School Of Laughs: Recent Episodes
Rik Roberts
From the aspiring comedian to the part time pro this is the podcast you've been looking for! This podcast is full of honest insight and useful information on the journey from the open mic to the sweet paying corporate gig. Shows range in format from "comedy campfires" where we swap out the fire for a mic and get to the key questions from aspiring comics to in-depth interviews with professional comedians, booking agents, managers and club owners. Led by 23 yr comedy veteran Rik Roberts (www.RikRoberts.com) as part of his School of Laughs (www.SchoolofLaughs.com) workshop series.
Today we wrap up the long-running (6 1/2 years) School of Laughs podcast!
It started in July of 2014 and has run the course of over 255 episodes. If you have a question about stand-up comedy we have covered it on this podcast.
So as we wrap, where do you go from here?
Today we talk about clearing off your schedule for upcoming goals. You can't add something new unless you subtract something from your list of tasks. What will those things be for you?
Lastly, what is your 5-10 year plan? Have you thought about how to get where you need to be to make those plans happen? We talk about a few things to consider when pursuing stand-up comedy as a career.
It's been a fun run. Thanks for listening. I hope you continue to share past episodes with your friends. Revisit topics as they become relevant for you.
(c)(p) 2022 School of Laughs Podcast
www.SchoolOfLaughs.com
www.RikRoberts.com
1-888-895-8549
Today we focus on the year ahead. What are you trying to accomplish moving forward? Yes, it's the annual goals tracker worksheet episode! You can download the Goals Tracker Worksheet .pdf by clicking HERE.
Thanks to the Patreon sponsor for this episode John Smith.
We'll cover how to set attainable goals in bite-sized pieces. Specifically, we get into goals about:
- Writing comedy
- Writing with others
- Performing on stage
- Performing Virtual
- Creating Virtual Solutions
- Updating Websites
- E-mail Newsletter Lists
- Networking Ideas
- Cultivating your Social Media following
and much, much, more!
This goals tracker worksheet is one of my go-to for really understanding if I made any progress in the previous year or not. It also helps me pinpoint what I can do better and where I should spend my time. It will do the same for you.
(C)(P) SCHOOL OF LAUGHS
WWW.SCHOOLOFLAUGHS.COM
Sharing marketing tips for comics is the one and wonderful Tracy DeGraff. After penning her first book, "Laugh Anyway Mom", Tracy took classes at The Second City in Chicago hoping to take her stories to the comedy stage.
Today, she joins us to share insights on what has worked (along with a few things that didn't) on her way to creating her one woman show. She emphasizes the need to pave your own P.R. way in order to sell tickets, bring awareness, and earn money as a comedian or speaker.
Thanks to our PATREON sponsor for this episode MAX WINFREY!
MARKETING TIPS FOR COMICS SHOW NOTES
Specifically, we talk about:
Her journey from writer to stand-up comedian/speaker
Testing her book title and getting insightful feedback
The difference between stand-up and storytelling
Trading off her expertise to learn stand-up
Taking classes at The Second City
Why she chose to self-publish
The difficulty in finding her ideal audience to test comedy
Why it took awhile for her to utilize her journalism and PR degree
How to get featured in local newspapers
Why newspapers need content
Providing everything needed to publish your story
3 Keys to getting published!
How to "reverse-engineer" your shows for maximum return
Producing her next video special
How to determine an ad budget for your own show
Capturing e-mail addresses and how to use them afterwards
The benefits of using MAILCHIMP to create email campaigns
Providing something to bookers so they remember you
and much more.
Visit her website: https://tracydegraaf.com
(c)(p) School Of Laughs.com
www.SchoolOfLaughs.com
I just wrapped up 17 shows in 27 days. I am still learning how to be a comedian, speaker, facilitator, and actor. On top of that, I have to book travel and get myself to and from the gigs. Today I am going to share with you a lesson learned from each of the events.
During the run, my shows consisted of two of my speeches, my stand-up, personal appearances, and as audience warm-up. It requires a lot of versatility and resilience. Sometimes I think those qualities are more important than talent. Probably not, but they help! Nevertheless, this episode is chock full of comedy lessons learned during the 17 events performed.
Thanks to our PATREON sponsor for this episode JOHN PETERS!
COMEDY LESSONS LEARNED - SHOW NOTES Specifically, I'll talk about:
- What Barney Fife, Realtors, and a Mexican Restaurant have in common
- A unique soundproof booth for doing a zoom interview
- How an outreach event turned into a virtual solo show
- Why being overprepared comes in handy
- A lesson in generosity
- Standing your ground to protect your health and restfulness
- Working in new material
- How a former NFL player gave me a set-up for a new joke
- What to do when a health official coughs all over your microphone
- Being appreciative of your friends and family
- Remembering to loosen up and "add the flavor"
- Making a wish and top golf
- Rolling the dice on an Uber in Atlantic City
- The accent in Boston I wasn't expecting
- Establishing off-stage relationships with clients and CEO's
- How refreshing it is to work with other comics
- Knowing your crowd and when to slow down
- How gender jokes can still work
and much more.
Folks mentioned in this episode include:
Dan Swartout [Episode 092] Let Your Style Develop
John Branyan [Episode 116] Three New Premises
Andrew Rudick
David Pendleton
Chris Cohen
===
NEVER MISS A PODCAST OR POST
If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking.
Better yet, subscribe to the monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free, useful, and fun.
Just email: SchoolOfLaughs@gmail.com and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam-free.
Today I am discussing comedy win-win opportunities with Chester Goad. I met Chester a few years ago at the BIG PODCAST conference with David Hooper. We've been in the loop ever since. During the past 18 months, we've spent many hours on coaching calls. Sometimes it is spent developing material, or creating a game plan. And always, trying to find win-win opportunities to develop his stage time and material.
Chester is also a writer and actor. A podcast host (Film Fresh and Leader Byte).
Learn more and contact Chester Goad at https://www.chesterg.com.
COMEDY WIN-WIN OPPORTUNITIES WITH CHESTER GOAD SHOW NOTES Specifically, we talk about:
- cutting your teeth on shows where patrons don't expect to see a comedian
- providing value to a venue instead of asking for stage time
- writing about what you know
- connecting with the audience through local material
- networking in a real way with other comics
- the value of encouragement
- sometimes the payoff comes later than you expect
- Gutty's Comedy Club
- The Clean Comedy Challenge
- What Chester knows about BIGFOOT
and much more.
===
NEVER MISS A PODCAST OR POST
If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking.
Better yet, subscribe to the monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free, useful, and fun.
Just email: SchoolOfLaughs@gmail.com and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam-free.
Have you thought about CREATING A COMEDY CD? Brian Kohatsu joins us today to talk about a project that had been on his list for roughly 5 years. Coivd gave him time to finally knock it out and he knocked it out of the park!
I'll play a few clips from his project "Secret Asian Man" and dig into the process for making the CD happen.
CREATING A COMEDY CD SHOW NOTES
Specifically, we talk about:
- making the project personal by including friends and family
- the need for a plan, schedule, and focus
- incorporating impressions into the album
- how he has a knack for impersonating the laughs of famous people
- using his personal skills and talent to save money and studio fees
- recording at home while the family is around
and much more.
Learn more about Brian and purchase his project at www.BrianKohatsu.com
===
NEVER MISS A PODCAST OR POST
If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking.
