

• Opening for Pauly Shore
• The St. Louis Comedy scene
• Doing a gig just for teachers
• Teaching Stand-Up Comedy week at school
• The skills an emcee needs
• The real difference between emcee and feature work
• Why comics think they can headline before they really can
• and of course, what NOT to where on stage.

If you enjoyed Rob's advice please head on over to https://dontwearshortsonstage.com to learn more. You can find his book there, and also at AMAZON or even EBAY .

This episode is brought to you by the Clean Comedy Conference which takes place in San Diego, California October 13th through the 15th, 2016.

There's an old adage in comedy: Clean is green.

Through the Conference you'll learn from professional comedians and bookers such as Eddie Brill, Jimmy Brogan, Charlene Mae, Amy Pittle, Tony Calabrese, and Scott Wood, 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 and have booked for clubs, colleges, churches, cruise ships, and late-night TV such as Letterman.

The theme for this year's conference is "Clean isn't a dirty word." Come and see why for yourself.

Early bird registration ends August 15th so sign up today at cleancomedyconference.com.

As a thank you to School of Laughs listeners, use promo code "schooloflaughs" for a special $10 discount.

Go to cleancomedyconference.com today!

Take Your Comedy To The Next Level with CLUB 52!

"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.

This episode is brought to you by Patreon sponsor Brina Morgan and the Clean Comedy Conference.

Rob Durham, author of "Don't Wear Shorts On Stage" joins us to day to discuss what to expect as you explore your first open mic nights and road gigs. I first met Rob when I lived in Columbus, OH. He has since moved on to St. Louis where he is a full time high school English teacher and part time comedian.

We cover a lot of ground in this episode including:

• Opening for Pauly Shore
• The St. Louis Comedy scene
• Doing a gig just for teachers
• Teaching Stand-Up Comedy week at school
• The skills an emcee needs
• The real difference between emcee and feature work
• Why comics think they can headline before they really can
• and of course, what NOT to where on stage.

If you enjoyed Rob's advice please head on over to https://dontwearshortsonstage.com to learn more. You can find his book there, and also at AMAZON or even EBAY .

This episode is brought to you by the Clean Comedy Conference which takes place in San Diego, California October 13th through the 15th, 2016.

There's an old adage in comedy: Clean is green.

Through the Conference you'll learn from professional comedians and bookers such as Eddie Brill, Jimmy Brogan, Charlene Mae, Amy Pittle, Tony Calabrese, and Scott Wood, 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 and have booked for clubs, colleges, churches, cruise ships, and late-night TV such as Letterman.

The theme for this year's conference is "Clean isn't a dirty word." Come and see why for yourself.

Early bird registration ends August 15th so sign up today at cleancomedyconference.com.

As a thank you to School of Laughs listeners, use promo code "schooloflaughs" for a special $10 discount.

Go to cleancomedyconference.com today!

 

Take Your Comedy To The Next Level with CLUB 52!

"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.

 

This episode is brought to you by Patreon Sponsor Greg Adams and the Clean Comedy Conference (CleanComedyConference.com).

Have you ever wondered about submitting to comedy festivals? Curious as to what your video should look like? How long it should be? What kind of website you should have to support the festival bookers search for more information?

Matt Ward, stand up comedian and festival planner, joins us to day to discuss all things comedy festival! Matt knows a lot about how committees choose comedians, because he's done it. Matt Ward is involved with both the Cape Fear Comedy Festival and the Scruffy City Comedy Festival.

In this rapid paced half hour we cover a lot of ground, including:

• How Matt first discovered comedy
• His first performance (which took place at a birthday party)
• Insight into the Knoxville, TN comedy scene
• Video length for submitting to comedy festivals
• The best video platform to host your submission videos
• Why high quality video hosting may be a bad thing
• The simplicity involved in shooting video
• Several mistakes comics make with their videos
• How to save time and make it easier for those watching your clips
• Why you shouldn't monetize a festival submission video
• Why you might not get selected even though you deserve to be picked
• The evolution of head shots and some key things to consider

And much, much more!

