Tag: Comedy

by David Burgess on May 7, 2018 0

Top Ten Opera Villains

Even those of us that got most of their musical education from Bugs Bunny cartoons know that Operas have a marked tendency to end badly. But few really take the time to admire all the effort that goes into preventing the happy endings: for every soprano and every tenor singing their love duet center-stage, there is a bass-baritone lurking somewhere in the shadows just waiting to turn the music to a minor key, and the amount of plot twists required for him to suceed is simply staggering! So with this in mind, let us pay a homage to the Operatic villain. Let us sit back and count down those top en vocal virtuosoes that were just that good at being bad!

10.The Mikado

from Sullivan’s “The Mikado” (Sullivan as in “Gilbert and Sullivan”)
Timothy Spall as Richard Temple playing the Mikado in the movie Topsy Turvy While some might consider the works of Gilbert and Sullivan as Operettes, or even Musicals, their creators labeled them as “Light Opera”, and in this list we’re sticking to that. Besides, how could we leave out what is probably the most influential duo in English-speaking musical theater?
And from all their works, while HMS Pinafore might be the most iconic and Pirates of Penzance the most popular with modern audiences (with a Broadway adaptation and no less than two movies to its credit), on the long run none has enjoyed a greater sucess, with countless adaptations and enduring popularity as everything from a high school play to a grand opera, than their masterpiece “the Mikado”. And at the center of this bright and sunny black comedy -never has a story who’s main plot points are the threat of mass execution by beheading (for flirting), burying alive and something involving either “boiling oil or melted lead” been so merry and surprisingly clean- stands the ominous, gleefully, almost sarcastically evil figure of the Mikado, the Emperor of Japan. Though he only appears halfway through the second act and he really sings very little except for his own introductory aria (“A more humane Mikado…”), this tyrannic despot’s shadow looms over every single action of the characters, his subjects, from the very start of the Opera. A “peppery potentate” indeed, to quote another Gilbert and Sullivan work!

9.Doctor Bartolo

from Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville”
John del Carlo as the ‘doc (on the right, with the grey wig), plotting with his friend Don Basilio (Christophoros Stamboglis)Doctor Bartolo is here representing the “basso buffo”, or “comic basse” school of operatic villainy. And while he doesn’t sing the most iconic aria in his opera -“Figaro, figaro, figaro…” that ring any bells? It’s from “the Barber of Seville” too, but Figaro, the titular barber sings it-, he is certainly a force to be reconed with.
To put it simply, Bartolo’s an old coot that wants to marry his teenage ward; his main gimmick is that he’s old. He spends most of his time plotting, performing slapstick comedy and singing patter songs or (parodies of the type of) songs that were cool “in his day” -take note people: this guy is gonna sing stuff that was already outdated when Operas were still being written-. Also, he never performs or even mentions anything even remotely resembling medicine.
Now in his original incarnation Bartolo is more of a buffoon than anything else, but directors nowadays tend to downplay the more farcical elements in this play, so you’ll probably see a more low-key sort of comedy -though they’ll always go for the cheap laugh of having him have a fake heart attack during one of the fast segments-. This can have adverse effects: for one thing, you might end up feeling sorry all him. When you take out the “crazy old man” jokes, he’s really just some poor guy that’s in love with a younger woman…and that gets his house wrecked continually by a protagonist that’s a bit of a jerk like that. However, when done correctly, playing him straight -or at least as straight as he can be played, this IS a comedy after all-, can make this guy come off as the meanest, nastiest but also funniest old bastard this side of the Guadalquivir.

8.Giorgio Germont

from Verdi’s “La Traviata”
Just a sweet old man looking out for his family… (Richard Lewis as Giorgio Germont)This one is another strange pick. Strange in that he’s not really evil. If anything, he’s a good guy! He’s the lead tenor Alfredo Germont’s father and when he isn’t singing touching songs about the beauties of his Mediterranean homeland (“Di Provenza il Mar i Sol”), he’s heaping blessings upon the lead soprano. So why is Giorgio Germont a villain?
Well, basically, because he causes most of the trouble in the Opera. To give a brief synopsis of the plot, the protagonist (Violetta, the titular “Traviata”), is having an illicit relationship with Alfredo. But this is ruining the Germont family’s reputation, so much that Alfredo’s sister (Giorgio’s daughter) is being threatened to have her engagement broken off. And so Giorgio does what he thinks is best for his family, and tries to break up Alfredo and Violetta. And even then, he doesn’t really plot it: he just goes to Violetta and begs her to abandon Alfredo… and not tell him why.
We don’t want to give away the ending, but this has tragic consequences for everyone involved. And all he really wanted was to take care of his daughter… not to mention that he even tries to fix things later on, but to very little avail.
So, ladies and gentlemen, our number eight is Giorgo Germont: the living, singing proof that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

