It's Strange....

I know quite a few comedians and have met many famous (and not so famous) comedians. I have never really thought about doing stand-up until now (I am 37). Some mates (who have done the Edinburgh Festival successfully for several years) nearly talked me into doing a show one year, it was going to be called "I'm not funny - I'm Sunny" (Thats my name). The idea was to tell the jokes you hear in the pub constantly, in a one after the other style (similar to what I used to do when too drunk!). It was kinda meant to be a show that other comedians would enjoy seeing, because basically I am not a "real" comedian. Many of the jokes were sick and twisted and the idea was to be so bad and relentless that the challenge each show would be to see how many members of the audience I could make leave.

Fast forward a few years and I am actually thinking of giving it a go. My favourite comedians are more like storytellers than joke tellers (I.E. Not so much about one-liners and more about sharing life stories). Rather than try and tell all the jokes that I can remember (like above), I want to draw from my sick and twisted life!

I will use this thread to jot down ideas and hopefully recieve feedback. my style will kinda be based on a sad f**k who tries too hard to be funny. I will be honest but to an extent unfunny! I want to come across as someone who seems to understand the craft of stand-up but somehow only manages to write bad material - to the point where that in itself makes me kinda funny to watch on stage.

I have no strong desire to be a successful stand-up comedian. Truth be told I am doing this as research for a film I am writing and I look forward to dying on stage because it will be useful for my script....and because I don't really care, I think I will enjoy the experience regardless of how many laughs I actually generate.

I would be grateful for any advice or feedback regarding this matter....

I see what you're getting at, but is that how you'd like to be treated as an audience member and comedy fan? Are you sure on reflection you'd be comfortable doing this considering that you seem quite passionate about comedy..

Some of my favourite comedians have been relentless in finding their own voice. I am basically a loser who has had chances in life but wasted them all because I was a major pot head for most of my life. I am not depressed but my subject matter could be described as depressing. I want to draw from the pain I have felt and try to find the funny side to being a failure. Its a journey I look forward to going on because I have never had a problem acting the fool in front of people I do or don't know. Maybe I will be able to find some comedy gold but that is not exactly my main agenda. I want people to relate to my act or to gain an understanding into the mindset of what general society might label a loser. Yes, I say its research for a film I am writing but its also a comedy experiment of sorts. I will "try" to be funny about my life but I may not be skilled enough to actually be funny about my life - I do feel if done right that the performance itself could be funny even if the "jokes" are not. Does that make sense? I am not trying to take the piss out of the audience. Maybe its the description of how I nearly got into comedy that is missleading. Do you kinda get the idea behind my act now and do you think it could "work"...?

Funny thing about your comedic voice is I don't think you can invent it. You find it, get some jokes get on stage and start your journey of self discovery.

Seriously my first few gigs I tried to do angry and got no laughs. I guess I'm to low status and avuncular. So I tried other stuff and it worked better.

Don't get hung up on writing the set, you may write but it may not even be for you.

This may be completely presumptuous of me and if so I do genuinely apologise, but it sounds a little like you're using the screen of it being abstract to make yourself less vulnerable. Comedy is tragedy + time, reflecting on being a loser is perfect!

nb comedy is comedy what ever the subject be it bagels, Begin, or Beyblades.

Write copious notes or stories whatever. Then shred it and build it back into jokes.

In my experience you're doing well when it takes you somewhere unexpected.

The feedback is gratefully recieved. AJGO, it takes a lot to offend me so no need to tip toe! I guess I am basically going to do an exaggerated version of myself on stage. I have always been at my most funny when not telling jokes....I have a very dark and dry sense of humour. My style will not be for everyone, of this I am sure.

And AJGO to an extent you are very correct except that my agenda is to try and push how far you can go with a public display of vulnerability. I want to take what I have and twist it to the point where its turned up to eleven! To make the audience relate and then kinda say: "Wow, that is f**ked up". So dark its an outlet for anyone who has felt like an outsider. Laugh with me and then laugh at me (if that makes sense?).

I will post some material in this thread soon and hopefully all will become clear

Hola Bob,
You should check out King Of Comedy, a De Niro/Scorcese film from the eighties, which sheds some good light on the psychology of a tragic wishes-he-was-funny kind of character.

Sounds to me like your act would work well in the right screenplay, but in real life, if it's a million miles away from your own persona it's essentially a character act.

I've found that when it comes to dark/light jokes, it doesn't matter so long as it's funny. A million random open-micers do the obligatory pedo/bestiality/incest "taboo" jokes but that gets a different laugh to someone just on stage being true to themselves because (i think) it's less schticky.

That all said, your character could be fun if you're doing some social audience/performer research/experiment thing, but if you get the stagetime you should just try and see what your own voice is, you may find that more fulfilling as a writer.

I see guys doing the whole 'master of abstract wackiness' thing and I always wonder, are you really like this off-stage? The second I sense someone putting up something other than their real selves I switch off and couldn't give a toss how much wordplay/pun jokes/and 'wouldn't it be great if...' hypotheticals they have. As in, the folk I look up to aren't just a jokebook on stage, they're a personality.

Anyway, good luck.

Thanks Jack. I will basically be doing a version of myself on stage rather than a character based act. I personally will not be doing "the obligatory pedo/bestiality/incest "taboo" jokes" - there is enough of that and at this stage I am arrogant enough to think that many of my real-life stories are messed up enough to base some comedy on. I lived in Edinburgh for a decade and it has been decided today that I will be moving back to the city in March. There will be plenty of opportunities to develop my act. I have no plans on doing any "master of abstract wackiness" style stuff. I just want to be the loser that you can both relate to and at the same time not want to be! I will continue writing my act between now and the move to Edinburgh and hopefully will get all my open-mic spots filmed. I will post updates so that everyone can have a bloody good laugh at my progress or lack of

Quote: JackDaniels2 @ January 30 2012, 2:06 PM GMT

You should check out King Of Comedy, a De Niro/Scorcese film from the eighties, which sheds some good light on the psychology of a tragic wishes-he-was-funny kind of character.

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I have just finished watching the film and it was a very interesting study of a deluded fantasist.

Thanks for the recommendation