[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/dev.thatstudio.net\/stand-upcomedy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/hipster-2021-08-26-16-36-50-utc-scaled.jpg” alt=”stand up comedy scene” title_text=”Hipster girl” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Show, don\u2019t tell<\/em><\/strong> is an old adage that means whenever you have an opportunity to introduce a piece of information, don\u2019t just tell us about that person (or thing, or event), show<\/em> us.\u00a0 By showing, you bring the audience into the present moment.\u00a0 The action starts happening right in front of them, so it becomes very urgent and alive.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cShow, don\u2019t tell\u201d when bringing characters into your standup comedy routine because good bits become great bits with fully fleshed-out characters.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2.8em” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n First of all, look at your material and see if there are characters in it you have overlooked.<\/p>\n Do you have a joke about Home Depot and you\u2019re just telling us that the check-out guy was a jerk?\u00a0 Are you telling instead of showing?<\/p>\n Why not act him out and show<\/em> us how he scanned your items in a menacing way? You may be surprised how many opportunities you have in your current material to bring in funny characters.<\/p>\n But what if the character in your joke is your mother and it\u2019s just not getting the big laughs?\u00a0 A lot of people get stuck when they\u2019re writing a bit based on a real person, but as the joke evolves\u2014maybe it becomes a back-and-forth dialog\u2014that original person may not fit into the joke anymore.<\/p>\n Give yourself permission to use your mother as a starting point and build a weirder, funnier, more neurotic character from there.\u00a0 \u00a0When you let go of the real person and ask yourself who is the fictitious character that\u2019s correct for this bit?<\/em> the material funnier and funnier because you won\u2019t feel restricted by the real person you originally had in mind.\u00a0 And you\u2019ll have more fun with it!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Sometimes new comedians will do act outs and speak their dialog to a vague imaginary character in front of them, or what I call a \u201cghost mannequin\u201d; it\u2019s just somebody, without any real qualities or characteristics.<\/p>\n When asked, the comedian will generally say something vague like \u201cit\u2019s just some guy\u201d But by not being specific, the bit loses a whole dynamic.<\/p>\n The difference between run-of-the-mill comedians and top-notch comedians often comes down to their characters.\u00a0 Richard Pryor was a master when it came to creating clear, fascinating characters.<\/p>\n When he and Gene Wilder were shooting Stir Crazy, <\/em>he spent some time in an actual prison, studying life on the inside. In his stand-up comedy routine, he describes meeting a convicted murderer and asking the guy, \u201cWhy did you kill everyone in the house?\u201d \u2026<\/p>\n Before giving us the answer, Richard suddenly becomes this guy; his face softens, his eyes change focus, and he shifts his voice as he delivers the punch like it\u2019s the most obvious reason in the world for committing murder:<\/p>\n \u201cDay wuz home!\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0And that was it.\u00a0 It\u2019s just a snippet, and we never see that character again in the routine, but Richard found the mindset of a character who thought that that \u201cDay wuz home\u201d was a reasonable answer. Richard Pryor knew to show<\/em> us this person, not just tell us about him, and that pulls us into the situation, making it ten times funnier.<\/p>\n In Part 2, we\u2019ll consider several ways of uncovering the best character to act out in you stand-up comedy scenes.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_cta title=”Watch Our Webinar to See What We Teach in a Routine Building 101 Class ” button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjMyMiJ9fQ==@” button_text=”Click Here ” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#0C71C3″ background_color_gradient_direction=”9deg” box_shadow_style=”preset5″ box_shadow_blur=”23px” box_shadow_color=”#bababa” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n If\u00a0 you think you deserve more than the “road to rags training method” sign up for our 101 class.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_cta title=”Sign Up for Our Routine Building 101 Class & Shave a Few Years off Your Career Path” button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjQxMTkifX0=@” button_text=”Click Here ” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#0C71C3″ background_color_gradient_direction=”9deg” hover_enabled=”0″ box_shadow_style=”preset5″ box_shadow_blur=”23px” box_shadow_color=”#bababa” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Get on the “road to riches” with Stand Up Comedy Lessons!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nHere Are Some Tips on Using Characters in Your Standup Comedy<\/h3>\n
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Find More Characters<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Let Go of Reality<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Study the Character<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Did you know that just like any other trade, comedy has techniques that can be taught and applied to your style and brand of funny?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Here’s Two Options for You<\/strong><\/h2>\n