7.Nero and Poppea

from Monteverdi’s “L’Incoronazione di Poppea”
Rachel Yakkar and Eric Tappy as Poppea and Nerone (Nero) respectively… you should be able to tell which is which on your own, despite the clothesThis opera is outstandingly old, at least a good one or two hundred years older than most of the operas on this list. It was written by Claudio Monteverdi, the father of Opera (though this wasn’t his first work in the genre), but apart from old, it’s also very strange. That is, the flashy ancient Roman setting is fairly common in opera, but the theme is very unique in any medium.
Basically, “l’Incoronazione” presents the triumph of love (classic enough), but in a negative light. In this opera Love triumphs -literally: there is an allegorical prologue, and our familiar Cupid even makes a few appearances during the action-, but he triumphs over Fortune and Virtue.
Now, for anyone familiar with Roman history, Emperor Nero was a deranged psychopath that happened to ascend to the throne of the most powerful empire in the world, making him one of the most vicious, murderous despots in history. Poppea, for her part, was his concubine who, through machinations and seductiveness, managed to claim her place on the throne next to him -though later on even her charms did not spare her from his wrath.
In the opera, Nero loves Poppea. But their love leads Nero to exile the legitimate empress Ottavia, have his tutor the philosopher Seneca killed and coerce the Senate of Rome to crown Poppea empress, while Poppea for her part ruthlessly abandons her lover Ottone as well as any pretense of shame. And when this couple from hell has finished off all the decent characters in the play, after a triumphant, bombastic finale that seems to mock the usual “happy ending” motif, they sing one of the most langorous, beautiful love duets in Opera history (“Pur ti miro”). It has been said about this opera that “Never has the triumph of evil been set to such divine music”.

6.Canio

from Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci”
Enrico Caruso as Sideshow Bob… uh… we mean CanioIt’s exactly what it looks like: the number six opera villain of all time is a killer clown. The signature role of the legendary Erico Caruso, boasting the famous aria “Vesti la Giubba”, Canio, the leader of a troupe of Commedia dell’Arte clowns, is out to seek revenge on his wife Nedda for cheating on him. His plot is to kill her on stage, before an applauding audience that will realise only too late that the murder is real and not a part of the show… a grisly story indeed. Illustrating the maddening internal strife between love and hatred as well as the strange, almost post-modern conflict between an actor and his stage persona, the character is very complex and human, but also threatening and villainous enough to easily make this list.
5.Carmen
from Bizet’s “Carmen”
Well, I’d trust her…Set in Seville, Spain, but nothing at all like the “Barber”, “Carmen” is a riveting take of passion, jealousy and revenge. And at the center of it all is the eponymous “femme fatale”, who might just as well be a villain or a heroine: José, a soldier of the guard, falls in madly in love with her, and his unbridled passion drives him to unimaginable extents, while her fickleness in toying with him ultimately leads to the breathtaking showdown where… well, we’re not going to give away the ending here, are we? But it is sufficient to say that while some people consider the finale of this opera to be a tragic and sordid crime, others would say that a certain someone gets their comeuppeance.
Plus, while for the most part Bizet is a rather obscure composer, “Carmen” probably has some of the most recognizeable melodies in operatic history, from the Overture to the “Toréador” aria (“Votre toast…”; can you get any more Spanish?), without forgetting, of course, Carmen’s famous Habanera (“l’amour est un oiseau rebelle… l’amour est enfant de Bohème”).

4.Turandot

from Puccini’s… well, “Turandot”
Turandot from an early poster…We think she wants to kill someone but is too bored to do soThis lady is very pretty; fair enough. She’s also the daughter of the Chinese Emperor; so far so good. And, in her search for a husbant, she asks every one of her suitors to answer three questions. If they can answer, she marries them; if they fail she beheads them…. wait, what?
This lead lady, whom we think might be a distant and better-looking relative of n.10, is a cruel despot, cold, ruthless and incredibly powerful with an added bonus of legendary beauty. Standing at the center of a magnificent orientalist superproduction, she is the cause of as much misery and sorrow as anyone else on this list -just ask any of the princes that tried to marry her, or the slave girl Liu, who morally should probably be the protagonist- and despite a bit of a moral turn towards the end, she rightfully takes her spot as the number four best (worst) operatic villain.

