how do you become a comedian!

busted flush

Q1; HOW?
Q2; WHATS THE MONEY LIKE (like)?
Q4; WHY IS QUESTION 4 HERE?
Q3; DO YOU HAVE TO BE UNACTRACTIVE?
Q5; THIS IS A SERIOUS THREAD!
Q6; IS IT REALLY THE HARDEST WAY TO MAKE AN EASY LIVING?

orestes

busted flush wrote: »

Q1; HOW?
Q2; WHATS THE MONEY LIKE (like)?
Q4; WHY IS QUESTION 4 HERE?
Q3; DO YOU HAVE TO BE UNACTRACTIVE?
Q5; THIS IS A SERIOUS THREAD!
Q6; IS IT REALLY THE HARDEST WAY TO MAKE AN EASY LIVING?

A1: By being a self-deluded, manic depressive, overly sensitive ego-maniac with self esteem issues who wanted to be a rock star but has no musical talent

A2: Like other people's money, usually it is made out of metal or paper

A4: Because you can't count properly

A3: No, but it sure helped Jo Brand

A5: Apparently not

Q6: Yes, but the easy ways of making a hard living are worse

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

busted flush wrote: »

Q1; HOW?
Q2; WHATS THE MONEY LIKE (like)?
Q4; WHY IS QUESTION 4 HERE?
Q3; DO YOU HAVE TO BE UNACTRACTIVE?
Q5; THIS IS A SERIOUS THREAD!
Q6; IS IT REALLY THE HARDEST WAY TO MAKE AN EASY LIVING?

1 - Open mic night at comedy club, I would imagine. That or post humourous quips here on boards.ie and wait for the RTE talent searchers that roam about undercover to PM you

2 - It's like a kind of thick, embossed paper with cultural designs on it; or small metallic discs.

3 - Abso-fvcking-lutely. If you are attractive, head down to local nightclub, start a fight with a barman. Problem solved.

4 - It isn't - it's down here

5 - It's an oxymornon.

6 - No, male porn star is the hardest way to make a living.

Zapp Brannigan

The trick is to steal as much material as possible...

Sam Kade

Do like all of them do stand up talk rubbish for a couple of hour's don't worry it will work because there are a lot of fool's that pay to listen to these idiot's and how they break their heart's laughing at them I will never know.

Phantasm

busted flush wrote: »

Q1; HOW?
Q2; WHATS THE MONEY LIKE (like)?
Q4; WHY IS QUESTION 4 HERE?
Q3; DO YOU HAVE TO BE UNACTRACTIVE?
Q5; THIS IS A SERIOUS THREAD!
Q6; IS IT REALLY THE HARDEST WAY TO MAKE AN EASY LIVING?

Q1: Take all the small gigs you can get, really. Then work from there. Get an agent and whatnot. You have to like sitting on trains and have quite low self-esteem!

Q2: I don't know, but it would have to be good when you're selling out shows. However, that takes years to acheive, usually.

Q3: Personally, I find that if a guy is very humourous, he starts to look better than I would have thought before. But, that could easily be one of those 'blinded by love' scenarios. However, if Jonah Hills your cuppa tay:

"It's harder to be funny if you're handsome than if you're very normal-looking. It's just more relatable. You're the underdog. I mean it's funny to see people struggle, and you don't buy that Brad Pitt is struggling, you know that guy could be the most skill-less guy in the world, but if you look like that you will be fine for the rest of your life."

Q6: Not if you're good. :rolleyes:

Galvasean

busted flush wrote: »

Q1; HOW?
Q2; WHATS THE MONEY LIKE (like)?
Q4; WHY IS QUESTION 4 HERE?
Q3; DO YOU HAVE TO BE UNACTRACTIVE?
Q5; THIS IS A SERIOUS THREAD!
Q6; IS IT REALLY THE HARDEST WAY TO MAKE AN EASY LIVING?

1: Open mic nights are the best place to start. I'm sure if you PM one of the fine fellows here they may be willing to help out.

2: Non-existent for the first while. If youre good and make a good reputation you'll start to make money. Note - do not quit your actual job straight away.

4: Dyslexia?

3: What is 'UNACTRACTIVE'? Probably not. I've never heard of this word. It hasn't stopped anyone as far as I know.

5: Okay.

6: Stand up comedy isn't hard, its me that sucks.

pandaboy

don't ask silly questions like this. if you enjoy writing and you feelt hat there's a humour to it then go ahead and start off a career in comedy. it's about using your wits and basically enjoying yourself. it's not about impressing an audience it's about doing your job and getting it done.

Sam Kade, you're quite cynical about the whole comedy scene. have you attempted this before and failed? there's a lot more to comedy than you've described. A lot more comedians out there bigger and better than what you think, you just need to open your eyes and mind to understand these comedians. Eddie Izzard is a great starting point for anyone interested in comedy, his use of genious wit separates him from the standard itinerary of comedy.

Galvasean

Sam Kade wrote: »

Do like all of them do stand up talk rubbish for a couple of hour's don't worry it will work because there are a lot of fool's that pay to listen to these idiot's and how they break their heart's laughing at them I will never know.

Actually, that is one hell of a sentence.

Punctuation motherfcuker! Do you use it?

pandaboy

Galvasean wrote: »

Actually, that is one hell of a sentence.

Punctuation motherfcuker! Do you use it?

haha, didn't even see that one. touché Galvasean, touché.

