Let’s Get Organized
August 16, 2007 · Print This Article
So you’ve been writing jokes for a long time and you finally have a gig. How do you decide what to talk about? Brian breaks down the basics of preparing a set, and why feeling comfortable on stage is the single most important aspect of stand up.
Listener topics include, fucking liars, shitty club owners, will Brian ever return to television, and temporary baby names. How about, “Oops”?
Email: brianmcomedy@gmail.com and give us a call on 206-203-4692
Your welcome Brian. Glad to bring more stress to your unstressful life. As if having a pregnant wife wasn’t enough.
I forget if we’ve discussed this already, partly because I have no memory anymore (in school, it’s a great thing to have), but do you have advice on where you can practice performing comedy if you are under 18? Like could open mics be an option?
Thanks
By the open mics being an option, I mean is it possible to get into comedy clubs if you are under 18, strictly to perform and listen to the others do their thing.
Hey Brian,
Finally got through listening to all your shows (took me a week or two), excellent stuff man, keep it up!
I’m not interested in becoming a standup comic myself, but I’ve been a big fan of listening to standup for a long time (started listening to standup when I was about 16; I’m 26 now).
Oh, and congrats on the baby also!
It’s funny. I have no interest in doing standup comedy, I rarely watch or listen to standup comedy (by far the most I ever saw was when I was in college and the college would bring in touring comics to try to keep us out of trouble), and yet I’ve listened to every episode in every incarnation of this show.
Good to know that I in no way inspire you to listen to stand up. If you need me I’ll be drinking alone.
Oh yeah, and thanks for the kind words Chuck. Welcome.
Nothing personal, Brian. I mean, I can find stand up funny, but it’s not like there’s a whole lot out where I am. (Hey, you were in El Paso. Las Cruces is smaller than El Paso and doesn’t have a comedy club but is still inherently better because it’s not in Texas.) I can’t listen to the same routine over and over again, so I don’t buy CDs, and I rarely find what they’re showing on Comedy Central and the like all that funny.
if you think it’s tedious to hear it, imagine saying it over and over again. I’m so sick of my bits right now I feel like I’m a one-hit wonder band.
Mm-Bop…bop bop…mm-bop…yeah.
I need to write some shit.
Sina.
Oh, and I have a question for the comics in general. How do you keep track of your jokes? I know Brian was saying he has a binder(? or is it a notebook?) and do you like write the entire joke out, or just have bullet points? Does anyone store their jokes on the computer? Because i think Matt Kirshen was using his labtop to keep track of his stuff on LCS.
Mike
Hang on Brian,
I’m kinda worried about your self esteem……
- Your ladies breasts are getting larger.
- There’s junk food aplenty in the Mollica household
- You can sit and watch hour after hour of porn without retribution from your goodly wife
And your fucking complaining? Have some thoughts for us miserable singles without any internet!
Nick
Just a question for you B-mo and for all the comics about putting your set together; I dunno if you touched on it.
Obviously the set that you do entriely depends on the audience and the venue and a whole host of other factors I imagine. The blue hairs at that matinee at four in the afternoon aren’t exactly gonna lap up your abortion joke…….
It’s not even as extreme as that I imagine, or as extreme as working dirty and working clean; college kids will get different references and appriciate different material to the corporate gigs, etc etc etc.
Also, the thing about keeping track of your material, I’ve heard a few comics (usually top ones like Richard lewis) who say they NEVER write anything down and just walk on stage and let the magic happen. Their arguement is ‘I never forget anything funny’
Are they for real, or just fucking liars?
Hey guys. Cebu here. Listener from the Philippines and a huge comedy fan. Good to meet you all!
First off: I have no urge to be a stand up, I hate being the center of attention in a room full of strangers. I guess that means I’m insecure. Somebody hold me. Please?
OK because there wasn’t really anything better on I watched the Jay Mohr Horror Picture Show otherwise known as LCS. This thing is like a damn trainwreck. In case you didn’t see it they do a “speed dating” contest where they get 2 girls from Deal or no Deal, a tranny, a nun and a clown and each comedian is to try and make the individual laugh until a gong sounds and then they cycle around to the next station. Ralph Harris couldn’t even keep his composure at all when he got to the tranny, nun and clown. I don’t know I feel like I’m in orbit around this show: It pisses me off and I get away from it but then I get sucked back in only to realize how bad it is all over again.
BTW, Doug Benson is in Pittsburgh at the Improv this weekend in case anyone is in the vicinity.