Better yet, subscribe to the monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free, useful, and fun.
Just email: SchoolOfLaughs@gmail.com and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam-free.
Do you struggle with memorizing your jokes? Have you ever had problems with your voice during a show? What are the pros and cons of using props or musical instruments on stage?
In this “after-school special” recorded with students from the writing class in Nashville, we discuss several techniques to help you tie your jokes together. We talk about how to save your failing voice. We go into detail about the many negatives of lugging extra things with you onstage. Also, we discuss some of the benefits of using those guitars and props.
LISTEN NOW:
Overall, this is a wide-ranging, fast-paced episode with great questions from these students.
Listen and you’ll discover:
- How a friend of mine memorizes 90 minutes of material using his house.
- How you can connect my show together with tag lines.
- What my “hourglass” approach to comedy is.
- Why I was told to “lose the guitar” – and why I’m glad I didn’t!
- What happened when Carrot Top lost his props in a fire at the club.
- Why do some comedy club managers hate dealing with props of any kind onstage?
and much more.
===
NEVER MISS A PODCAST OR POST
If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking.
Better yet, subscribe to the monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free, useful, and fun.
Just email: SchoolOfLaughs@gmail.com and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam-free.
Chris Ruppe is our guest on this episode, and he is also our Patreon sponsor. I first met Chris at a Christian Comedy Association conference. Since then he has developed material and started to think about going full time into comedy. Along those lines, Chris had some specific questions about making that move. If you are considering making comedy a full-time job, this episode is a musty listen.
CHRIS RUPPE SHOW NOTES Specifically, we talk about: * How he got started promoting shows before being a comedian * Jokes he’s working on now * Tips on finding an “extra gear” to copse your show on * Writing his closing bits * A fun way to find out who you talk about in your show * Paul Gilmartin’s “Sister Joan” poem * Tips on when to go full time in comedy * How do you navigate secular shows as a Christian comedian? * Do you think it is okay to collaborate as a comedian? * Tips on getting booked.
And much, much more.
(c)(p) 2021 Rik Roberts School of Laughs
www.SchoolOfLaughs.com
[This encore presentation of my interview with Jeanne Robertson is in honor of the late Speaker & Huomrists passing. Prayers and condolences for all those who were close to her. ]
An interview with a rock star - Jeanne Robertson!
In July of 2017, I had a great time talking with Jeanne. We discuss a career that started in the late ’60s and has carried her into the 2020s. You don’t last that 58 years in show business unless you are jaw-dropping funny. Jeanne Robertson absolutely is!
Jeanne arrived on my radar in 2015 when I heard her routines on Laugh USA (SiriusXM Satellite radio). I had never crossed paths with her at a comedy club and kept wondering “Where did this hilarious lady come from?” It turns out she comes from North Carolina and entered comedy through the speaking circuit. She’s quick to tell you she is a humorist – not a stand-up comedian. But don’t let that fool you. Her stories are full of laughs all the way to the huge surprise payoff.
With over 344,000 YouTube Subscribers and over 100 MILLION views, Jeanne grew more popular than ever.
After getting to know her for years through her routines, I finally got the chance to meet up with Jeanne at a session on humor at the National Speaker’s Association conference in Orlando, FL.
Jeanne Robertson Show Notes Specifically, we talk about:
Connecting through the National Speakers Association
Her upcoming show at the Ryman Auditorium
Watching Carol Burnett live and getting to meet her
Weaving a little audience participation into her shows
Going from the Miss North Carolina Pageant to the speaking circuit
Working in a message for her corporate audiences
Embracing the internet and catapulting her career
Getting help from Al McCree to go digital on iTunes
The difference between being a speaker and a concert entertainer
What to expect at a comedy club vs hearing a humorist
Updating and improving material that continues to grow
The origin of “Left Brain” stories based on her husband Jerry
Giving the audience permission to laugh
The process and steps she uses to develop stories
The Genie Journal and how it helps accumulate stories
How not talking about yourself can generate material
And a whole lot more!
Want to learn more about Jeanne Robertson
Jeanne’s official website http://www.jeannerobertson.com
“Don’t Send A Man To The Grocery Store” on YOUTUBE
In today's episode, Jonnie W. & Brian Bates join me. We discuss how the comedy scene is bouncing back, the latest Bo Burnham special, and how changing one line in a joke can take it to newer and sometimes better places.
This episode is sponsored by Patreon supporter Jeremy Lee. If you would like to support the podcast please visit www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon.
Specifically, we talk about:
- Are the audiences masked, stressed, or back to normal
- The vaccinated and the unvaccinated are all attending
- How the Delta Variant is causing disruption
- Venues and artists requiring audience members to be vaccinated to attend
- Bo Burnham's comedy special and how revealing it is (underwear alert)
- Our favorite parts of the special
- How technology has changed our cultural norm
- Why keeping new jokes conversational can lead to moments of discovery
- How a horrible audience can reveal your best material
- Are the first few minutes of your show super important or completely disposable?
- How Foxworthy and Leno treat their audiences
WWW.SCHOOLOFLAUGHS.COM
Join me for an encore presentation of Episode #2 of the School of Laughs podcast. This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Josh Liston. Find out how you can help us stay on the air at www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon.
Producer Gavin Miller gathered questions from a club full of aspiring comics just like yourself. When the dust settled we came up with a bunch of really specific tips to help you understand and grow your comedy career.
LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE
Below is a brief list of the topics developed just for you. Enjoy!
- The question behind everything you write.
- How to “float your jokes” when you aren’t on stage.
- How to use other characters to set up or deliver punch lines in your material.
- Shortcuts to finding your voice.
- Why putting yourself in the joke can open up more opportunities.
- Picking material when performing in a competition.
- Six keys to making your material connect with your audience.
- Show me the money! What are the average paychecks for club comics?
- Offstage moves that help you get behind the mic.
- The dangers of overstepping boundaries with bookers.
- The two kinds of club headliners.
- Why you shouldn’t let other people’s goals define YOUR success.
If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe to iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking.
Better yet, subscribe to the monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” monthly email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free, useful, and fun. Email: SchoolOfLaughs@gmail.com and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam-free.
Thanks!
Rik
oday we are joined by Thor Ramsey. Thor is the force behind the movie Church People. The film takes us inside a megachurch whose pastor is caught up in gimmicks more than the gospel. Thor’s character, Guy Sides, is a rising youth pastor who is trying to get things back to being focused on the gospel. But, his agent and his pastor are going the other direction.
The film features a great cast. Erin Cahill does a great job as the pastor's apprehensive daughter and potential love interest for Guy. Michael Monks as Skip Finney embodies the aloof, self-consumed pastor we’ve all come to be too familiar with these days. And great supporting actors abound in the likes of Joey Fatone as Tino, the worship leader who never met a phrase he didn’t want to sing. Stephen Baldwin as Chad Case, a quirky, ever-present voice of reason. And Donald Faison as Jonathan, an agent who is always chewing the money.
Also appearing are William Baldwin, Chyna Phillips, and My Pillow’s Mike Lindell.
SEPTEMBER 3rd Available on DIGITAL and DVD
Learn more at: https://churchpeoplefilm.com
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3717822/fullcredits/
Thor’s Website: www.ThorRamsey.com
Thor’s Books:
A Comedian's Guide to Theology
Broke
The Most Encouraging Book on Hell Ever
(C) (P) 2021 School of Laughs Podcast
www.SchoolofLaughs.com
CRISP AND CLEAN COMEDY COMPETITION
Welcome to the competition results episode. This showcase of clean comedy was open to all comedians. The clips ranged from stand-up, musical comedy to comedy without an audience delivered straight to the microphone. All clips submitted, as long as they were clean and clearly understandable, made it into the episode.