3.Don Giovanni

from Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”; wow… people with their names in Opera titles are nasty!
Ruggiero Raimondi as the Don. That face either means he wants to sleep with you or kill you. Either way, run!Don Giovanni is Italian for “Don Juan”. Yes, THE Don Juan. This heartless libertine lies, cheats, kills men, “seduces” women and gets away scott-free for the most part. Not only that, but he stands by his actions unrepentantly, and at one point even goes so far as to invite the ghost of one of his victims to a banquet. When the ghost actually shows up, things start to get truly sinister.
And, without giving away the ending, we will just say that a wish for this character to “go to hell” might be granted more literally than anyone in the audience would expect… and with good reason! Why else would he make number three on the list?

2.The Queen of the Night

from Mozart’s “the Magic Flute”
Diana Damrau (as the Queen of the Night) upon hearing she didn’t make number one… someone is very, very dead!You can’t go wrong with a name like this! In addition to one of the most impressively difficult and recognisable arias in operatic history (“Der Hölle Rach”), this woman has everything a high-fantasy villain like her should have: evil minions, awesome magic powers -even though she uses them in a way that’s so plot-convenient it would be egregious if we didn’t have Mozart’s music to distract us from it- and some of the best costuming and special effects an Opera star could wish for… and that’s saying a lot.
And if it is questionable whether she’s even a villain -she does really, really want to have this one guy dead, but she is also originally presented as a good guy, and her minions save the lead tenor’s life before arming him to go on a quest to save the Princess (the Queen’s daughter). Whether you should take the Opera’s word that she’s actually evil or conclude that she’s just a poor old widow who had her daughter and the guy she sent to rescue her abducted and brainwashed into double crossing her by a cult of wannabe freemasons is anyone’s guess, but all that just makes the Queen of the Night an even more compelling antagonist and interesting character
And what she lacks in the outright detestability of some of the other contestants she makes up for in good old fashioned villainous style!

1.The Duke of Mantua

from Verdi’s “Rigoletto”
Luciano Pavarotti as the Duke… what a jerk! (the Duke, not Pavarotti… Pavarotti’s awesome)See that grin? That’s the grin that says “I’m gonna sleep with your daughter and kill you if you say anything, and you can’t do one thing about it because I’m the Duke!”. This guy is so evil that they had to have the libretto re-written: in the original play on which the opera was based, he was a King, but they had to make him a Duke because it was considered disrespectuful to portray the king as suck a jerk!
The Duke of Mantua (no name given) is a philanderer that goes around holding wild parties and “seducing” his subjects’ wives -he has a wife himself too, but she barely appears-, while he also makes a hobby out of publicly mocking the cuckolds. The opera’s plot thickens when the angelic daughter of Rigoletto, the Duke’s jester falls in love with the Duke (go figure…). Nothing good can come of this, and by the end of the opera you’ll be wishing someone shoots this guy really bad.
The Duke, then, is something of an antithesis for number one on this list: he’s the lead tenor, he’s the main love interest and (by the way) he has one of the most famous arias in opera history (“La Donna e Mobile”)… but he is definitely, definitely villain material!

Honorable Mention: der Erlkoning

from Schubert’s “Der Erlkonig”
The big white ghost… yeah… he’s evilOk, ok, so “Der Erlkonig” isn’t even an Opera. Heck, it’s not even a musical! It’s basically just a lieder, which is classical music lingo for “German Art Song”; the whole thing only lasts about five minutes, and there’s just one singer and one piano involved; considering the huge budgets some of the other productions on this list require, that’s pretty impressive.
The title character, the “Elven King” -or “Alder King”, but that’s not nearly as threatening- is a ghost from the times when elves were actually evil spirits, and their “mysterious trickster” demeanor was the “carry off your kid in the middle of the night” kind of trick. And this is exactly what this creep, who’s set his mind of carrying off some kid who’s riding through the forest with his father in the middle of the night, is up to. What he wants to do to the kid exactly isn’t made clear, but for the sake of keeping this article appropriate, we’ll assume that when he’s talking about how pretty the boy is, he just wants to eat him. Add to that that only the boy can see him, and top it all off with Schubert’s music, and… yeah.