To answer Mike(not really) on how I personally keep track of my jokes. I just have a couple legal pads that i write out jokes with bullet points. I do one-liners so it works well for me. I also keep all of my set lists(w/ date and venue written on them) in a folder. I keep a list of my joke titles on my computer in case I would lose my binder. This seems to work well organization wise but I have a horrible time remembering the set order when im on stage cuz i dont use transitions and my jokes are short so I’ll tell 15 jokes in 5 min. Anyone have any methods they use to remember sets other that just repeating joke order in their head. I really need to stop bringing a set list on stage with me. :/
Xynobis,
you feel unsecure when you are the center of attention in a room full of strangers?
Try drinking large amounts of alcohol, it usually works for me.
okay random rant of the day: I decide to brush up on Spanish but don’t really have time to go attend classes. I figure, hey, maybe there’s a spanish lesson podcast i can download. I find one on itunes and download it. I get settled in, turn on my ipod and damn near messed up my pants. The podcast was spanish lessons being taught by a guy with a pretty thick scottish accent. It was hard enough keeping up with the lessons without the brogue. Okay thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
PS the lesson is called ‘Coffee Break SPanish’ on Itunes.
For Mike (Not Really): I tend to work off of memory a lot and I do a lot of my writing while on stage through improv and sometimes just ranting until something funny comes out…but when I do actually jot something down to remember for later (because my memory is almost completely useless from stress, age and drug/alcohol use) I will just jot down the subject or point of the bit and then the punchlines. Here’s an example of a bit I plan on working out this weekend:
Music and Comedy - Good comedy is like good music and vice versa.
I can listen to Pink Floyd over and over again just like Bill Hicks of George Carlin…but listening to Dane Cook is like listening to Mm-Bop on repeat.
How enthusiastic can these kids be to play that same shitty song over and over again?
(I’ll often write in shorthand too…so this part may not make sense)
Larry The Cable Guy = Git R Done = *Tweaked face* = That’s what it looks like when your soul escapes your body.
Carlos Mencia = Greatest Hits Album…as performed by the KKK.
I can usually squeeze these onto the back of a receipt or scrap of paper and it’s enough for me to remember the bit until I get to work it out on stage ad-nauseaum.
Everyone has different methods. Some people are very scripted others rely more on improv. Find what works best for you. I’ve never been able to write out my jokes completely but some people have to do that. I had to find what worked for me.
Sina.
P.S. I just went back and looked over my first set list I ever wrote and (in congruence with Brian) it was all complete hack. Jokes that were taken from the Simpsons and other comics etc. I had all of these exclamation points in there for some reason. God, i should’ve given up comedy years ago. Someone should have sat me down after that set and just said, “Sina…you’re an idiot.” haha.
Sina: “Carlos Mencia = Greatest Hits Album…as performed by the KKK.”
[commercial break]
It’s the KKK’s Greatest Hits! Filled with such favorites as:
Lynch Them Uppity N—— [Radio Edit]
.
.
.
Give that Carpetbagger Back in a Box
.
.
.
General Grant is a General Traitor
.
.
.
Theme from “Birth of a Nation”
.
.
.
P-A-P-I-S-T-S
.
.
.
And many more! This two-CD collection can be yours for the low, low price of just $19.95! Order within the next 20 minutes and you’ll get a genuine KKK hood, a $9.95 value, absolutely free!
(If I was more clever I’d come up with some lyrics, but that’s one more reason I’m not a comedian.)
hahahaha! That’s 10X better than anything I wrote.
It’s a different angle than I was coming from. I was poking fun at the fact that he steals everything he does…he’s a cover-comic.
Yours is better.
Sina.
I realized after I posted it that I missed an obvious cover. So pretend I had “Throw the Jew Down the Well” in there as well.
Sina, I love that Mencia is covered by the KKK idea. Don’t forget, they have to to do at least one song ripping on white people to prove they’re not racist.
The bit has been working pretty well. Thanks guys. I need to punch up my newer material because it gets a little rambly and preachy and I forget to make it funny…so excuse me if I try this new angle. You get full credit for the idea.
Love you guys.
Sina.
P.S. Brian, the mencia joke either kills or falls flat every time I’ve done it because people either know he’s a hack or have no idea. It could lie in the delivery, which I’m always working on, but I think it’s just not common knowledge yet.
I have a general question for you guys. It’s mostly directed toward comics but feel free to answer if you have an opinion.
Do you feel that you are at your funniest when you are at your lowest in your life? Whenever a friend dies or I get depressed, I am so much more “on” when I’m on stage. I write more and it’s usually better writing too. I think it’s a form of escapism that doesn’t manifest itself when everything is honkey dorie. Kind of a coping mechanism.
Anyone else agree?
