More Jokes - Page 2

Books aren't bad, experimentation aint bad. Watching shit loads of comedy until the lessons are hammered into your quivering brain matter is best.

Watch and practise, watch and practise.

Then bore anyone you can get your hands on.

Right now Stewart Lee is offering a master class in gag writing masquerading as a comedy show on 2. Watch how he takes seemingly weak assed gags, undersells them and by spinning them into giant meta gags destroys the audience.

And when you write gags don't settle for a simple pun or word play. Structure it, expand it make it sing.

What Sooty said. I see live comedy constantly, and I think everything I have learned has come from watching and speaking to others.

Yes, but it's different horses for courses. I think most people will find their 'way' through trial and error or various approaches. With standup, I imagine it's dying on your arse a few times. Which is why I will never stand up.

Quote: Ben @ May 16 2011, 8:16 PM BST

With standup, I imagine it's dying on your arse a few times. Which is why I will never stand up.

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I would heckle the shit out of you.

What Nat said.

Riffing and improvising can only be learnt through practise and observation. And those are easily the best techniques you can use on the stage.

Hmm I was thinking of a new thread, where we each write 3 gags only. And then try and refine those 3 gags we each write. Rather than writing dozens of average gags?

Quote: Ben @ May 16 2011, 8:16 PM BST

With standup, I imagine it's dying on your arse a few times. Which is why I will never stand up.

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Grow a pair or borrow Bussell's. Every one dies on their arse a couple of times, you gotta learn to roll with the punches.

Quote: sootyj @ May 16 2011, 8:27 PM BST

What Nat said.

Riffing and improvising can only be learnt through practise and observation. And those are easily the best techniques you can use on the stage.

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Well we weren't discussing riffing and improvisational technique, so...

Quote: sootyj @ May 16 2011, 8:27 PM BST

Grow a pair or borrow Bussell's. Every one dies on their arse a couple of times, you gotta learn to roll with the punches.

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Maybe after I've had that cognitive therapy I've been promising myself.

They're gags like any other.

Yeah, but we weren't discussing that. It was more the basic structure of Jason's one liners.

Are you heckling me?

Are you f**king with me? Cos your mommas better at that than you, almost as good as your dad.

Quote: Shandonbelle @ May 16 2011, 7:52 PM BST

Do you know something I don't know Marc?

But you can be serious about writing comedy...and just write it!.. and practice and get a feel for it that way. I can see the merit of books on writing, like learning to structure and giving examples of whats worked for others etc but just don't buy into the idea that they are necessary.

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Just buy the book... trust me. Nothings necessary and I don't recommend many books/courses etc. If any that I can think of, per se, apart from that one!

Quote: Matthew Stott @ May 16 2011, 8:20 PM BST

I would heckle the shit out of you.

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...then come on here and say how much you enjoyed it.

Quote: Nat Wicks @ May 16 2011, 7:57 PM BST

I'm with Shandonbelle on this one. Books are no doubt good for some people, but I don't think I like the idea that they are a necessity. Well not from a standup POV. I imagine it's different for sitcom writers where you don't have the opportunity for constant feedback.

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Who said it was a fecking necessity? Fecking artists read about other artists, study other artists take an interest in shit. Writers painters composers directors even stand ups. It's not a join the dots and you'll be a successful whatever you want to be. You know what - don't buy the book!

Shivers.

Right that's off my chest.

And do not whatever you do discuss issues on a forum like this because someone might give you some advice and pollute your comedy purity.

Ok so it wasn't all of my chest. It is now though

Now about that William Goldman book.

Wow, unnecessary.

I have his less well known sequel adventures in the rag trade,

any one want 299 nylon hot pants in cherry red and electric lemon?

Quote: Nat Wicks @ May 16 2011, 11:34 PM BST

Wow, unnecessary.

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Tongue in cheek Nat and directed at ShandonBelle

Quote: Marc P @ May 16 2011, 11:52 PM BST

Tongue in cheek Nat and directed at ShandonBelle

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And yes read the book.