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by David Burgess on May 3, 2018 0

Open Mic Do’s and Don’ts: How to Have a Good Performance & Make a Good Impression

Make the Most of Your 10 Minutes

Open mics are a great way for performers to share their songs, build chops, try out new material, network and have fun! For a first-timer, the thought of getting up to play and sing in front of a room full of people can be more than a little intimidating. While every open mic is a little bit different, depending on the host, the venue, the sound system and even the time of day, there are some aspects of open mic performing that apply no matter what, and this lens looks to address the factors that will help your open mic experience be a success!

Be Prepared

Before You Go

So you’ve got a handful of songs you’ve been working on at home and they sound pretty good to your mom but you want to find out how they’ll go over from a stage? An open mic night is the perfect place to try your material on a live audience.

First things first, do your research! Look up when and where your local open mics are happening and find out as much as possible about how they work. You may even want to just go watch the first time to get familiar with the space and how the evening is run. If you haven’t been there before and can’t tell if the info on the venue website is current, you may want to call and confirm that open mic is still happening and the time is the same. Busy cafes and restaurants don’t always have time to update their website info on a regular basis. (On the busy note, be sure not to call and ask questions during peak meal hours if you don’t want to have a rushed or cranky conversation!)

Depending on the space and how many people are signed up to play, you may end up performing between 1 to 4 songs, though 2 or 3 seems to be the most common. Some open mics encourage original songwriting and frown on cover songs, some are for original songs only and some don’t care what you play. Some open mics have you play your songs in a row and some are round-robin style where each person goes around the circle playing one song at a time. Also some open mics will include poetry and stand-up comedy, or will be predominantly for poetry or comedy but allow musicians to play as well. Some venues have a full PA system with monitors and others are completely unplugged acoustic. These are all good things to know ahead of time if possible so you can be prepared.

Open Mic Do’s and Don’ts

The Difference Between Being a Dud and a Delight

DO: Bring the gear you need to perform well – tuner, cables, picks, capo, etc
DON’T: Assume the venue or the host will have things like a music stand or a second microphone or guitar cable if you’re performing with someone else.

Yes, with a lot of other musicians performing in the same space, chances are high that you can end up borrowing anything from a guitar to a pick, but if there is something you absolutely need to play your songs, bring it with you!

DO: Come early to sign up and stick around to hear the other performers.
DON’T: Show up late, play your slot and leave.

We all have life, schedules, transportation issues and other things to deal with. There will be nights where you get there late or have to leave early for whatever reason. But while you are in the room, do your best to be respectful and listen to the other performers. People notice whether you pay attention or not. Even if a particular performer is not your cup of tea, you can probably still relate to what it took for them to get up on the stage, and honor them with 10 minutes of your time for their bravery and commitment to sharing their craft. Plus, if you leave early you are missing out on the opportunity to network with other musicians and potential new fans! You never know when you are going to meet your next band member, co-writer, producer or friend. Bring some simple business cards to trade and a small notebook to take down websites, email or other contact info of new folks you’d like to learn more about and stay connected with.

DO: Introduce yourself to the host and let them know you are there to perform.
DON’T: Hold the host up with lots of questions and conversation, especially at the start of the night.

Hosting an open mic can be quite the challenge, from setting up the room and the PA, to juggling dozens of performers with different needs and levels of experience, to constant adjusting of the sound system, and overall handling the flow of the evening. A brief, friendly introduction to let the host know you are there is appropriate, especially if it is your first time performing at that particular open mic, as well as letting them know if you have anything out of the ordinary in terms of your set up. General chit-chat is best saved for the end of the night when they have less on their mind, and even then, be mindful that they may be needing to pack up and get home.

DO: Make sure your instrument is in tune before you get on stage.
DON’T: Tune in the middle of someone else’s song.

If you tune your instrument before leaving the house, chances are it will be pretty close when you get to the venue and just need a little tweaking. It’s not uncommon to step out of the room or go to the back a song or two before your turn to check your tuning and center yourself before going on stage. (A word of caution, if you leave the room to someplace that is a different temperature, that can throw your tuning out of whack and you’ll just have to re-tune when you come back!)

DO: Be ready to go when it’s your turn.
DON’T: Start getting ready only after your name is called, or walk out of the room and miss your slot.

Have your instrument out, tuned, and if appropriate, discretely and respectfully work your way toward the stage when it’s almost your turn. The time between performers is the most boring for the audience, and they’ll notice if you are taking a long time before you start singing. The more you are able to minimize the transition, the more the audience and the host will appreciate your professionalism.

