School Of Laughs

Our guest today will prove that you can either make excuses or make adjustments. You think it’s hard to find stage time where you live? Try getting up in northern Utah. You can’t find a place to do a show? Start your own comedy night. You bomb horribly at your first attempt? Walk it off and try again.

Karen Eddington joins us on the show today to discuss how she overcame performing comedy in the rough bars of Utah. That’s right. Utah.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

I first met Karen when she called and asked about the online writing course. She already had some stage time but wanted to punch up her jokes. She definitely has done that. Today, we cross paths in Washington D. C. at the National Speaker’s Association Influence 2015 conference. At the conference Karen is presenting a session on comedy writing. She has great tips for us all.

She’ll tell us how to

• Create your own comedy night
• Where to get a venue for free
• Her “comedy changing” revolution
• How to create bigger surprises
• Using CONTRAST to bring focus to the punchline
• Increasing your laughs per minute
• 3 reasons an audience might not laugh
• How she works hard to vary the topics in her material
• The importance of networking
• And making the transition from speaking to becoming a “mom comedian"

I know you’ll find some value in what Karen has to share. If you would like to know more about her, check out her WEBSITE, and see her clips on YOUTUBE.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

• If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking.

==

This coupon from last week is valid until August 18, 2015. Use the coupon code EPISODE59 at checkout.

You can contact us anytime in regards to these announcements at mailto:[email protected]

• Guest Blog Posts

If you are blogging about your comedy journey or have written articles about your experience we’d love to share them. Send a link to the post and any other info you would like us to know and I’ll consider posting it and promoting from our site.

• Sponsor An Episode

Do you have something you’ like to promote? A new CD, big show, or your very own podcast? Contact us for sponsorship options. You can promote on one or multiple episodes.

• Fix a Joke

We want to help as many comics as possible. If you have a short joke (100 words or less) that you would like some feedback on please send it in! You can email the joke written out or send us an audio clip, or even a link to a YouTube video. We will get it on the show and get feedback for you, give out your web site and / or twitter handle to help you get your name out there. Our show is PG so please take that into consideration when selecting a joke.

Better yet, subscribe to the bi-monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free useful and fun. Email: [email protected] and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam free.

@SCHOOLOFLAUGHS on Twitter

Our guest today will prove that you can either make excuses or make adjustments. You think it’s hard to find stage time where you live? Try getting up in northern Utah. You can’t find a place to do a show? Start your own comedy night. You bomb horribly at your first attempt? Walk it off and try again.

Karen Eddington joins us on the show today to discuss how she overcame performing comedy in the rough bars of Utah. That’s right. Utah.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

I first met Karen when she called and asked about the online writing course. She already had some stage time but wanted to punch up her jokes. She definitely has done that. Today, we cross paths in Washington D. C. at the National Speaker’s Association Influence 2015 conference. At the conference Karen is presenting a session on comedy writing. She has great tips for us all.

She’ll tell us how to

I know you’ll find some value in what Karen has to share. If you would like to know more about her, check out her WEBSITE, and see her clips on YOUTUBE.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

==

This coupon from last week is valid until August 18, 2015. Use the coupon code EPISODE59 at checkout.

You can contact us anytime in regards to these announcements at mailto:[email protected]

If you are blogging about your comedy journey or have written articles about your experience we’d love to share them. Send a link to the post and any other info you would like us to know and I’ll consider posting it and promoting from our site.

Do you have something you’ like to promote? A new CD, big show, or your very own podcast? Contact us for sponsorship options. You can promote on one or multiple episodes.

We want to help as many comics as possible. If you have a short joke (100 words or less) that you would like some feedback on please send it in! You can email the joke written out or send us an audio clip, or even a link to a YouTube video. We will get it on the show and get feedback for you, give out your web site and / or twitter handle to help you get your name out there. Our show is PG so please take that into consideration when selecting a joke.

Better yet, subscribe to the bi-monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free useful and fun. Email: [email protected] and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam free.

@SCHOOLOFLAUGHS  on Twitter

As comedians we can get pretty focused on how many Laughs Per Minute (LPM’s) our jokes are getting. But are you aware of how many (WPM's) words per minute you speak? In this episode, we dig into a few ways you can eliminate 90% of the guesswork when estimating the time for a joke.

We talk about:

• Delivering material as if it’s a real show (even when only your dog is watching)
• What to do when you find yourself saying “uhm”, or “err”
• Adjusting estimates for laughs and pauses
• The difference between reciting and “performing” material
• How to add time using a cool hours and minutes calculator tool
• Why there’s no substitute for hitting an open mic
• A ninja trick for using your phone’s headset as a microphone
• Why learning how many words per minute you say on stage is important
• Creating a “default template” to see what a minute of material actually looks like
• Why writing out your set can help you SEE what needs to be cut or edited
• It can be tricky to know how long brand new jokes take to tell.
• The tip I learned from watching a sculptor on YouTube
• Why it is not what you say (but what you don’t say) that creates art
• A brief description of the online class and how you can get 30% off for a limited time (see coupon below)

As comedians we can get pretty focused on how many Laughs Per Minute (LPM’s) our jokes are getting. But are you aware of how many (WPM's) words per minute you speak? In this episode, we dig into a few ways you can eliminate 90% of the guesswork when estimating the time for a joke.