The 3 overall favorite submissions are included in this episode. And, the top 3 will receive:
A one-hour roundtable coaching call with Rik and the other winners,
A free SILVER Edition Comedy Writing Course,
And a free one-year subscription to Club 52. Club 52 features a weekly email with comedy challenges as well as a quarterly Zoom hangout
Thanks to all of these fine folks for their submissions:
“Chicken Hormones” Sheila Day | Nashville, TN
“Fat Baby” Dustin Crider | Atlanta, GA
“Billy Bod” Patrick Miller | Oakland, California
“Instagram” Damien Challen | Newcastle Australia
“Losing My Mind” Theodore Schmelke | Mineola NY
“Divorces vs Widows” Shell from Fort | Worth TX
“Begging for Attention” J.B. Bowman | Nashville, TN
“Random Thoughts with Gary Busey” Brian Kohatsu | Glendale, AZ
“More than A Hobby” Mark Johns | Austin, Texas
“Not Hip or Cool” Dan Bublitz Jr | St. Paul, MN
“String Theory II” Rick Reichman | Nashville, TN
“Messy House” Suzanne Linfante | Laurence Harbor, NJ
“This Guy’s Roof” Dave Pileggi | Atlanta, GA
“Leave Early Dad” Trent Babb | Fresno, California
“Teddy Bear” Matthew Clark Wyatt
“The Holy Cow” Bryan Nye | Lebanon, TN
“Unemployed Husband” Carmiya | Washington, D.C.
“Personal Training is Bullying” Uncle Nath | Newcastle Australia
“Solitary Swing Dancing” Wes Sholtes | Washington, DC
“Looking for the Wrong Women” Patrick Andonie | New Orleans, LA
“Zoom Calls” Tim Ketchersid | Dallas, TX
“The Tornado” Craig Slezak | Altamonte Springs, FL
“Tiger King” Sean Hughes | Nashville, TN
(C)(P) 2021 School of Laughs Podcast
www.SchoolOfLAughs.com
Welcome to the competition episode. This showcase of clean comedy was open to all comedians. Whether you are brand new, full-time, or fooling yourself. The clips range from stand-up, musical comedy to comedy without an audience delivered straight to the microphone. All clips submitted, as long as they were clean and clearly understandable, made it into the episode.
The clips are sixty seconds or less. After listening to the episode, you can participate in the voting!
VOTING:
Voting happens in three phases:
- The Crisp and Clean Comedy Competition episode will be posted on the School of Laughs YouTube channel and you can encourage your friends to listen and leave a comment on your behalf. Every comment stating your name or bit name will go towards your overall tally. This will account for 1/3 of your total vote.
- Each clip will be judged on a scale of 1-10 by at least three judges. Their vote will weigh 1/3 as well.
- And the final 1/3 of the score will be done by the other listeners of the show. I’ll encourage our listeners to vote for their favorite clip from the episode by choosing an entry from the list below and emailing the name of the joke or the performer in the subject line to SchoolOfLaughs@gmail.com .
The 3 overall favorite submissions will get a replay on an upcoming episode. If possible, a brief interview with the comic behind the joke will be part of the show.
VOTING ENDS July 1st. Results to appear on the July 15th episode of the podcast.
PRIZES:
Also, the top 3 will receive:
- A one-hour roundtable coaching call with Rik and the other winners,
- A free SILVER Edition Comedy Writing Course,
- And a free one-year subscription to Club 52. Club 52 features a weekly email with comedy challenges as well as a quarterly Zoom hangout
All of these details are on the SchoofLlaughs.com show notes page for this episode.
Submissions:
- “Chicken Hormones” Sheila Day | Nashville, TN
- “Fat Baby” Dustin Crider | Atlanta, GA
- “Billy Bod” Patrick Miller | Oakland, California
- “Instagram” Damien Challen | Newcastle Australia
- “Losing My Mind” Theodore Schmelke | Mineola NY
- “Divorces vs Widows” Shell from Fort | Worth TX
- “Begging for Attention” J.B. Bowman | Nashville, TN
- “Random Thoughts with Gary Busey” Brian Kohatsu | Glendale, Arizona
- “More than A Hobby” Mark Johns | Austin, Texas
- “Not Hip or Cool” Dan Bublitz Jr | St. Paul, MN
- “String Theory II” Rick Reichman | Nashville, TN
- “Messy House” Suzanne Linfante | Laurence Harbor, NJ
- “This Guy’s Roof” Dave Pileggi | Atlanta, GA
- “Leave Early Dad” Trent Babb | Fresno, California
- “Teddy Bear” Matthew Clark Wyatt
- “The Holy Cow” Bryan Nye | Lebanon, TN
- “Unemployed Husband” Carmiya | Washington, D.C.
- “Personal Training is Bullying” Uncle Nath | Newcastle Australia
- “Solitary Swing Dancing” Wes Sholtes | Washington, DC
- “Looking for the Wrong Women” Patrick Andonie | New Orleans, LA
- "Zoom Calls" Tim Ketchersid | Dallas, TX
- "The Tornado" Craig Slezak | Altamonte Springs, FL
- "Tiger King" Sean Hughes | Nashville, TN
Vote for your favorite clip from the episode by choosing an entry from the list above! E-mail the name of the joke or the performer in the subject line to SchoolOfLaughs@gmail.com .
(c)(p) www.SchoolOfLaughs.com 2021
In this episode, I will discuss the re-emergence of stand-up comedy. Battling shuttered clubs, empty showrooms, dry-docked cruise ships, and other venues it has been a tough year for comedians. I discuss a variety of things, including:
- Vaccination rates in the USA and how that affects audiences
- How some states are using Lotteries to entice vaccinations
- Which states are still seeing an increase in COIVD cases
- The effect on cruise ship comedians
- How corporate events have "sort of" bounced back
- My experiences with church events during the pandemic
- What is what like attending a live comedy show at a club
- Things I noticed flying to a show in New Orleans after 63 weeks away from the airport
- The situation with Rental Car companies and why you should be ready to pay more
- Why it may take a while to get an UBER or LYFT
- Trends in bookings, reschedulings, and cancellations
and a little bit more : )
Again, I would LOVE to hear how things are where you live. Send an email to SchoolofLaughs@gmail.com and let me know your situation and perspective.
(c)(p) www.SchoolOfLaughs.com
“Cancel Culture” is a term that has become more prevalent. In the world of comedy, it’s one step further down the path of political correctness. Today we talk about what it is, how it affects comedy, and what comedians can do to neutralize its invasion of our art form.
Webster defines cancel culture as “a way of behaving in society or group, especially on social media, in which it is common to completely reject and stop supporting someone because they have said or done something that offends you.”
But here’s here is the thing. Stand-up comedy specifically is your opinion, your thought, and your attempt to make somebody laugh. That’s what standup comedy is. It’s your opinion, your thought, your attempt to make somebody laugh. And that is important. It should be about trying to get people to laugh.
Standup comedy is an art form with its primary focus on generating laughs, but it has evolved over time into an art form that can also be used to address social issues, advance one’s agenda, or potentially lead others to change their thought or alter their beliefs.