Sometimes I’ll even depress myself on purpose because I know it will make me bring a better show. But it just feels a bit unhealthy.
I also think I may be manic depressive…so maybe that plays a part.
Thanks in advance.
Sina.
I agree Sina. Its kinda small and insignificant to you older guys, but I just fought with my dad recently, and right after, I was able to sit down, and write and think of material. So I think you (Sina) are definitely on to something.
Mike (NR)
P.S. I think I want my stage name to be Mike (not really) when I perform.
Just to let you all know that the Edniburgh Fringe (www.edfringe.com) is going on at the moment and I’m going there tomorrow for three days. Gonna try and see as much comedy as possible including Marc Maron and Andy Zaltzman.
I’ll try to write a few notes and put them in a blog for anyone to read. It’s a pain cause my camera is out of action at the moment…
But anyway, it’ll be an awesoem few days and god do I need the time off work!
Nick
I’ll be back friday!
Good question Sina. I’m the opposite. When I’m in a funk I’m useless. Can’t write, half assed performances, etc. Once I get out of it I can look back with perspective and find the funny, but when I’m in the middle of it, no dice.
I am the same way as brian. I don’t produce many jokes when im depressed. I have even noticed that I am way less productive in producing material during the winter because it is depressing and I hate the cold. If you talk about your life these depressing times could become material but all of my jokes are made up and dont involve my life or my friends or family(which may be bad b/c it prob makes it harder for the audience to connect with me). I find I am at my most creative while working or doing something repetitive that requires little thought and allows my mind to wander.
I am kind of like that too…it’s weird. I guess I have to have a certain level of depression. Sometimes I do my best writing when I’m down…and sometimes I want to quit everything all together. It depends.
I’m also not much of a writer in the winter months. The cold really gets to me. I hate it. I can’t wait to move.
Nick, post a link to your blog when you get back. I’d love to read it.
Sina.
Hey Brian,
Im glad you brought up the Roast of flava flav….first of all, that was just ridulous to roast him of all people. But it was the Friars Club so i guess it was ok. I thought Katt Williams did a great job hosting though. Im a big fan of his and I was wondering if you would ever spot light him or what is your take on him? I thought the best roaster was Jimmy Kemmel. I thought he really brought the best jokes. I hated that they had snoop and Ice t up there. I think they should’ve just stuck to the comedians.
Gilley
Hey BMo. Was curious about what you thought of Jon Stewart’s style of comedy? I don’t really know a lot about how he was as a stand up but as the host of the daily show he is awesome. Plus a lot of his ‘reporters’ have gone on to careers of their own. I guess i was thinking about how you were talking about how some comedians use writers and Stewart has a whole crew of them and his show and material is always funny as hell
Also this is a bit late but i totally agree with you on what you said about stage fright. Up until recently I was in government and had to give speeches almost daily especially during the campaign. It never got any easier with practice and i loved doing it but it is rough. I always just used bullet points and tried to adjust depending on the crowd reaction. it’s not nerviousness or anything it’s more like you have so much you want to get out and say but are afraid you let so much of it out that your audience loses the connection to you and the point you are trying to make
Just watched the Comedy Central Roast of Flave Flav again since you mentioned it would be a topic on the next show. Here’s my review. Do with it as you will:
Carrot Top - Nice Michael Jackson impersonation, Hack.
Jeff Ross - KILLED!
Lisa Lampenalli - Roast Queen with fisting and shave her own taintjokes? Top THAT!
Greg Giraldo - Killed!
Patton Oswalt - Killed with jokes over everyone in the entire crowd’s head.
Kat Williams - Uh… Yeah. His specials are a lot better.
Jimmy Kimmel - Killed! (The cancel Mind of Mencia line may have won me over.)
Samore (sp?) - Who the fuck is she? (The ebola line rocked though.)
Bridgette Neilson - Looks like every Comedy Central roast needs a crackhead.
Ice Tea - Who wrote his shit?
Snoop Dogg - I can’t mess with him. His material was tight and I’ve been a fan forever — izzle.
Flava Flave - I want my money for my cable subscription back.
Really looking forward to the next episode, Brian. Keep up the good work!
–
Bryan
Tokyo, Japan
My first joke book is from when I was 14. It wasn’t quite like Brian’s or Sina’s, but it was close: I watched a lot of stand-up comedy and I basically took comedians’ jokes and then wrote the punchlines I would have used. Or I would take different premises and get to the punchlines that the comics got. EIther way, hacky. This would be an example of what would be in there:
Brian Regan Joke: “I have this friend who thinks he speaks Italian, it’s very strange. He’s Italian-American, never been to Italy, nothing. All he can say in Italian are pasta dishes. No verbs, but he tries to pull it off: ‘Oh, my mom, she makes a great MANICOTTI!’ ‘…what?’ ‘Yeah, my mom, she makes a great-a MANICOTTI. She makes it al dente, with a RICOTTA cheese.’ I have an Irish heritage, I never do that: ‘Ohhh, my mom, she makes a great CORN BEEF AND CABBAGE! It’s magically delicious!’ Then I riverdance my way home.”