DO: Let the host know if you prefer to sit or stand.
DON’T: Adjust the mics and cables yourself unless they give you the go-ahead.

The host wants to accommodate you to perform in the way you feel most comfortable, so let them know your preference. It’s usually best to position yourself the way you normally would and then let them adjust the equipment to you. Not only do they know their equipment best, it may be delicate or expensive and you don’t want to be the one to ruin it!
Remember to breathe!

If you’ve got a case of butterflies in your stomach, it may help to remember that everyone performing is either as nervous as you, MORE nervous than you, or can remember the time when they were as nervous as you. So breathe, smile and do your best!

DO: Check in with the host or sound person before plugging in or unplugging your instrument.
DON’T: Unplug immediately after playing, or walk off stage with the cord still plugged in.

It’s natural to be nervous at first and until you get more used to performing, often times you’ll want to get off stage as soon as possible after you sing. But you’ll probably be even more embarrassed if you make a loud screeching noise through the sound system by unplugging your guitar too early, or if you trip off the stage because the chord is still attached! So when you are done with your songs, take a deep breath, smile and then look to the person running sound to get the go-ahead to unplug.

DO: Thank the host and the sound person (if there is someone other than the host running the sound), the venue and the staff.
DON’T: Complain or give them a hard time.

The venue, staff and host are providing a great service to you of a space to play and treating them with respect is just the right thing to do. Along with that, consider that each interaction you have with them is potentially an audition for if you ever want to play a full show at that venue in the future. Having a good relationship with the decision makers can give you a competitive advantage down the road. It’s definitely good form to make a purchase, even if it’s a small one, and be sure to tip your server. You never know when they may end up running the open mic down the road or managing the booking!

DO: Have fun!
DON’T: Take yourself too seriously.

While it may be a really big deal for you to get up on stage in front of other people and bare your soul by sharing your personal songs, it’s good perspective to keep in mind that it’s only about 10 minutes of your life, and all the other performers there are in the same situation. There will always be someone better than you and someone worse than you out in the world, so stop letting that worry you and just go for it! Someone with years of experience has been in your shoes before and can remember their first open mic, and there may be someone in the audience who has never played a song out before and is admiring and jealous of you for getting up there. The most important thing to do is have fun and enjoy!

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by David Burgess on May 3, 2018 0

What Makes People Laugh?

Understanding Comedy

If you are interested in pursuing a comedy career, such as being a stand up comedian like Andy Williams, it is essential that you learn what makes people laugh. According to theorists and medical professionals, such as those that specialize in biology, psychiatry and psychology, laughter is considered to be an important part of what is referred to as the “Human Vocabulary”.

This means that regardless of a person’s ethnic background, their socioeconomic status, or their location in the world, they are born with the ability to engage in laughter. Research has established that laughter is an activity that provides a wealth of insight into the unconscious mind. It is triggered by numerous thoughts, beliefs and sensations.

If you want to pursue a comedy career, it is crucial to learn how to write comedy and as much as you are possibly able to regarding laughter. Throughout this guide, you will be introduced to several facts about laughter.

What is Laughter?

Laughing In order to succeed at comedy, you must not only understand what makes people laugh, but you must also have a solid understanding of laughter, in general. According to studies conducted on this human expression, laughter is typically described as a reaction towards certain types of stimuli that an individual is introduced to, subjected to, or personally experiences.

In most instances, laughter is considered to be a visual or outward expression associated with joy, happiness, acceptance, relief or even embarrassment. Specialists that work in Neurophysiology have concluded that laughter is seemingly activated by a part of the brain identified as the “Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex”. When this section of the brain becomes active, endorphins are produced.

The endorphins that are released may assist in alleviating pain throughout the body.
The immune system becomes stronger because laughter assists in creating the antibody cells that assist in strengthening the health of the T-cells.

Based on the information contained here, we can conclude that laughter makes people feel good – inside and out. Laughter is a positive experience that stems from positive stimuli. There are numerous health benefits associated with laughter. If you have an interest in a comedy profession, such as stand up comedy, it is important to understand that benefits of laughter and the feelings that it induces.

By doing so, you will have a higher interest in learning what makes people laugh and will want to take strides to ensure that you are capable of producing laughter in others. Comedy is all about helping others enjoy themselves.

