Stand-up swap shop

I was looking at some stand-up notes the other day when I realised how many jokes I'd written that I'll never tell on stage. Not because of their quality (heavens no!) but because they just don't fit into my scheme of things. It got me wondering if there are other comics out there with an abundance of redundant gags - things that came to them, made them laugh but wouldn't suit their stage persona. And if that were the case, would they be interested in trading their bon mots at all?

A nob joke for a political hot potato?

An absurdist musing for a fart gag?

A gentle anecdote for a musical number?

Anyone think there might be legs to this idea? I know for many the crafting of jokes is a very personal experience but it does seem a shame to let so many good gags go to waste, doesn't it?

Surely down that path lies only courtrooms and happy lawyers?

Nice to see you back around, BTW.

I'd like to swap all my puns for some intelligent, well written material.

Just PM me

I like the idea, but tell me more.

Do you send someone a list of jokes and they do likewise. Then if they like one of yours they have to hope you like one of their's so you can swap them?

Would one good joke be worth two knob gags? Or are all jokes equal?

Aren't all jokes equal but some are more equal than others?

Thanks for contributing, fellas. I'd be lying if I said I'd worked out a foolproof system for this scheme. Like I say, I just saw a bunch of jokes gathering dust and wondered if anyone else was looking at the same. I don't, for example, have a place for scat in my set (least of all when it's hurled at me) but that's not to say I haven't written poo gags. Maybe some good ones even. I was theorising that someone might have written material that's more my brand (one-liner, absurd) that they have no use for. And if so we'd hold hands, maybe skip about a bit then make our bodies become one. Or something. I don't know.

Why not just make a communal pool that people can dip into fuelled by the honour system? Less work than a dedicated Tit-For-Tat system no?

What's wrong with the old tried and tested system of going to a comedy club and writing down other stand-ups' best gags for use in your own set later?

Quote: Tim Walker @ September 16 2009, 12:51 PM BST

What's wrong with the old tried and tested system of going to a comedy club and writing down other stand-ups' best gags for use in your own set later?

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Is that what you call 'The Monkhouse' Tim?

Indeedy. Though many have stolen Bob's genius idea over the years.

Damn. I thought stealing gags was the one original idea I've ever had >_<

Quote: David Bussell @ September 16 2009, 10:59 AM BST

I just saw a bunch of jokes gathering dust.

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Said the man as he left the BCG meet-up.