And then evolution is the tricky part because that’s what is rubbing up against the edges of cancer culture because now you’re taking your belief system and challenging someone else’s or challenging someone else’s with yours, and you start taking a stance against things. That tension can lead to some friction, some push back.
We tackle this evolutionary overlap in today’s episode.
COUNTERING CANCEL CULTURE Specifically, we talk about:
- The definition of comedy and cancel culture
- What causes people to be offended
- How comedians leave themselves vulnerable to it
- What comics can do to prevent attacks
- The reason you need to know your target in a joke
- Different types of targets
- “The Planet is Fine” routine by George Carlin
- How to back up your opinions like George Carlin
- What I think about Ruth’s Chris Steak House
- Why you should work on your craft
- What Jon Stewart thinks about Thanksgiving
- How assumption and cancel culture go hand in hand
And a whole lot more!
(c)(p) 2021 The Rik Roberts School of Laughs
www.SchoolOfLaughs.com
Crisp and Clean Comedy Competition Guidelines
This showcase of clean comedy is open to all comedians. Whether you are brand new, full-time, or fooling yourself.
Here’s how it will work.
The clip can be stand-up, sketch, musical comedy - as long as it is clean and clearly understandable.
Send your TV CLEAN audio clip, 60 seconds or less to SchoolofLaughs@gmail.com before May 21st.
In your email make sure you put:
- Your name,
- The name of the joke,
- Where you are based,
- How long you have performed comedy.
I’ll do a quick listen for clarity and audio quality.
All clean clips, with good laughs and quality audio, will appear together in an upcoming episode of the podcast. So, it's important I have your name and joke name to introduce the comedy clip.
Voting happens in three phases.
- The Crisp and Clean Comedy Competition episode will be posted on the School of Laughs YouTube channel and you can encourage your friends to listen and leave a comment on your behalf. Every comment will go towards your overall tally. This will account for 1/3 of your total vote.
- Each clip will be judged on a scale of 1-10 by at least three judges. Their vote will weigh 1/3 as well.
- And the final 1/3 of the score will be done by the other listeners of the show. I’ll encourage our listeners to vote for their favorite clip from the episode by visiting the School Of Laughs website and clicking their vote in a form.
The 3 overall favorite submissions will get a replay on an upcoming episode as well as a brief interview with the comic behind the joke.
Also, the top 3 will receive:
- A one-hour roundtable coaching call with Rik and the other winners,
- A free Silver Edition Comedy Writing Course,
- And a free one-year subscription to Club 52. Club 52 features a weekly email with comedy challenges as well as a quarterly Zoom hangout.
So, when you have your Crisp and Clean Comedy Competition clip ready:
- send it to SchoolOfLaughs@gmail.com .
- In the subject line put “Crisp and Clean Comedy Clip”.
- Make sure the clip is under 60 seconds
- And in a wave or mp3 file. (I cannot rip audio from your YouTube clip or do the editing for you.)
All entrants will be notified prior to the initial episode that they have made the “cut”. I guarantee I will listen to all the clips but cannot guarantee that they will all make the cut. So, do your best to make it funny, clean, and under a minute.
All of these details are on the SchooOflaughs.com show notes page for this episode.
Good luck and I can’t wait to hear from you.
Have you ever wondered what it takes to produce a movie, write a jingle, or land Bob Dylan's manager? Well, today you are in luck! I have a pod-swap interview with Rick Altizer.
Not only is Rick an incredibly good friend, but we also share an office! Over the years I've learned a lot about his character, his dedication to his work, and his incredible focus. I thought you would find his story interesting and inspirational.
Join me as I sit down and talk with Rick Altizer about what he has learned from his years in show business. Specifically, we talk about his run as a film director of such movies as Russ Taff - I Still Believe, and three projects with Chonda Pierce - "Enough", "Laughing In The Dark" and "Unashamed".
Currently, Rick is working on a movie for the Kendrick Brothers (War Room, Courageous, Fire Proof) titled "Show Me the Father". In the discussion, we talk about the gravity of story in films that can also be applied to your stand-up. We also dig into the nuts and bolts of organizing hours of material into a tangible product. Film Maker Rick Altizer Show Notes: * Rick's early years as a rock-n-roller * How Bob Dylan's manager took him on * Why he didn't get a deal with Sony * The healthy lesson of finding your identity * Finding a business partner to complement his creativity * His work with Chonda Pierce * How a plan for a 5-minute demo turned into a documentary * Learning how to edit a movie * The burden of expectation * Looking at disappointments objectively
And a whole lot more!
THANKS TO OUR PATREON SPONSOR:
Thanks to John Smith for being our Patreon sponsor for this episode. You can learn more about supporting the podcast by visiting THIS LINK.
More with Rick Altizer: And if you like this episode, you may want to check out Rick's previous visit to the podcast on Episode 119 Stand-Up Comedy Examined.
Visit his website: http://www.rickaltizer.com
(c)(p) The Rik Roberts School of Laughs
www.SchoolOfLaughs.com
Have you ever wondered what goes through a comedian’s mind when they tell a joke that doesn’t work? Whether you’re an aspiring comedian or a hardcore comedy nerd, The Art of Bombing Podcast has something for everyone. From useful comedy insight to entertaining stories of bombing and failure told by the comedians that lived through them.
Join Rik Roberts as he sits down and talks with comedian Dan Bublitz Jr about what he has learned from his interviews. After talking with comedians of all levels from across the country he has some great insights.
Show Notes: * Different comedy communities from South Dakota to St. Paul, MN * What it's like being new to a comedy scene even though you aren't new to comedy * Moving to the Midwest to be closer to road work * Rick Bronson's House of Comedy https://moa.houseofcomedy.net * Acme Comedy Company http://www.acmecomedycompany.com * The Joke Joint * Working out material at other rooms before the comedy club open mic * Approaching political comedy topics as a neutral POV * Christopher Titus
And a whole lot more!
THANKS TO OUR PATREON SPONSOR:
Thanks to Josh Liston for being our Patreon sponsor for this episode. You can learn more about supporting the podcast by visiting THIS LINK.
More about Dan Bublitz: And if you like this episode, you may want to check out Dan's "The Art of Bombing Podcast" which takes an in-depth look at bombing on stages around the world to turn failure into success, perhaps, with a laugh or two along the way.
Check out this episode with Alonzo Boden: https://theartofbombing.libsyn.com/size/5/?search=alonzo+
Or this one with Andrew Deans: https://theartofbombing.libsyn.com/the-art-of-bombing-episode-50-andrew-deans
Maybe listen to my first episode with Dan: https://theartofbombing.libsyn.com/the-art-of-bombing-episode-59-rik-roberts
The Art of Bombing Podcast was created in 2017 by Dan Bublitz Jr. after he bombed so badly at a private gig that he almost quit comedy. Instead of quitting he decided to talk about failure with other performers to see how they use their failure to succeed.
(C)(P) 2021 Rik Roberts School of Laughs
This is the follow-up podcast to episode 235 where I shared my process of preparing for my last recording. You can listen to that podcast HERE.
In this episode, I review the live recording. Offering up insights into my thinking for choosing certain jokes, we talk about what went well and what could have been different. We start off by listening to the set.