Styles of Humor

If you have an interest in specializing in comedy, it is imperative that you learn about what those in stand up comedy refer to as the “Humor Spectrum”. By knowing what styles of humor are available, you will have a more detailed understanding of what makes people laugh. The following represents the most common humor styles:

Stand Up Comedy

The first type of humor takes life and makes it funny. It could be a normal situation or event. You would simply take it and turn it into a joke. Many refer to this as the “Laugh at Life” humor style. If you want to succeed at humor, you should work on your ability to find the humor in typical life situations and express that humor to others.

The next humor style is the sarcastic type. This type of humor involves being a bit dark, sharp and even a little on the biting side. When watching those in stand up comedy that specialize in sarcasm, you will find that their expressions, their words and the way that they present themselves make the sarcasm extremely funny. For some, sarcastic comedy is simple. For others, it takes practice.

The third most popular type of humor is pointing fun at the expense of others. You should be especially cautious when doing this and make it general, unless you have previous consent from the individual that you will be poking fun at.

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by David Burgess on May 3, 2018 0

Paul Zenon- Street magician

Paul Zenon- the original street magician

Paul Zenon is a British street magician, he has had several TV programs on UK television and he performs what has become known as street magic, made famous in America by David Blaine amd Dave Angel . Paul Zenon’s performing style is cheeky, funny and streetwise without the cheese that many magicians seem to slide into.

In his television specials he performs, close up, under the nose magic in pubs, clubs and in the street to random people- there are no camera tricks and he specialises in sleight of hand magic using everyday objects such as cards, dice, cigarettes and bottles.

Sometimes he does magic in bars and spends some time with the audience he entertains, other times he does “hit and run” magic where he does a quick trick then smartly walks off leaving a load of amazed people in his wake- this is the type of magic I sometimes do and it’s great fun to blow people’s minds then get away before either they repeatedly ask you how you did it or you do too much more- it’s better to leave the audience wanting to see more.

Paul Zenon also performs stand up comedy and has been a croupier and a “psychic”, its clear he got his street wise style by actually being streetwise! Paul also knows when to talk and when to allow the magic to speak without words- something some other magicians could learn to do more of!

Paul Zenon- UK street magician

Five streetwise reasons he’s cool!
Paul Zenon looking cool

He was one of the first “street magicians” on television.
He doesn’t take himself too seriously.
He performs sleight of hand magic flawlessly and without cheese!
He used to perform for the “space rock” band Hawkwind.
He keeps close up magic in the spotlight in the UK.

UK magician Paul Zenon stuff from Amazon USA

Learn street magic and entertaining scams

If you want to learn street magic, entertaining scams and challenges- Paul Zenon has written some excellent books revealing secrets that were only available in advanced magic books previously, all his books are clearly illustrated and written in an entertaining and easy to follow style so that you could be the next David Baline or Criss Angel in next to no time. Better still- once you learn these tricks you can develop your own style.

Paul Zenon from child swindler to comedy magician!

Hustler to street magician

At the tender and “innocent” age of only eight years old Paul started his devious path by selling fake lottery tickets to neighbours (there was no prize and no one won, except Paul)! His fascination with deception and fame led him to skive off school to appear on stage and as a teenager he worked in a magic and joke shop called “The House of Secrets” picking up the skills of magic and entertainment that have stood him so well. He developed his style and appeared at the London Comedy Store and has performed to entertain the British army in far flung places. He has had television showcases on British television – on both the BBC and commercial channels. He is also the founder of The Wonderbus- a not for profit organisation that takes older people out to see live entertainment.

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by David Burgess on May 3, 2018 0

How to Become a Comedian

So you want to become a comedian?

Well, it’s not easy. Many people have tried and failed. But don’t be discouraged, that doesn’t mean you don’t have a shot.

The fact that you are here searching on how to become a comedian shows that you are serious about learning from others. Successful comedians are your best source for information to help you pursue stand up comedy, either as an amatuer or a professional.

Becoming a Comedian

Killer Comedy Jokes Needed
So, people around you find you funny and witty. But is this enough of a reason for you to become a comedian? Well, maybe. Being funny and witty could be a start of a successful career as a comedian. But it is important to note that becoming a comedian is a serious business. To do stand up comedy in front of an audience, you need to have good self-confidence and a strong stomach. Additionally, you need to be ready to deliver explosive stand up comedy jokes. Of course, you wouldn’t want your first standup comedy act to be a bust, right? So, to avoid any embarrassment, you will need to come up with some killer stand up comedy jokes when learning how to become a comedian.

Tips on making stand up comedy jokes.