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:

This episode is brought to you by the Clean Comedy Conference which takes place in San Diego, California October 13th through the 15th, 2016.

There's an old adage in comedy: Clean is green.

Through the Conference you'll learn from professional comedians and bookers such as Eddie Brill, Jimmy Brogan, Charlene Mae, Amy Pittle, Tony Calabrese, and Scott Wood, 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 and have booked for clubs, colleges, churches, cruise ships, and late-night TV such as Letterman.

The theme for this year's conference is "Clean isn't a dirty word." Come and see why for yourself.

Early bird registration ends August 15th so sign up today at cleancomedyconference.com.

As a thank you to School of Laughs listeners, use promo code "schooloflaughs" for a special $10 discount.

Go to cleancomedyconference.com today!

CLUB 52

"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.

This episode is brought to you by Patreon Sponsor Greg Adams and the Clean Comedy Conference (CleanComedyConference.com).

Have you ever wondered about submitting to comedy festivals? Curious as to what your video should look like? How long it should be? What kind of website you should have to support the festival bookers search for more information?

Matt Ward, stand up comedian and festival planner, joins us to day to discuss all things comedy festival! Matt knows a lot about how committees choose comedians, because he's done it. Matt Ward is involved with both the Cape Fear Comedy Festival and the Scruffy City Comedy Festival.

In this rapid paced half hour we cover a lot of ground, including:

• How Matt first discovered comedy
• His first performance (which took place at a birthday party)
• Insight into the Knoxville, TN comedy scene
• Video length for submitting to comedy festivals
• The best video platform to host your submission videos
• Why high quality video hosting may be a bad thing
• The simplicity involved in shooting video
• Several mistakes comics make with their videos
• How to save time and make it easier for those watching your clips
• Why you shouldn't monetize a festival submission video
• Why you might not get selected even though you deserve to be picked
• The evolution of head shots and some key things to consider

And much, much more!

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:

This episode is brought to you by the Clean Comedy Conference which takes place in San Diego, California October 13th through the 15th, 2016.

There's an old adage in comedy: Clean is green.

Through the Conference you'll learn from professional comedians and bookers such as Eddie Brill, Jimmy Brogan, Charlene Mae, Amy Pittle, Tony Calabrese, and Scott Wood, 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 and have booked for clubs, colleges, churches, cruise ships, and late-night TV such as Letterman.

The theme for this year's conference is "Clean isn't a dirty word." Come and see why for yourself.

Early bird registration ends August 15th so sign up today at cleancomedyconference.com.

As a thank you to School of Laughs listeners, use promo code "schooloflaughs" for a special $10 discount.

Go to cleancomedyconference.com today!

CLUB 52

"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's episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Susan Sussman.

Leaving a job as lawyer for State Farm Insurance would be unthinkable. For most people anyway. Fortunately for us, Rex Havens side-hustled as a comedian on weekends and nights for seven years until he was ready to make the jump. He started comedy late in life (mid-thirties). That jump was over two decades ago and he is still going strong.

I first met Rex when we worked at "Coo's Coo's Lounge" at a Bowling Alley in Cartersville, IL. Yes, we had arrived! Wow, looking back neither of us should have been there. The show was good and I learned that you could really work clean in ANY environment.

Today I catch up with Rex to see what he is up to, what he has learned, and where he is headed in his comedy career.

Specifically, we talk about:

• The value in working a little extra hard on your act
• Graduating with a law degree and an M.B.A.
• His years as a college professor
• The State Farm years (12 of them)
• Hanging around the corporate job long enough to get his kids in college
• Making marriage last while traveling
• "Birthing" a new CD
• Developing a one man theatre show
• 3 things that happen when you laugh

To learn more about Rex Havens just visit www.RexHavens.com or www.LearnedFromMyWife.com.

"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 as 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’s episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Susan Sussman. 

