Quote: David Bussell @ September 15 2010, 5:42 PM BSTLike I say, dancing about architecture...
Have you read Stewart Lee's latest book? That has several transcripts from different stand-up shows and it is a very entertaining read. I agree though that some of it doesn't really work as well written down.
Quote: Boomerang Jones @ September 15 2010, 10:06 PM BSTHave you read Stewart Lee's latest book? That has several transcripts from different stand-up shows and it is a very entertaining read. I agree though that some of it doesn't really work as well written down.
I haven't as I'm not really a fan of his stand-up. I do quite enjoy his writing though so perhaps I should put aside my reservations and give it a read. Thanks for the tip.
I think the 'rule' of written stand-up not working can be broken when one is a fan of a performer's work. When you can visualise mannerisms and delivery it's far easier to enjoy a transcript. I have a book of Bill Hicks' material and it's a great read.
Jokes written by someone I'm unfamiliar with though, especially when it's 'sick' material and I haven't been won over by the person's charm, are almost destined to fail. Maybe you've got the charisma to make it work on stage, I don't know, but in its written form it doesn't work for me at all.
Quote: David Bussell @ September 15 2010, 11:00 PM BSTI haven't as I'm not really a fan of his stand-up. I do quite enjoy his writing though so perhaps I should put aside my reservations and give it a read. Thanks for the tip.
I think the 'rule' of written stand-up not working can be broken when one is a fan of a performer's work. When you can visualise mannerisms and delivery it's far easier to enjoy a transcript. I have a book of Bill Hicks' material and it's a great read.
Jokes written by someone I'm unfamiliar with though, especially when it's 'sick' material and I haven't been won over by the person's charm, are almost destined to fail. Maybe you've got the charisma to make it work on stage, I don't know, but in its written form it doesn't work for me at all.
I think you're right that the reason I enjoyed Stewart Lee's book so much is because I could visualise the material and had seen him perform some of it. I prefer 'uncomfortable' or 'challenging' to sick, but I know what you mean! I haven't tried that particular material out on stage yet but will let you know how it goes when I do. What I imagine is a very mixed reaction.
Quote: Boomerang Jones @ September 15 2010, 11:29 PM BSTI think you're right that the reason I enjoyed Stewart Lee's book so much is because I could visualise the material and had seen him perform some of it. I prefer 'uncomfortable' or 'challenging' to sick, but I know what you mean! I haven't tried that particular material out on stage yet but will let you know how it goes when I do. What I imagine is a very mixed reaction.
The trick is to go out there not looking like the kind of person who f**ks corpses. You need to do it with a wink. If there's any doubt in people's minds you'll be playing to a very quiet room, I guarantee you. I've seen it happen plenty - for some reason a lot of people start out with gross-out stuff, probably because its easy to write.
Quote: David Bussell @ September 16 2010, 7:54 AM BSTThe trick is to go out there not looking like the kind of person who f**ks corpses. You need to do it with a wink. If there's any doubt in people's minds you'll be playing to a very quiet room, I guarantee you. I've seen it happen plenty - for some reason a lot of people start out with gross-out stuff, probably because its easy to write.
Well, the material that builds up to this bit is my complete bewilderment with the concept of necrophilia, i.e. 'Where's the romance???' Most of my material is not gross-out stuff but the most recent stuff I've written is pretty dark, I guess as catharsis for a hard time I went through.
Quote: Boomerang Jones @ September 16 2010, 12:02 PM BSTWell, the material that builds up to this bit is my complete bewilderment with the concept of necrophilia, i.e. 'Where's the romance???' Most of my material is not gross-out stuff but the most recent stuff I've written is pretty dark, I guess as catharsis for a hard time I went through.
Nowt wrong with catharsis as long as you can find a way to allow the audience enjoy your pain.
Quote: David Bussell @ September 16 2010, 12:05 PM BSTNowt wrong with catharsis as long as you can find a way to allow the audience enjoy your pain.
That's the idea. I have other material about heartbreak, which is turning the sadness into something that can make people laugh and in turn act as therapy for me. I don't have any personal experience of necrophilia thankfully, just find the concept so baffling that I had to make some stand-up material out of it.