There is a common misconception that standup comedians do nothing but tell little jokes or hilarious stories to drunken audience at night. It’s a lot more complex than that! Standup comedians spend hours in making stand up comedy jokes and perfecting their routine. They invest time and effort in formulating stand up comedy jokes that will leave the audience laughing out loud and never have dull moments.

To help you come up with explosive stand up comedy jokes, here are some tips you need to know:

1. Follow the formula – Joke building follows two basic formuals – the setup, which explains the joke and the punch line, which construes the delivery of the stand up comedy jokes. For beginners, it is safe to stick to the formula to get better laughs.

2. Find a joke in everything – This is the secret to prevent embarrassing moments. Try hard to find the funny in everything and in every situation. The more you are creative in making stand up comedy jokes, the better you will get in making up jokes.

3. List your stand up comedy jokes – Jot down a list of hot jokes that you know will beef up your comedy act.

4. Observation stand up comedy jokes – By simply pointing out absurd and real funny things that happen every day and are part of everyday life, you can make people laugh.

5. Mimic stand up comedy jokes – You can mimic someone in a funny way. This will definitely add humor to your act. Make sure that the person you mimic is a well-known person so that everyone can relate to.

Beyond stand up comedy Jokes

In addition to these tips on enhancing your stand up comedy jokes, you also need to build up your comic vocabulary. Some terms you need to be familiar with are To Kill (to do really well), To bomb (to do really badly), Set up (the explanation part of a joke), and all other stand up comedy jokes term. Now that you have read this advice, you can now improve your stand up comedy jokes and start killing your audiences with your stand up routines. Master the tips and you are way to getting the fame as a pro stand up comedian.

Killer Comedy: Become a Great Comedian

If you happen to read good comedy books or have watched good killer theatre shows, skits, or films, then you know that there’s nothing more relaxing and medicating than a few good laughs. Yes, it is expected that comedy should be hilarious, but if you think that making killer comedy stories is simple, you are wrong! Good comedy is a serious business as it entails hard work, dedication, and most of all, excellent writing skills. The ability to create a real piece of killer comedy can be attributed to a moment of inspiration or a sudden light bulb moment. But putting that idea into the right words demands comedic skill.

In order to be effective, a killer comedy should instantly capture the emotion of the audience. Once this is done, expect it to get good laughs. As mentioned awhile ago, a lot of hard work should be put into it so as to put together a killer comedy piece that will leave your audience rolling in the aisles. Creating a killer comedy piece involves phrasing, reviewing, rephrasing, and then some polishing. This process goes on and on until a good killer comedy is produced. More than that, comedy writers also need to know what type of comedy they write the best.

Being a Killer Comedy Writer

Each comedy writer is unique. They have their own strengths and weaknesses thus, they should decide what type of killer comedy they should write and present. The kinds of killer comedy vary from one liner to lengthy ramble or also known as routine. A routine can be made up of various “gags” or it can have one theme. Sketches, on the other hand, are a type of killer comedy that are long and are packed with gags. Writers that write good sketches are much acclaimed than those who do not.

Since writing killer comedy is a tough job, it is always an edge for those writers with inherent talent for writing comedy pieces. This can be a good and fruitful occupation. All that is needed is focus, hard work, and mastering trade tricks. Aspiring killer comedy writer can learn and master the tricks of trade by simply observing expert comedians at work. By meticulously analyzing their works, they can easily grasp and learn the intricacies of comedy variations. Aside from that, another important thing that aspiring killer comedy writers should understand is the holistic concept of comedy. They will never be called noble writers without having the know-how about comedy.

Killer Comedy: Timing Matters

Killer comedy pieces are created by excellent comedy writers. Obviously, they are made and presented with the ability to amuse the audience while delivering a specific message. These are what professional comedy writers are known for. They have the ability to inject the right jokes at the right place and the right timing. This is what makes a killer comedy very appealing. Though a writer may be packed with jokes, but without delivering it on the right timing, all can be dull. Timing is a critical angle that comedy writers should work on. By mastering this aspect, they can make a difference to a good joke. To learn and acquire excellent comedy techniques, proven systems from the funniest pro comedians is the answer!

How to Be a Comedian Through Comedy Classes

Some people are born comedians. They usually are the jokester in the group, making funny jokes and leaving everybody in tears laughing. If most of your friends or family say that you are naturally funny and witty then why not try to make this as a profession? Consider taking comedy classes to bring your comedic talent to the next level. If you enjoy cracking jokes and making people laugh or if you know the value of comedy, you are a prime candidate for comedy classes. By enrolling in elite comedy classes, your natural comic abilities will improved and honed.