Leaving a job as lawyer for State Farm Insurance would be unthinkable. For most people anyway. Fortunately for us, Rex Havens side-hustled as a comedian on weekends and nights for seven years until he was ready to make the jump. He started comedy late in life (mid-thirties). That jump was over two decades ago and he is still going strong.

I first met Rex when we worked at “Coo’s Coo’s Lounge” at a Bowling Alley in Cartersville, IL. Yes, we had arrived! Wow, looking back neither of us should have been there. The show was good and I learned that you could really work clean in ANY environment.

Today I catch up with Rex to see what he is up to, what he has learned, and where he is headed in his comedy career.

Specifically, we talk about:

• The value in working a little extra hard on your act
• Graduating with a law degree and an M.B.A.
• His years as a college professor
• The State Farm years (12 of them)
• Hanging around the corporate job long enough to get his kids in college
• Making marriage last while traveling
• “Birthing” a new CD
• Developing a one man theatre show
• 3 things that happen when you laugh

To learn more about Rex Havens just visit www.RexHavens.com or www.LearnedFromMyWife.com.

"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 as 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.

This week's episode features answers to recently submitted listener email questions. And this episode is brought to you by Patreon sponsor Brent Allen.

Among the listener email questions we tackle are:

HOW CAN I BEST MANAGE AN EMAIL LIST?

I hate to bother ya. But do you remember what episode you talked about email lists? I'm starting to get enough names on my email list where I should really switch over to a better way of keeping track.

WHAT IS A GOOD FLOW FOR A FUNDRAISER FEATURING COMEDY? I am helping a mental health nonprofit agency plan a comedy fundraiser. Any suggestions on how to format the evening? The Executive Director was thinking anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hours. Maybe have some improv and a stand-up headliner. We are just getting started with this, but we might look at holding the event at the comedy club in town. SHOULD YOU DO CONTESTS WHEN YOU ARE JUST STARTING OUT?

I am a new comic, only been performing for 4 months, I started by taking a stand-up comedy class and listening to your podcast. At the end of the class I came out with about 10 minutes of alright material. I have been writing and hitting open mike's when I can. I have now tightened up the material so I feel I have a solid 6 minutes. I have entered two comedy competitions in the last month to try and get some extra stage time. Both competitions I did not come out on top but I did walk away with some great lessons and tips from the other comedians. I wanna know though, am I trying to run before I can walk? I am doing these competitions for stage time, but if I were to actually do well and move onto a round 2, I wouldn't have enough material to perform a different set of equally solid material. I wanna get your opinion on whether I should keep open miking for a few more months until I have more solid material, or is entering competitions and shows at this point going to hurt my rep when/if people find out I don't have much material yet?

HOW CAN I GET OVER MY FEAR OF HECKLERS AND BOMBING?

I ran across your YouTube video about "Am I to old to do comedy?" I want to do comedy bad. I've had this dream for over 20years but honestly didn't have the guts. My number one fall back is being heckled and failing. I'm turning 42 this year and figured I have nothing to lose. I was wondering if you could give me advice on these 2 fears.

WHAT IS CLUB 52?

I hear you mention CLUB 52 on the podcast on occasion but I can't find it listen on your SchoolOfLaughs.com web site. Where can I find out more and sign up for this?

If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a ranking and review on iTunes or STITCHER.

To learn more about supporting the show: PATREON

For info on the: online courses.

To find out more about my: Zanies show on June 30th

This week's episode features answers to recently submitted listener email questions. And this episode is brought to you by Patreon sponsor Brent Allen.

Among the listener email questions we tackle are:

HOW CAN I BEST MANAGE AN EMAIL LIST?

I hate to bother ya. But do you remember what episode you talked about email lists? I'm starting to get enough names on my email list where I should really switch over to a better way of keeping track.

WHAT IS A GOOD FLOW FOR A FUNDRAISER FEATURING COMEDY? I am helping a mental health nonprofit agency plan a comedy fundraiser.  Any suggestions on how to format the evening?  The Executive Director was thinking anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hours.  Maybe have some improv and a stand-up headliner.  We are just getting started with this, but we might look at holding the event at the comedy club in town. SHOULD YOU DO CONTESTS WHEN YOU ARE JUST STARTING OUT?

