As comedians we can get pretty focused on how many Laughs Per Minute (LPM) our jokes are getting. But are you aware of how many words per minute (WPM) you speak? In this episode, we dig into a few ways you can eliminate 90% of the guesswork when estimating the time for a joke.…
Nothing is more serious in standup comedy than a showcase night. Whether your showcase set is at a festival, for TV or simply to get booked by a club – you’ve got to be prepared. Putting together your set can drive you crazy. This podcast is all about picking the right material for the showcase…
Coming up with new material can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be. When writer’s block rears its ugly head, you need to have a plan in place and keep moving forward. No doubt, the pressure to be funny can sometimes prevent you from even writing down an idea. That is a mistake. Write…
Martha Bolton is a joke-writing machine! As a staff writer for Bob Hope for over fifteen years, Martha developed the comedic muscles to crank out an incredible amount of comedy material. Many others including Phyllis Diller, have hired Martha to produce comedy gold. Check out this episode! In this interview, Martha walks us through the…
By Rik Roberts | www.SchoolOfLaughs.com How many jokes have you written but not got around to performing? Be honest. Is it more than you would like to admit? What are you waiting for? You can’t make something better until you make it first. In other words, the new and improved version will always be on…
This is the second in a three part series on how to write a joke. For part one click here. When constructing a joke the most crucial element is a punch line. This is the first line after the premise that generates a laugh. It’s not a joke if there is no punch line. The…
by RIK ROBERTS The most overlooked element of a joke is the premise. Way too often comics are in a hurry to get to the punch line and don’t spend enough time creating a great starting point. I believe there are FOUR key qualifiers to creating a great premise. Look at your jokes and see if…