We talk about:

7 things you can learn from Jim Gaffigan

In this episode we talk about the new Jim Gaffigan show on TV Land. We also go over seven things Jim Gaffigan is doing in his career that you can absolutely do in yours.

We talk about:

• Why inspiration may be closer than you think
• How not thinking like a comedian can lead to big laughs
• When is a joke “over”?
• When work ethic alone isn’t enough
• Why letting up on the gas is not an option
• The trick to promoting while still being humble
• Gaffigan’s approach to social media
• Why a mindset shift is key in today’s media landscape

And much, much more!

==

You can contact us anytime in regards to these announcements at mailto:[email protected]

• Guest Blog Posts

If you are blogging about your comedy journey or have written articles about your experience we’d love to share them. Send a link to the post and any other info you would like us to know and I’ll consider posting it and promoting from our site.

• Sponsor An Episode

Do you have something you’ like to promote? A new CD, big show, or your very own podcast? Contact us for sponsorship options. You can promote on one or multiple episodes.

• Fix a Joke

We want to help as many comics as possible. If you have a short joke (100 words or less) that you would like some feedback on please send it in! You can email the joke written out or send us an audio clip, or even a link to a YouTube video. We will get it on the show and get feedback for you, give out your web site and / or twitter handle to help you get your name out there. Our show is PG so please take that into consideration when selecting a joke.

If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking.

Better yet, subscribe to the bi-monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free useful and fun. Email: [email protected] and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam free.

@SCHOOLOFLAUGHS on Twitter

7 things you can learn from Jim Gaffigan

In this episode we talk about the new Jim Gaffigan show on TV Land. We also go over seven things Jim Gaffigan is doing in his career that you can absolutely do in yours.

We talk about:

And much, much more!

==

You can contact us anytime in regards to these announcements at mailto:[email protected]

If you are blogging about your comedy journey or have written articles about your experience we’d love to share them. Send a link to the post and any other info you would like us to know and I’ll consider posting it and promoting from our site.

Do you have something you’ like to promote? A new CD, big show, or your very own podcast? Contact us for sponsorship options. You can promote on one or multiple episodes.

We want to help as many comics as possible. If you have a short joke (100 words or less) that you would like some feedback on please send it in! You can email the joke written out or send us an audio clip, or even a link to a YouTube video. We will get it on the show and get feedback for you, give out your web site and / or twitter handle to help you get your name out there. Our show is PG so please take that into consideration when selecting a joke.

If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking.

Better yet, subscribe to the bi-monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free useful and fun. Email: [email protected] and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam free.

@SCHOOLOFLAUGHS  on Twitter

If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking. We need your support to continue!

MID YEAR COMEDY GOALS CHECK UP

We are just past the mid-year point and thought it would be a great time to take inventory of our goals from January first. What goals did you set for this year? Are you on track? If not, what changes are you making to get them back in line?

I set a few different comedy goals at the onset of the year. Both personally for my own comedy career as well as some for the School Of Laughs. I am a little off on a couple of smaller goals (Youtube channel for School of Laughs), but coming along nicely on some of the bigger ones (2 new CD projects).

In this episode, we go over Gavin's comedy goals, too. One of which, is to drop his day job as a personal assistant so he can focus more on getting started in comedy. He is well on track to make the transition.

Grab your goals (if you set them) and give them a look as you listen to this episode. And, thanks for being a listener!

- Rik

If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking.

Better yet, subscribe to the bi-monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free useful and fun.

E-mail: [email protected] and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam free.

@SCHOOLOFLAUGHS on Twitter

If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking. We need your support to continue!

MID YEAR COMEDY GOALS CHECK UP

We are just past the mid-year point and thought it would be a great time to take inventory of our goals from January first. What goals did you set for this year? Are you on track? If not, what changes are you making to get them back in line?

I set a few different comedy goals at the onset of the year. Both personally for my own comedy career as well as some for the School Of Laughs. I am a little off on a couple of smaller goals (Youtube channel for School of Laughs), but coming along nicely on some of the bigger ones (2 new CD projects).

In this episode, we go over Gavin's comedy goals, too. One of which, is to drop his day job as a personal assistant so he can focus more on getting started in comedy. He is well on track to make the transition.

Grab your goals (if you set them) and give them a look as you listen to this episode. And, thanks for being a listener!

- Rik

If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking.

Better yet, subscribe to the bi-monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free useful and fun.

E-mail: [email protected] and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam free.

