you, yes you, can do standup comedy

You,Yes You,

Can Do Standup

Sumana Harihareswara

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What Drove YouTo Do This?

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Observational Humor

“What’s up with that?”

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#1: What are youcranky about?

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[use yourparty anecdotes]

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[suitable & unsuitable observations]

[in which I embarrass myself]

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#2:Humor = Incongruity

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#3: Extrapolate to absurdity

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#4: Multiple Punchlinesgive the listener good ROI

for each joke’s premise

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#5: Bits + Segues = Set

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#6: Iterate

Test rhythm, diction, order, gesturesGoal: three punchlines per minute

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Workshop time!#1

Write for 5 minutes

Find 2 peeves/anecdotes

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Workshop time!#2

2 minutes

Find the paradoxical truths

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Workshop time!#3

2 minutes

Extrapolate to absurdities

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Workshop time!#4

2 minutes

Situation, unexpected result, absurdities

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Workshop time!#5

1 minute

What’s the segue?

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Workshop time!#6

5 minutes

Practice by yourself, then with a partner

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Let’s put on a show!

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The fun goes on

Look up a local open micWatch stand-up with a knowing eye

Be more fun at parties

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Thanks for coming!

Sumana Harihareswarabrainwane.netCC images from Flickr users: Curious Expeditions, lunawhimsy, robotson, brentbat, Cayusa, fortune cookie, theopenseas, starfish235, Marcio Cabral de Moura, donttouchmapeyote, moriza, Sunflower Central, oskay James Morrison, Stef Noble. Thanks all!

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