If you prefer, you can watch the set to see the facial expressions, etc., at this link: https://vimeo.com/518305058
We cover a lot in this episode, including:
Leading up to show * My "purpose" for the set * The jokes I chose to set up my P.O.V. (Point of View) * Having to abandon a call back because of a change in a set order * Using the process of conditional logic to create material * Using a technique that enables me to "pick on" someone * Examples of rhymes, alliteration, and visual images * Being extremely current * Experimenting the day of the recording
And much more.
You may have a different process for getting ready. Feel free to comment below and help others. This is the first of two parts of the podcast. Episode 236 will include the recording of the set and my reactions to it. You can listen to it by clicking here.
Thanks to Kevin Hardy for being our Patreon sponsor for this episode. You can learn more about supporting the podcast by visiting THIS LINK.
(C) (P) 2021 Rik Roberts School of Laughs
www.RikRoberts.com
Preparing for a live comedy recording involves choosing your jokes, timing out the set, editing, making segues, practicing it live, and more. Today I share the process I went through for my last recording. Things were a little different this time due to COVID-19. But the overall approach is still similar to the way I have done it in the past.
We cover a lot in this episode, including:
Leading up to show * Determining the audience * Understanding language and content guidelines * Defining the set length * Thinking about your PURPOSE behind the set * Thinking about how you will RE-PURPOSE the set * Choosing your jokes * Establishing your P.O.V. (Point of View) * Tips on timing out your routine * Practicing your set * Rewriting * Editing * Having a few extra short jokes in your back pocket
Day of Show * Getting mentally ready through rest and planned distraction * Giving yourself a margin for arriving on time * Stage clothes * Producers, makeup, and releases * Getting wired up * Hydrating * Eye on the camera or the audience? * Oh yeah, having fun!
You may have a different process for getting ready. Feel free to comment below and help others. This is the first of two parts of the podcast. Episode 236 will include the recording of the set and my reactions to it.
(c)(p) 2021 School of Laughs
www.SchoolOfLaughs.com
Over the past few weeks, I've received a handful of questions from listeners. I thought I would share the answers with everyone. The questions are ...
- Do you think comedy will return to the way it was before the virus?
- What books do you recommend to comedians?
- What are some crowd work tips?
- When do you make money in comedy?
LISTEN NOW:
Thanks to Bill Conger for sponsoring today's podcast through PATREON.
(c) (p) www.SchoolOfLaughs.com
Today I am happy to introduce you to my friend Dan Rupple. As a respected comedy writer, producer, and speaker, Dan has been featured on NBC Nightly News, CNN, FOX News, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Dallas Morning News, Radio America, and more.
Show Notes * How did he get started in comedy? * What is Isaac Air Freight? * His spiritual quest as a young man * Working with Bob Barker and The Price is Right * Supervising Producer duties on David Letterman * How to buy a carload of tacos * Why David Letterman won't hug you * Keys to being a great interviewer * Getting a private comedy show from Carol Burnett * How he became CEO of Master Media International * His web series and podcast Life Off-Screen
and a whole lot more!
Thanks to Chelle Baxter for sponsoring today's podcast through PATREON.
Facebook Pixels and YouTube Shorts Today I learn about Facebook pixels and Youtube Shorts with Zack Lyman. Zack is a funny comic out of Phoenix. When not on stage, he consults on marketing projects for companies and individuals. We tap into that expertise today to find out how we should be using Facebook Pixels in conjunction with ads to drive traffic and actions on our website.
There are a lot of things to learn. But don't worry, Zack explains it in a very tangible way. In fact, you can download his free e-book on his system for running ads in conjunction with Facebook Pixels.
https://www.marketingbeaver.com/ebook/
I also wanted to pick his brain on YouTube Shorts. This new Youtube option is still in beta testing mode. In short, it's YouTube's way of supporting vertical phone videos. TikTok and Instagram Stories are very popular. Now Youtube is playing catch up to find a way to include these types of videos on their platform. We talk about the benefits for a comedian to use YouTube Shorts as a way to increase visibility and subscribers.
This episode is brought to you by Patreon sponsor Ray Price! If you would like to help support the podcast visit www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon
Show Notes:
- Zack's days in Louisville, KY
- How Facebook pixels help you understand your audience
- The benefits of retargeting someone who clicks your ad
- Empty carts and how to increase conversions
- The natural factor of distraction with Facebook
- Where to start with Facebook ads
- The types of ad goals and how to maximize their potential
- Calls to action
- What is Youtube Short?
- The benefit of YouTube Shorts over Instagram and TikTok
- Being smart about your descriptions and keywords
- Why YouTube Shorts are worth some focus
(C)(P) School Of Laughs
www.SchoolOfLaughs.com
Today we review the year that was, the year ahead, and what we are trying to accomplish moving forward. Yes, it's the annual goals tracker episode! If you aren't a member of the Insider Tip Sheet Newsletter, you'll want to shoot an email to schooloflaughs@gmail.com and request to be added. This episode comes with a .pdf that is only available to Club 52 and Insider Tip sheet members.
We'll cover how to set attainable goals in bite-sized pieces. Specifically, we get into goals about:
- Writing comedy
- Writing with others
- Performing on stage
- Performing Virtual
- Creating Virtual Solutions
- Updating Websites
- E-mail Newsletter Lists
- Networking Ideas
- Cultivating your Social Media following
and much, much, more!
This goals tracker worksheet is one of my go-to for really understanding if I made any progress in the previous year or not. It also helps me pinpoint what I can do better and where I should spend my time. It will do the same for you.
Today I answer questions about comedy as I am interviewed by Josh Liston, host of Tips of the Slung and Punching Sideways podcasts. Josh is an avid listener of the School of Laughs podcast and noticed I left a few topics uncovered. He noted that occasionally I will say, "one day I should do a whole episode on that topic". But ... sometimes I never do. So, he made some notes and asks me to resolve those unanswered questions.
If Josh's voice sounds familiar, he was featured on Episode 216 "How Coivd Affects Comedy Across the Globe". In that show, I talked with folks in seven countries to find out what the lockdowns had done to their comedy scene.
So what questions about comedy do I finally answer?
What is the difference between skill and passion?
What goes into a comedy rider? What is the difference between sarcasm and comedy?
How do you identify your weaknesses as a comedian?
What groups like Toast Masters are there available to people who want to get extra stage time or story-telling experience?
What do you do when you have a joke that isn't like the rest of the act?
Virtual gigs, drive-ins, outdoor parking lots ... is this what it has come down to? I discuss the options for comedians with former students Brain Bates and Jonnie W.
If 2020 has taught us anything it is this: "adapt or die." There just aren't as many inside gigs as usual. If you want to earn some money you have to get outside your comfort zone. To keep your comedy chops sharp that may include some unconventional settings. This year Brian opened for Nate Bargatze at drive-in theaters. Johnnie W. did a few outdoor shows. I am doing more and more virtual gigs. It's not going to be the same as a packed comedy club. That's okay. Those aren't happening right now.
So we share what is working and what isn't in this mid-pandemic climate.
DRIVE-INS, PARKING LOTS AND VIRTUAL GIGS SHOW NOTES In this episode, we discuss:
- The challenges of performing at Drive-Ins
- Gigantic trains
- How timing is affected at a Drive-In Show
- Comedy IS confidence
- Sharing a tour bus during COVID
- Recording a Netflix Special in a pandemic
- Crowds that go "tight"
- Vaccines
- Brians "Quarantine Video" Video
- Johnnie W. and the cabbie from Bangladesh
- Creative Virtual Gigs
- Comics who reinvented themselves lockdown
- Using free time for getting healthier
- Staying faithful to God
And much, much, more!