@SCHOOLOFLAUGHS  on Twitter

Going to your first comedy open mic? Welcome to the jungle, baby! In this episode we offer up 11 song titles that perfectly describe a comedy open mic night. Don’t get me wrong, they aren’t all bad. But man, you do see a common thread unravelling if you attend a dozen or so.

An open mic, by default, becomes a place to try out new material. Rarely is anyone getting paid. So comics might also use this night to practice crowd work, or even help them memorize their material better. I like to think of an open mic as a place somewhere between a laboratory and a gym. Maybe it’s even more like a test kitchen. It’s a place where experimentation can be both rewarding and frustrating.

Whatever the case, you’ll need to spend some time hitting the open mic scene before trying to get work at a comedy club. Many song titles came to mind while preparing for this episode. Some that didn’t make the cut include “You dropped a bomb on me”, “Tracks of my Tears”, “Help”, and “Twilight Zone”. What song titles come to mind for you? Send them to us, [email protected] and we will add a list to he show notes and mention them in a future podcast.

In this episode we talk about,

• What to expect at your first open mic
• How to work with a difficult situation
• When to “cut bait” and move on
• Why you shouldn’t dress like a comic
• The importance of sticking to your time
• How to remove some of the pressure to be great
• When it might be time to quit comedy
• and much, much more!

Without giving it away, here are some of the groups that made the cut: Pink Floyd, B. B. King, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Carpenters, The Clash, The Animals, Guns and Roses, Lynard Skynard, Gloria Gaynor, and Nirvana.

You can contact us anytime in regards to these announcements at mailto:[email protected]

• Guest Blog Posts

If you are blogging about your comedy journey or have written articles about your experience we’d love to share them. Send a link to the post and any other info you would like us to know and I’ll consider posting it and promoting from our site.

• Sponsor An Episode

Do you have something you’ like to promote? A new CD, big show, or your very own podcast? Contact us for sponsorship options. You can promote on one or multiple episodes.

• Fix a Joke

We want to help as many comics as possible. If you have a short joke (100 words or less) that you would like some feedback on please send it in! You can email the joke written out or send us an audio clip, or even a link to a YouTube video. We will get it on the show and get feedback for you, give out your web site and / or twitter handle to help you get your name out there. Our show is PG so please take that into consideration when selecting a joke.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF LAUGHS:

This podcast is a production of the Rik Roberts School Of Laughs. If you want to learn about becoming a stand-up comedian, or just become a better one - visit the wwwSchoolOfLaughs.com web site.

If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking.

Better yet, subscribe to the bi-monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free useful and fun. Email: [email protected] and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam free.

@SCHOOLOFLAUGHS on Twitter

Going to your first comedy open mic? Welcome to the jungle, baby! In this episode we offer up 11 song titles that perfectly describe a comedy open mic night. Don’t get me wrong, they aren’t all bad. But man, you do see a common thread unravelling if you attend a dozen or so.

An open mic, by default, becomes a place to try out new material. Rarely is anyone getting paid. So comics might also use this night to practice crowd work, or even help them memorize their material better. I like to think of an open mic as a place somewhere between a laboratory and a gym. Maybe it’s even more like a test kitchen. It’s a place where experimentation can be both rewarding and frustrating.

Whatever the case, you’ll need to spend some time hitting the open mic scene before trying to get work at a comedy club. Many song titles came to mind while preparing for this episode. Some that didn’t make the cut include “You dropped a bomb on me”, “Tracks of my Tears”, “Help”, and “Twilight Zone”. What song titles come to mind for you? Send them to us, [email protected] and we will add a list to he show notes and mention them in a future podcast.

In this episode we talk about,

Without giving it away, here are some of the groups that made the cut: Pink Floyd, B. B. King, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Carpenters, The Clash, The Animals, Guns and Roses, Lynard Skynard, Gloria Gaynor, and Nirvana.

You can contact us anytime in regards to these announcements at mailto:[email protected]

If you are blogging about your comedy journey or have written articles about your experience we’d love to share them. Send a link to the post and any other info you would like us to know and I’ll consider posting it and promoting from our site.

Do you have something you’ like to promote? A new CD, big show, or your very own podcast? Contact us for sponsorship options. You can promote on one or multiple episodes.

We want to help as many comics as possible. If you have a short joke (100 words or less) that you would like some feedback on please send it in! You can email the joke written out or send us an audio clip, or even a link to a YouTube video. We will get it on the show and get feedback for you, give out your web site and / or twitter handle to help you get your name out there. Our show is PG so please take that into consideration when selecting a joke.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF LAUGHS:

This podcast is a production of the Rik Roberts School Of Laughs. If you want to learn about becoming a stand-up comedian, or just become a better one - visit the wwwSchoolOfLaughs.com web site.

If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking.

Better yet, subscribe to the bi-monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free useful and fun. Email: [email protected] and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam free.

@SCHOOLOFLAUGHS  on Twitter