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Well looks like stand-up is moving into the business world!
As opportunities for new comics are becoming scarce, many are turning to reality TV to get their big break. Comedian Judy Carter provides tips and advice on how up coming stand-up comedians can find their spotlight in the unconventional glare of the reality show.
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) March 28, 2006 -- Standup comedy is hotter than ever as more and more funny people are turning to standup comedy as a means to express themselves. Comedy schools and classes are popping up everywhere from colleges to senior citizen homes. While there are an increasing number of comedians with hilarious material, they are quickly running out of places to showcase it.
Many new comedians are turning to reality TV to get discovered. Comedian Judy Carter has seen an increase in the number of casting directors who are calling with requests on possible cast members.
“Casting directors are emailing me requests for ‘messy gay guys who need a home make over’ or ‘fat women who need a body make over,” Carter said. “Although they say that they need real people, they don’t. They want entertaining funny people. And that means, comics.”
In an effort to help alumni from her comedy school, Comedy Workshops, Carter has set up a website for casting notices. Her site, www.standup411.com, has become the first stop in many comedians search for the spotlight.
“We post an average of 30 casting notices per week on our site,” Carter said. “It’s a free service we provide because we want our alumni to make money from being funny.”
About Judy Carter:
Judy Carter is a motivational humorist and author of "The Comedy Bible" and of her upcoming book, “The Anti-Self Help Bible: Finding Happiness when you're Fat, Broke and Surrounded by Idiots.” Judy has appeared on Oprah, Good Morning America and CNN. She works closely with many large corporations across America developing ways to use comedy in the workplace.
For additional information on stand up comedy, or to arrange an interview with Judy Carter, please contact:
Jennifer Quint
PR/PR
800-786-1765
Comedy Slang
To kill To do well. The audience responds really well to you.
To bomb To do badly. This is the classic being pelted by rotten vegetables.
Dying The process of bombing.
Set Your collection of jokes.
Setup The explanation part of a joke, leading up to the punchline. Keep it short!.
Punch line The funny part of a joke. The part you are supposed to laugh at. Heckler Someone in the audience who calls out and interrupts a comedian in a critical manner.in attempt to put the comedian off.
Blue When a comic is "blue," he/she is using dirty language and/or talking about sexual (or otherwise adult) situations quite explicitly.
Callback a joke that refers back to another joke performed earlier in the show; often presented in a different context.
Closing line the final joke of a stand-up comedy performance which should get a huge laugh.
Neuro-linguistic Programming a behavioral model. NLP has a set of skills and techniques founded by John Grinder and Richard Bandler. Often used in training others. Defined as the study and mapping of the structure of the mind.
Riffing verbally playing with the audience.
Segue a connecting sentence for purposes of leading from one joke/routine to another.
Set, a a stand-up comedy show of any length.
Take, a a comedic facial reaction, such as used by Groucho Marx.
Timing the use of rhythm, pause, speed etc. to heighten the effect of a joke, or fit it to an individual performance; also as in Dancing and Drumming.
Learn to get started in stand-up comedy!
1. Keep a notebook and write down everything that strikes you as funny.
(Use your own sense of humour, not what anyone else says is funny!)
2. Start by pretending to hold a mike. Prepare a few minutes of material and
give it your best shot (maybe holding a toothbrush or a banana).
3. Record yourself with audio or video tape where possible.
4. Don't say your act is not funny; the audience will believe you.
5. Don't talk about this being serious" or this being drama as the audience will believe you.
6. Don't say to the audience that they should not bother with you or they are too tired as they will believe you.
7. On the other hand do not tell them they should laugh as they will not believe you
8. Don't joke about bombing (savers) until three of your jokes have bombed..
9. Don't drag out your close (endless close) even if your final (best joke) “ate” it. Not only is it hard on the audience, it takes away from the next comic's time.
10. Don't pick on an audience member who didn't ask for it.
11. Don't complain to the small audiences about being small, since they showed up. They're the good guys.
12. Don't judge, criticize, or rip other people. Comedy is more political than you may imagine. Alternatively, politics is more comical than you may imagine.
13. DON'T STEAL MATERIAL! Only fragile egos will not risk their own material not being funny. How else do you learn?
14. Don't get discouraged if you don't do well. (Not easy!).
15. Bring everybody you know out to see you perform so that the next day, they can lie to you about how well you did.
16. Learn how to take a joke. Most comedians can't.
Review of:-
Stand-up Comedy Fast Start Guide
I have no experience in Stand-up Comedy, just my own attempts at humour with my friends and family.
I came across the Stand-up Comedy Fast Start Guide whilst looking up Comedy on the Internet. I was trying to find stuff that I could use myself and maybe think about trying out in public. The info on this page is from my research as well.
Is it possible to be taught how to be funny?. I had my doubts as I could not see how.
I thought you have to learn this the hard way by failing a lot! I guess you still have to fail a lot, but less so with a guide.
I found it very easy to read and follow. It shows you how to create comic material by selecting from your own life experiences and using your own natural humour to turn this into comedy material.
The book leads you fairly gently but clearly down this road to creating humour.
The only negative really is that doing this recording of everyday things and responding with your own natural humour was harder than I thought. Oh well up and at ‘em I thought.
A useful extra is the newsletter you can join and get regular insights into the world and techniques of comedy.
You are advised on ways to deliver your material and to never go on stage unprepared continuously analyse your performance through video or audio recordings.
I have made an attempt on the videos on the next web page. I still have a way to go, but I have started. The guide says you have to practice your act to get it right and use the unfortunate members of your family and friends as guinea pigs. At least they’re likely to be nice about your crap and mine.
I have read through the guide once and now keep referring to different sections as I work on ideas. I don’t think I am far enough ahead to try the phone consult yet.
The guide is divided into three sections:-
1. Rapid Comedy Material Development
2. Stand-up Comedy Preparation Secrets
3. Maximizing your Stage Comfort
There are also 6 bonus books included:-
1. Comedy Timing Secrets
2. How To Read An Audience
3. How To Deal With Hecklers
4. The Performance Checklist
5. Deep Discount One-On-One Phone Consultation
This gave me plenty of stuff to get started on!
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If you want to get your video attempts at comedy placed on the next page, fill out your details below and I will send you a login and password to allow you to upload your material. - You will be asked to confirm that you wish to do this.
I do reserve the right to block any material I consider offensive.
I will email updates to you as the material expands.
If you wish to add a short bio please do.
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