Being a stand-up comedian is no laughing matter! It is more than just making the people laugh, or simply retelling common jokes and wait for your friends and the people around you to chuckle. Comedy is more about putting the right jokes in the right place and in the right timing. Comedy classes will teach you the true essence of comedy. They will teach you how to be tenacious and cognizant about your comedy piece. The core function of comedy classes is to build-up your humorist talent. They will allow you to be knowledgeable about the stage, know how to write effective jokes, and develop holistic comic charm.

Be a pro standup comedian thru good comedy classes

For inborn comedians, undergoing comedy classes will not be a hard task. But for people who wanted to develop their comic skills, it can take years before hitting the big time. Taking up comedy classes and workshops will help you get started on a successful career as a stand-up comedian. These will get you up in front of an audience, create good jokes, and master the art of delivering jokes. More than that, comedy classes will teach you to write and structure jokes. Structuring techniques are important in making good jokes.

Most comedy classes offer performing opportunities for students. This is a good platform for students to exhibit and perform their comedy piece in front of an audience. This does not only provide an avenue for aspiring comedians to show what they have learned in comedy classes, but this is also a good opportunity to bring out what they got like spouting funny adlibs and delivering funny lines spontaneously while doing the entire standup comedy. Through good comedy classes, a great comedian can be spawned.

The advantages of taking comedy classes

While it is a fact that taking up comedy classes can be tough, on the contrary, they can be worthwhile. Through comedy classes, one can build up his or her personality. You yourself can create a unique comedy trademark that people will instinctively recognize. For beginners like you in comedy classes, it might be awhile before you can find your unique comic personality. One way to discover it is to test your comedy piece in front of the public and ask for feedbacks or reviews. After, you can tweak your stage presence until you have created the trademark you want to exude. Examples of famous comedians in the Hollywood that are popularly known for their distinctive comic personality are Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Dave Chapelle, and many others. When people hear their names, their comic styles are instantly recalled.

Anyone interested in taking up comedy classes should seek a professional standup comedy class. There are a myriad of comedy class offered in the internet today and all you have to do is pick and enroll in a comedy class that suits your criteria as well as will bring out the best in you.

Refine Your Comedy Through a Comedy Class

Do you think you are hilarious or do your friends and family often tell you how funny you are? If yes, then you may benefit from taking a comedy class. Taking a comedy class will bring your comedic talent to the next level allowing you to try a stand-up act in front of an audience. If you dream of becoming a professional comedian, a comedy class is the way to achieve your desires. If you are good at making everybody laugh, then why not turn it into a career? Not only can you have a fruitful profession, but you are sharing what you love doing and making people laugh in the process.

Basically, a comedy class aims to provide a supportive environment where you can write, edit, and perform a comedy. Additionally, your comic skills will be honed and further develop. This will be successfully achieved thru a good comedy class that offers workshops where you will learn joke formats, performance techniques, how to deliver killer comedy and explosive jokes, write a comedy piece, and more. By learning a handful of this knowledge from a comedy class, see yourself soar as a professional and excellent stand-up comedian.

What you will learn from a comedy class?

So, imagine that you have enrolled in a comedy class and you have learned everything and almost every technique. It is imperative that you will think that you already have the guts to have your own show. But don’t be so ecstatic! Before this happens, you will still need tons of practice. Before taking your act on stage, first of all, focus on one goal and that is to make every person in the room laugh. In any comedy class, the first thing that you will be oriented about is how to observe and learn from the expert comedians. After this, your comedy class will encourage you to write your funniest material.

Once you have finished writing your comedy script, the next thing you need to do is practice your delivery. Here, you will implement everything that you have learned from your comedy class. The timing, your punch lines, intonation, voice volume, and adlibs will all come together now. By mastering your delivery, you will become more confident facing an audience and evade yourself from any embarrassment. This is the advantage of taking a comedy class. More than just the mere idea of making jokes and making the people laugh, taking comedy class is more about the techniques you need to have for a real exceptional and amusing stand-up comedy.

Comedy Class: Things to think about

Aspiring stand-up comedians should understand that being a pro is a serious business. If you want to pursue it as a career, take a head start by enrolling in a comedy class. Once you are in a good comedy class, make yourself ready as there is a long way to go. It is hard to earn applause and the pay is not as rewarding as the efforts thus make sure that you stay funny to reap the rewards. Know what makes people laugh and remember to take a comedy class so as you will make it big in no time.

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