This episode is all about YOU!
That’s right. It’s time to pause and recalibrate. The podcast is going on its 7th year in 2021 and I want to make sure it still serves a purpose for you. It started out as a weekly comedy class-style show. Then evolved into an interview format. Where do we go from here? It’s up to you. Let me know how I can serve you the best. Is it with micro lessons? Is it with behind scenes look at joke writing? Some kind of combination? I'm all ears. Except for my big mouth. ALSO … What are YOU thankful for during the pandemic? Have you had time to accomplish some major undertakings that you couldn’t have done with a full schedule? Did you create something cool? Write a book? Finish a video series? Let me know. I want to share it with our listeners. What do YOU not miss about the old ways of doing stand-up comedy? For me, it’s the airport. I don’t miss shuffling around the Hudson News Bookstore trying to kill a 3 hr layover in Denver. And, what can YOU hardly wait to do again when this thing is under control? What was your favorite part of business as usual? I miss seeing my friends do shows. I love watching buddies crush it onstage as much as I like watching them experiment with new material and take chances. I have held off from going to clubs out of a responsibility to my family. But I look forward to doing it again next year. What can’t YOU wait to do again? Send your thoughts to me at schooloflaughs@gmail.com. I will share them in the next episode. Thanks for listening,
Rik
In this episode, I get to catch up with a former student, June Colson.
I met June in 2017 at the Christian Comedy Association annual conference. She was eager to learn comedy but still wasn’t sure if she was in the right place. After meeting some fellow comedians with similar interests she decided to give it a go. Lucky for us. If she hadn’t, we wouldn’t know about all the crazy characters in her life. June crafts great stories featuring her family members – especially “Hot Dog”.
June was born in Indiana and now resides in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In 2020, she took first place in the Nashville Clean Comedy Challenge. The annual competition put together by Leslie Norris Townsend
Her faith in Christ has a huge influence on the cleanliness of her performance and her calling into Christian Comedy.
In this episode, we discuss
or CLICK HERE
JUNE COLSON SHOW NOTES Today we talk about a variety of things, specifically:
- How we first met
- Her participation in my comedy classes
- The influence of good comedy friends
- The Clean Comedy Challenge
- What to do when your real life is almost unbelievable
- The support from her husband
- The Write Ten club with Joel Byars
And much, much, more!
Learn more about June Colson at: https://www.junecolson.com
https://www.facebook.com/june.colson
(C) (P) RIK ROBERTS SCHOOL OF LAUGHS
WWW.SCHOOLOFLAUGHS.COM
In this episode, I get to discuss the history of The Onion with founding member Scott Dikkers. Dikkers helped found the original Onion newspaper. He’s served as The Onion’s owner and editor-in-chief, on and off, for much of the last quarter-century. In 1996 Scott founded the website, TheOnion.com .
In the mid-2000s, Scott headed up the creation of "The Onion News Network" web series, serving as a director and executive producer. The series gave rise to many viral videos and a TV series on IFC. The web shorts won a Peabody Award in 2008.
Scott led The Onion’s rise from a small, unknown college humor publication to an internationally respected comedy brand. He gathered a talented team of writers and editors over the years, working with them to develop The Onion’s culture of creative freedom and brutal honesty, its distinct comic voice, and its reliable process for generating award-winning satire, day after day.
In this episode, we discuss the evolution of the Onion and quite a bit more.
Today we talk about a variety of ideas, specifically:
- Early funny TV that caught his eye
- Digging Dr. Seuss
- Difference between MAD and Cracked magazine
- An interesting way that Steve Martin's book Cruel Shoes affected him
- Conner O'Malley and his unique approach to comedy
- New publications like the Babylon Bee
- Niching down into satire and parody
- How a lawyer went from trying to sue the Onion, to becoming a lawyer for the Onion
- Hiring people to do the things you don't like to do
- A typical publication week at the ONION
- Advice on direction from Baratunde Thurston
- How Drupal editing almost killed creativity
- The Onion news segment on Dana Carvey Show hosted by Stephen Colbert
- The many "almost breakthroughs" while scaling The Onion's reach
- How a beginner can approach comedy
- My story about milk and Emo Phillips
And much, much, more!
Notable Quotes: "Nothing inspires me more than when I see something that's not good."
"One of the highest compliments we can pay to a bit, or a joke or whatever is, oh, that's so stupid."
On hiring new writers: "Early on, I would take anybody, anybody who came in and showed some eagerness to do it like that was the commodity. The commodity wasn't the writing talent. The commodity is “who's willing to step forward and say, I will try it, I will do it?”
On people wanting to write for The Onion
"I don't understand why all these people submitting to The Onion don't just start their own publication."
On getting started in comedy writing:
"It's such a slow, gradual process of starting to do something new and learning a new skill which writing comedy is. It can be tricky for people to get started and see any progress because most people are terrible at it when they start any new skill and comedy writing is no different."
"if you don't love it, you'll never succeed at it because you need that love to propel you through those early years when you're stuck."
Where can I find info on Scott Dikkers and his comedy classes? www.HowtoWriteFunny.com
www.ScottDikkers.com
(C) (P) 2020
THIS PODCAST IS A PRODUCTION OF THE RIK ROBERTS SCHOOL OF LAUGHS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Learn how to generate creative comedy with Josh Harris. Josh is a talented, creative stand-up comedian. He expresses his vision through music, video, and sketch comedy. Josh provides a great example of how stand-up can evolve off-stage. His high energy performances are more like a one-man show in quality. With over 10 million views of his hilarious sketches online, he can definitely offer some insight for you.
Ways Josh Creates Material
Today we talk about a variety of ideas, specifically:
How he got started
Overcoming addictions
Jerry Farber
How he develops ideas
Taking twenty jokes and creating a song
Using music at different points in the show
Cool versus cost-effectiveness
Critical advice on a cruise ship that helped him improve
His commitment to writing and recording
Cleaning up his act on and off stage
Approaching testimony in a live comedy show
Being project-based versus daily discipline
The benefit of writing by pen and paper
How he produces music
The value of collaboration
Teaching comedy classes
Creating multiple full comedy shows
Staying faithful always
Listening to God's plan
Difference between Foxworthy and Leno
And much, much, more!
A little background on comedian Josh Harris
Josh was a semi-finalist on Bill Bellamy’s Who’s Got Jokes. In 2009 he competed in the finals of Stand Up for Diversity.
He performed a nationally televised comedy set for Bounce TV’s “Off The Chain”. He has also appeared on TBN, The cartoon network, and the History channel. His 2015 musical comedy album “I’m Here You’re Welcome hit #3 on the iTunes comedy charts.
In 2015 he released his debut musical comedy album “I’m Here You’re Welcome.” It hit #3 on the iTunes comedy charts.
If you are booking a 12 step event, reach out today to set up a hilarious evening of recovery comedy your crowd will remember forever!
Josh gives all the credit to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the source of his peace, joy, and many blessings.
VISIT FUNNYJOSH.COM FOR MORE ON JOSH HARRIS
VISIT WWW.SCHOOLOFLAUGHS.COM FOR MORE ON COMEDY CLASSES
Sword Swallower Dan Meyer grew up as a scared, shy, skinny, wimpy kid who was teased and beat up by the bullies. He convinced himself that someday he would perform superhuman feats, DO the IMPOSSIBLE, and change the world.