What I’d do: Everything is the same, until the end. “I have a German heritage, I never try to do that: ‘Oh, my mom, she cooks a great JEW! Sour kraut and Anne Frank, feeds us for a week!’ Then I goose-step my way home.”
I try to put segways into my jokes, but whenever I do it feels forced. It’s one of those things you get better at with time, I’m just so rough around the edges still that I can’t pull it off. Works for some, not for others.
Some Nazi Jew killing jokes at age 14? I like how your biggest problem with that was it was hacky. I question the Iowa public school system.
Bmo and Friends,
Sorry I have been scarce lately, I recently found myself without internet access due to a divorce. Anywho, not as bad as it sounds but I did miss out on the last 5 or so shows, and just got caught up.
First Brian, congratulations on the baby, this will change your life in a good way. Secondly, the interviews have been awesome.
Thirdly, I have to speak up and debate the subject of comedians being the only ones that can’t practice without an audience. First you have to remember, as you said, you can practice the magic trick and get good at it without an audience. You also can learn the words to a joke without an audience. The key with both is that the true art lies in the performance or execution if you will.
Just because you can “do” a magic trick, doesn’t mean you can perform it, just like, if you know the words to a joke, doesn’t mean you can perform a good set.
I know you want to separate magicians from comedians, even though the Amazing Jonathan is TOTALLY AWESOME, but there are more similarities than I think you want to admit.
Finally, I have a quick joke for you guys.
A man and his wife were working in their garden one day when the man looks over at his wife and says: “Your butt is getting really big, I mean really big. I bet your butt is bigger than the barbecue.”
With that, he proceeded to get a measuring tape and measures the barbecue grill and goes over to where his wife was working and measured his wife’s bottom.
“Yes, I was right, your butt is 2″ wider than the barbecue!”
The woman chose to ignore her husband.
Later that night in bed, the husband is feeling a little frisky.
He makes some advances towards his wife who completely coldly brushes him off.
What’s wrong?” he asks.
She answers: “Do you really think I’m going to fire up this big-ass grill for one little weenie?”
Chat with you guys soon!
Welcome back Snappy, sorry to hear about the split, but hopefully it’s a good thing for ya. I certainly mean no disrespect to magicians, and I understand that you can never master your performance until you’re on stage, my point is that you know your illusion before you hit the stage and you can practice it at length beforehand until it is seamless. That doesn’t make a great performance, but it helps. Comedy has nothing to do with memorizing the words you want to use. You create in a vaccuum and the only way to know if what you do is funny is to get on stage and find out.
Brian,
Don’t get me wrong, I totally get what you are saying, but there are magicians who can do the illusion, but are just horrible to watch due to presentation.
I think what I am trying to say, and possibly re-affirm what you were alluding to, the performance is more important than the content. You are “entertaining” people, and no matter how well you can do a trick, or tell a joke, if your performance is subpar, you won’t get asses in the seats next time. And yes, you absolutely have to practice that aspect sort of “on the job training”, and getting that done really sucks at first.
I remember one of my first magic performances, it was for a group of 6 year olds. I was doing a couple of really simple tricks, which I had down, but did not have the performance down, you know like the timing with the audience and such. So I am doing this multiplying bunny routine, (sponge bunnies) and as I get to the end, the climax as it were, the timing just sucked, and you could tell even 6 year olds were disappointed.
but, I digress, I will stop trying to compare magic to comedy….. even though one IS more sophisticated. in case you can’t tell, I am referring to Comedy being more sophisticated, because let’s face it, magicians are just adults who are taking kids stuff WAY too seriously.
BMo,
congrats on baby. i have 4. did my 2nd open mic nite last night. it went well. i think i was a little less nervous this time. David Crowe stopped it to try some new stuff. we had a great crowd. can’t wait for your next show.
richie v
BMo’
will you be doing any stand up near Indiana?
There is more than corn in Indiana (we have sheep too).
richie v
I’ve never set foot in your great state Richie, but I’d love to work there at some point.
Well, if we are gonna beg for brian to come to our city. How about Oahu Brian? But you would have to vouch for me to get in the comedy club. Because I’m still not old/looking old enough to get it. How about it?