Sam Kade

Galvasean wrote: »

Actually, that is one hell of a sentence.

Punctuation motherfcuker! Do you use it?

Hey Sh1thead! Read this sentence. Shove your grammar up your hole.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

I am the punctuation motherfvcker. Thou shalt speak clearly and write eloquently before me and all shall cower beneath my....

...hang on: did you mean "Punctuation motherfvcker!" or "Punctuation, motherfvcker!"?

Zapp Brannigan

Sam Kade wrote: »

Hey Sh1thead! Read this sentence. Shove your grammar up your hole.

And you're out.

Galvasean

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

I am the punctuation motherfvcker. Thou shalt speak clearly and write eloquently before me and all shall cower beneath my....

...hang on: did you mean "Punctuation motherfvcker!" or "Punctuation, motherfvcker!"?

I was referencing Pulp Fiction*. I just changed the spelling to avoid the swear filter.

* I take it Sam isn't a fan?

Galvasean

Sam Kade wrote: »

Hey Sh1thead! Read this sentence. Shove your grammar up your hole.

It was a flame bait question anyway so I'll leave it be.

Jabcity

Q. What do you think are the secrest of a great comedian?
A.You have to like sitting on trains and have quite low self-esteem.

FAQ of the DOD
David O'Doherty, brilliant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrB6GeaXwmY

jacool

the problem with comedy is that its so unfair
Consider this - You are a rock act, what gets the biggest applause? Yes, your greatest hits. A comedian goes to tell his favourite joke - someone will say "Heard it" !!
Also people frown on you using other peoples' stuff too, so no 'cover tracks' either !

orestes

jacool wrote: »

the problem with comedy is that its so unfair
Consider this - You are a rock act, what gets the biggest applause? Yes, your greatest hits. A comedian goes to tell his favourite joke - someone will say "Heard it" !!
Also people frown on you using other peoples' stuff too, so no 'cover tracks' either !

The stealing material thing is different from doing cover tracks. A tribute act or band covering a song aren't trying to pass it off as their own artistic property but comedians who do other peoples material usually are, which is plagerism

The greatest hits thing is a fair enough point though

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Galvasean wrote: »

I was referencing Pulp Fiction*. I just changed the spelling to avoid the swear filter.

* I take it Sam isn't a fan?

A bit late, I know but....

....the point is the comma. It changes the whole meaning of your sentence (especially when you're asking about the use of punctuation!)

mwnger

Does anyone round here know if this is still going?

Mailed them there about a week ago enquiring about the open mike night, still no reply.

Anyone got more info?

This is one of the few places in Dublin where wannabe stand-ups could get a start. It'd be a pity if it was finished.

Galvasean

Its still going every Tuesday. It can take a while for them to reply sometimes. They get a lot of email.

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

A bit late, I know but....

....the point is the comma. It changes the whole meaning of your sentence (especially when you're asking about the use of punctuation!)

Ah, I see.
Thanks?

pandaboy

an addiction to painkillers is needed. once you can get through the day pre-medicated then you're sorted. the best of comedians have done this:

John Belushi, Lenny Bruce, Mitch Hedberg - though they have died, you'll become a whole lot more famous after you're death. Just think of the DVD sales.

Galvasean

pandaboy wrote: »

Just think of the DVD sales.

Won't do much for ya... on account of being dead!

pandaboy

Galvasean wrote: »

Its still going every Tuesday. It can take a while for them to reply sometimes. They get a lot of email.



Ah, I see.
Thanks?

Galvasean wrote: »

Won't do much for ya... on account of being dead!

there was a hidden joke in there.

wandatowell

Zapp Brannigan wrote: »

The trick is to steal as much material as possible...

You must be a Dennis Leary fan I presume......:D

jesusbuddha

Hi all, I am becoming a stand up, have a done a few gigs, but would like all the help I can get... are there any classes I could go to??? that are worth going to????

RobbieBonham

In the words of Nike, 'Just Do It'.

Classes are probably no harm but gigging is the only real way to get there. Also, watching other people. see what they're doing wrong or right, and work with that, though usually if you want to be a comedian you've been studying and thinking about it for years? Confidence, and familiarity with your material are the main things, and they only come (eventually) with gigging experience!

Failing that, use The Force.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

jesusbuddha wrote: »

Hi all, I am becoming a stand up, have a done a few gigs, but would like all the help I can get... are there any classes I could go to??? that are worth going to????

I think the est way is too just keep a notebook of stuff that you see and elaborate on it. It's all about being observant, and that's kinda something you either are or aren't.

RobbieBonham

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

I think the best way is too just keep a notebook of stuff that you see and elaborate on it. It's all about being observant, and that's kinda something you either are or aren't.

Yep, always have a notebook! Moleskines are my particualr favourite!

Most stuff I write, I write on the bus to a gig. That period where you're just sitting there mulling over life, thats the best time!

And my own philosophy on writing is 'exaggerated honesty'!

See how that works for ya!

jesusbuddha

Hi guys, thanks for such fast responses. I have material and I am doing gigs, but I really think that classes could be helpful.... has anyone done any?

I talked to Ciaran. He does classes... and will continue them after the competition is finished. Does anyone know if they are ok? I have 2 people but it would be better with 4-6 people running ideas off each other.

Arigato,
Aidan

Galvasean

Theres probably no better man than Ciaran to get help off. He's really good at helping with technique.

Kinda on topic: anyone know if there are any improv workshops running around Dublin at the moment?