And he did! Today Dan mixes danger, laughter, and swords to defy death with a smile. And as he does … he inspires audiences to do the impossible in their lives.
I first found out about Dan when he contacted me about taking the online writing course this past spring. As we talked I could tell this guy had an incredible love for life and desire to constantly up his game. My kind of dude! Then I learned even more about his sword swallowing and his accomplishments.
Dan has performed in 50 countries and was given the title of “World’s TOP Sword Swallower” by Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
Dan holds 40 World Records, has appeared on the Today Show, the finals of America’s Got Talent, Italy’s Got Talent, France’s Got Talent, and Israel’s Got Talent.
In 2007, Dan won the 2007 Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine at Harvard; and his viral TED Talk “Cutting through Fear” has been translated into over 80 languages as the “Most Translated TED Talk” in the world.
Dan’s goal is to challenge others to think beyond the obvious, stretch beyond their limitations, dream bigger than they ever thought possible,
and dare to do the impossible in their lives.
Learn more about sword swallower Dan Meyer at www.CuttingEdgeInnertainment.com
Specifically, we talk about:
- Establishing a life goal or Throme
- How Dan uses the rule of threes in structuring his show
- Focusing on serving the audience
And much, much more!
THANKS
Thanks to our Patreon sponsor for this episode Lauren Aynsley.
This podcast is a production of the Rik Roberts School of Laughs. (C)(P) 2020 All rights reserved. Learn more at www.SchoolofLauhgs.com.
OVERCOMING STAGE FRIGHT Today we make a call all the way to Scotland to talk about overcoming stage fright. Elissa Di Napoli is the best-selling author of “Dare to Be Seen” from Stage Fright to Stage Presence. She helps performing artists command the stage and magnify their presence. By doing so, they can share their gifts with their audience and shine their light on the world. She has been featured on radio, podcasts, blogs, and online magazines. As a musician and performer, she has insights on overcoming fright.
There are so many things to consider when taking the stage. We should consider a few ways to prepare before we get under the spotlight. As a hypnotherapist, she found ways to address the fear and saw results. She is as passionate about helping you deal with stage fright as she is performing.
Specifically, we talk about:
- What "didn't work" for her initially
- How Improvisation helps with stage fright
- How to "warm-up" before a performance to take control of the situation
- Being connected to your subject matter
- The role of the Amygdala in processing fear
- What is happening during a panic attack
- The role of pre-show aerobic exercise
- How to ground yourself like a tree
- How diaphragmatic breathing affects the nervous system
- The freedom of a "giving" mindset
- How to address a show where the other performers have created a bad situation
- Using disruption as an opportunity
- Focusing on being in the moment
And much, much more!
FREE RESOURCES FOR SCHOOL OF LAUGHS LISTENERS!!!
Please take advantage of these offerings from Elissa!
https://hypnotichealing.co.uk/schooloflaughs (FREE BOOK)
https://hypnotichealing.co.uk/getonlinecourse (HER COURSE)
THANKS
Thanks to our Patreon sponsor for this episode Rhonda Corey. Check out her "Talk is Cheap" Show. Learn how you can support the podcast HERE.
This podcast is a production of the Rik Roberts School of Laughs. (C)(P) 2020 All rights reserved. Learn more at www.SchoolofLauhgs.com.
CREATING A TV SHOW with JIM HOPE Today we are talking about creating a TV show with my friend Jim Hope. He's a whiz who writes, performs, and produces comedy. I first met Jim when I performed on the Henry Cho Show on Great American Country (GAC Cable TV). He was a co-writer and producer and I could tell a smart guy. I caught him again a few years later performing on the showcase for the Christian Comedy Association in Los Angeles. And then one morning I was watching the Disney Channel with my kids and his name popped up as the co-executive producer for "Dog with a Blog."
I reached out to Jim in the early phase of the COVID-19 crisis because I figured it might be the only time I could reign in the busy man. And we all benefit from the conversation. Jim gives us a lot to think about.
Jim Hope Show Notes Specifically, we talk about:
- His early goal of being a college professor just like his grandfather
- How he got a little burned out with college and tried stand-up
- The pros and cons of starting comedy in Los Angeles
- How performing on stage is like being naked
- When comedians start to "build their armor"
- Opening for Tim Allen, Gilbert Gottfried, Chris Rock, and Damon Wayans
- Getting tips early on from Ellen Degeneres
- Why you shouldn't try to be Jerry Seinfeld
- What motivates him to keep doing comedy
- Developing a show for Disney Jr., and an animated adult show
- Teaching at Chapman University
- Creating a TV show
- The types of comedy tropes
- "Helpers and obstacles"
- Breaking down the characters on "The Office"
- The ideal length of a comedy show
And much, much more!
This podcast is a production of the Rik Roberts School of Laughs. (C)(P) 2020 All rights reserved. Learn more at School of Lauhgs.com
I am extremely excited to share with you some storytelling tips for speakers with Dave Bricker. Dave is an experienced speaker, trainer, and coach. Even more cool is he is a sailor! In fact, he combines his love of sailing with storytelling and is able to help people tell remarkable stories—through writing, speaking, graphic design, video, technology, and music. If you want to say it, share it, or sell it, bring me your story; Dave can help you tell it.
I talk with Dave about how speakers and comedians can use storytelling to get their points across. It’s interesting to hear how Dave uses the sea as a metaphor to help people learn how to get their messages and stores told.
By the time Dave graduated college, he was living aboard his own tiny sailboat. Soon after graduation, he set sail for the Bahamas with a locker full of food and dreams … and $40 in his pocket.
[Thanks to Ray Price for being the Patreon sponsor for this episode. Learn more about the benefits of sponsoring at www.SchoolOflaughs.com/Patreon.]
His voyages took him up and down the Bahamas, up the east coast of the US to Chesapeake Bay, and across the Atlantic to Gibraltar. He ran aground, dealt with mechanical breakdowns, got seasick more than once, slept in a volcano, survived powerful storms, and returned to the land of clocks and calendars with characters and stories of his own. This rich background makes him an incredible resource and an expert of storytelling tips for speakers.
Some of my favorite speakers are excellent at telling stories. If you love this style of comedy be sure to listen to my interview with Jeanne Robertson.
STORYTELLING TIPS WITH DAVE BRICKER We get into the nitty gritty of storytelling. Specifically we talk about:
- How sailing is probably safer than your daily commute
- The characters you meet in a marina
- How to sleep standing up while captaining a boat
- Tips on noting characters and stories in the moment
- How a story represents a journey from conflict to transformation
- Why anti-smoking ads fail
- Why you don’t want to have an unfinished symphony
- What speaking is really about (clue – it isn’t YOU)
- The freedom that comes with knowing the difference between storytelling and journalism
- What to include in a story
- What you should leave out of a story
- Steps along the arc of a story
- Why conflict should be authentic and believable
- Why struggles are key for you and your audience
- Why great stories should have a clear outcome
This podcast is a production of www.SchoolOfLaughs.com (c)(p)
On this episode we are talking college comedy with Eric O'Shea. Colleges have entertainment budgets and seek out comedians, bands and other performers to fill their schedule. Could you fill your schedule with college work?
Eric breaks down what you need in terms of material, personality, flexibility and longevity.