I am a new comic, only been performing for 4 months, I started by taking a stand-up comedy class and listening to your podcast. At the end of the class I came out with about 10 minutes of alright material. I have been writing and hitting open mike's when I can. I have now tightened up the material so I feel I have a solid 6 minutes. I have entered two comedy competitions in the last month to try and get some extra stage time. Both competitions I did not come out on top but I did walk away with some great lessons and tips from the other comedians. I wanna know though, am I trying to run before I can walk? I am doing these competitions for stage time, but if I were to actually do well and move onto a round 2, I wouldn't have enough material to perform a different set of equally solid material. I wanna get your opinion on whether I should keep open miking for a few more months until I have more solid material, or is entering competitions and shows at this point going to hurt my rep when/if people find out I don't have much material yet?

HOW CAN I GET OVER MY FEAR OF HECKLERS AND BOMBING?

I ran across your YouTube video about "Am I to old to do comedy?" I want to do comedy bad. I've had this dream for over 20years but honestly didn't have the guts. My number one fall back is being heckled and failing. I'm turning 42 this year and figured I have nothing to lose. I was wondering if you could give me advice on these 2 fears.

WHAT IS CLUB 52?

I hear you mention CLUB 52 on the podcast on occasion but I can't find it listen on your SchoolOfLaughs.com web site. Where can I find out more and sign up for this?

If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a ranking and review on iTunes or STITCHER.

To learn more about supporting the show: PATREON

For info on the: online courses.

To find out more about my: Zanies show on June 30th 

In episode 105, NEW BIT COMEDY CHALLENGE John Branyan and I were both headed to the same conference (Christian Comedy Association). We were both slated to perform at the same showcase.

So I challenged us both to try new material. At first, I thought we would just hold each other accountable to do the bits. Then, I upped the ante and told him we would record the show and play back the bits on the podcast. The new bit comedy challenge was on!

Today we break down the audience response to his political humor. Would they go along with it? Could he stay interested in a topic he hates?

On my end, I work through taking a family vacation. Initially, how we raised money for the trip. And then I joke about surviving the HooRoo Run at AQUATICA SEAWORLD.

How Did It Go???

Both sets had some hiccups (mine more than his I thought). Yet, the crowd gave us the info we needed to tweak and continue to develop the material from here.

Let me know if you like this episode. If so, the new bit comedy challenge may become a regular feature.

If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting us through a monthly pledge. Below are a variety of levels and bonuses for keeping the show going.

If your stand up isn't getting the results you think that it should, the online comedy writing course may be a great option for you. Check out the ONLINE CLASSES link to find out more. Use the coupon code "COLDCASH20" to get 20% off the online SILVER course at www.SchoolOfLaughs.com

In episode 105,  NEW BIT COMEDY CHALLENGE John Branyan and I were both headed to the same conference (Christian Comedy Association). We were both slated to perform at the same showcase.

So I challenged us both to try new material. At first, I thought we would just hold each other accountable to do the bits. Then, I upped the ante and told him we would record the show and play back the bits on the podcast. The new bit comedy challenge was on!

Today we break down the audience response to his political humor. Would they go along with it? Could he stay interested in a topic he hates?

On my end, I work through taking a family vacation. Initially, how we raised money for the trip. And then I joke about surviving the HooRoo Run at AQUATICA SEAWORLD.

How Did It Go???

Both sets had some hiccups (mine more than his I thought). Yet, the crowd gave us the info we needed to tweak and continue to develop the material from here.

Let me know if you like this episode. If so, the new bit comedy challenge may become a regular feature.

If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting us through a monthly pledge. Below are a variety of levels and bonuses for keeping the show going.

If your stand up isn't getting the results you think that it should, the online comedy writing course may be a great option for you. Check out the ONLINE CLASSES link to find out more. Use the coupon code  "COLDCASH20" to get 20% off the online SILVER course at www.SchoolOfLaughs.com