If you are curious what it takes to break into the college comedy scene this is a great listen! Our guest shares insight on the National Association For Activities . He reveals what it takes to connect with 18-21 year olds year after year. Even as you get into your 50's. In this episode "College comedy with Eric O'Shea " he also discuss the magic that can happen at a NACA regional conference.
And if you want to learn more about the college market, be sure to listen to Episode 149 Summit Comedy Inc. . On that episode I discuss the college market from the perspective a college agent with Chuck Johnson.
College Comedy with Eric O'Shea Show Notes We discuss a lot, including ...
- How a guy calling Bingo numbers inspired his comedy career
- His niche within the niche of the college market
- Embracing the need to be clean and respectful and still generate laughs
- Connecting with a younger audience
- The types of kids who typically show up at a college gig
- A gig we did together in Victoria British Columbia
- What he likes about Savannah, GA and Billings, MT
- Being a positive role model
- Writing a book about college comedy
and a whole lot more!
Thanks to Wayne Fitzpatrick, our Patreon sponsor for this episode. If you would like to supportive podcast through a small, recurring monthly donation check out THIS LINK.
CLASSES AVAILABLE ONLINE
Remember you can always jump into a stand-up comedy writing course online through the school of laughs. Just click the online comedy classes link to learn more.
This podcast is a production of The Rik Roberts School of Laughs. www.SchoolofLaughs.com
Today I talk with Chris Wineland, the author of “The Great Heckle.” Chris popped on my radar when her performed on the Huckabee show in Nashville.
He’s a busy guy. He has written for Emmy Nominated “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” Pursuing his love of late night comedy, Chris co-created the acclaimed Christian late night show “Next Week with Jeff Durbin.”Most recently, Chris can be heard on the #1 weekend radio show to 6 million listeners on “The Kim Komando Show.”
We cover more than just the book in the interview, way more.
Specifically we talk about:
CHRIS WINELAND SHOW NOTES * Making your social media a bigger focus * Going from 62 to 5000 followers on Instagram in three * Putting jokes out online * The power of having social proof in a big city * His Starbucks sensitivity training parody video * MEMES as a form of comedy * Digging your own niche trench * Overproduced videos versus authenticity * The benefit of having internet trolls * First comedy special * https://bit.ly/ChrisWinelandYoutube his free comedy special * Creating your own content * Producing your own event * How he got his gig on the Kim Commando show * Next Week with Jeff Durbin * Taking classes with Second City * Why his book took five years to write * Jesus was the greatest performer * Five ways comedians can be like Jesus
Follow Chris! You can click through all his socials at: linktr.ee/chriswinelandcomedy
(c)(p) School of Laughs
MOODY MOLAVI joins us today to talk comedy. Specifically we talk about:
MOODY MOLAVI SHOW NOTES
- Getting started in Chattanooga
Crashing cars and motorcycles
Learning about trigger words in a joke
Using his background for stage material
His desire to perform for the military
Doing his DryBar comedy special
Going on the road with Killer Baez
and much, much more!
The Patreon sponsor for the episode is Bo Shuster.
To learn how you can support the podcast go to www.SchoolOflaughs.com /Patreon.
Learn more about Moody at www.MoodyMolavi.com
This is a production of the Rik Roberts School of Laughs
All Rights Reserved 2020 (C) (P)
On today’s podcast I talk with Dan LeFave. Dan is a business success coach for experienced and motivated entrepreneurs at the "Shortcut To Success".
Dan’s specialty is empowering six and seven figure business owners to shift from being overwhelmed & disorganized to in control & systematized. He can help you focus on Business Mindset, Strategic Productivity, Business Growth & Systemization.
Dan LeFave discusses following your gut and exploring opportunities. New paths can lead to new skills. New skills can prepare you for the next stage in your growth as an entrepreneur.
We discuss his journey from university all the way to where he is today teaching and coaching people to play to the top of their game through taking strategic actions. As a father of three, prioritizing and strategizing comes in handy at home as well at work.
Dan LeFave shares how mindset and beliefs can be changed to create new direction and success.
Dan LeFave Show Notes
Among many things, we talk about the following:
- Learning customer service working for his Dad, a butcher
- Working at a large telecom company he handled $25 million projects
- How a parental leave with his second child led to a mindset shift
- The impact of Og Mandino and the Ten Scrolls
- Dave Blanchard https://ogmandino.com/about-us/
- How Bob Proctor helped lead him into coaching
- Co-authoring Stepping Stones to Success
- Why reasoning is different from the other five mental faculties
- How we reflect our childhood experiences (good or bad)
- How to re-write our story if it isn’t headed where we want
- Looking for new streams of revenue
- The emotional cycle of change developed
- Habit Gravity
- Our inner and outer “worlds”
- How you can get his free tool the profitable progression planner.
And much, much more!
FREE GIFT!!! Dan has gifted my listeners with a free profitable progression planner. Go here to sign up and download this great tool today!
danlefave.com/profitableplanner
Learn more about Dan LeFave at www.DanLefave.com
SAVE ON ALL CLASSES THROUGH JUNE 30, 2020!!! The Online Stand-Up Comedy Writing course is for anyone who wants to earn how to write stand-up comedy. Whether you are starting from square one, or trying to become better at the craft this is the best course for you! Class levels vary depending on the amount of interaction you wish with the instructor. Full descriptions available by clicking HERE.
The Master Laughter Class is designed for speakers who want to add more humor to their programs. You'll learn specific formulas and strategies to punch up your program, kick up your keynote or supercharge your sermon with laughs. Class levels vary depending on the amount of interaction you wish with the instructor. Full descriptions at MasterLaughterClass.com
Since the COVID-19 virus popped on the scene live entertainment has taken a major blow. Who can crowd surf with ten people spread six feet apart anyway? Comedy has taken the punch and has had difficulty delivering the punchline back. Entertainers in every country are affected. But are they all affected the same way? Today I get to speak with folks from six different countries to see how COVID-19 has directly impacted them. I share a little from my perspective here in the USA as we talk.
All the folks on the show have either taken a course from the SCHOOL OF LAUGHS, or I met through the podcast. The only exception is our first guest. My friend Miggy lives in China about nine hours East of the Wuhan wet markets where this all started. Mig was a comedian at the very first show I ever did. We were later roommates. He’s always been the smartest guy I know and is now a teacher in China.
In all we cover over 32 thousand miles / or nearly 52 thousand kilometers on the podcast today!
Thanks to our Patreon sponsor for this episode Club 52 member Victoria Day.
We cover a lot in this episode, including …
HOW COVID-19 AFFECTS COMEDY SHOW NOTES: * How comedians are still being creative during COIVD-19 * Using social media, memes, Tik-Tok to lighten things up * China’s big expectation for the virus later this year * The comedy scenes in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia * Starting comedy right when the doors closed to shows * A peek into Australian health care * How one comedian wrote a book to help people cope with the lockdown * The New Zealand comedy scene * The difficulty in doing online comedy zoom shows, etc., * Poland’s growing comedy scene * One thing comedy is good for across the globe * A bit about the Comedy International Conference * Amsterdams pre-Covid 19 comedy boom * Insight into the Edinburg Fringe Festival * The abundance of comedy stages in England * Handling kids in quarantine
And a whole lot more!
Learn more about our guests ... * Laura Bruce's book "Lockdown Living" check out the Amazon link: https://amzn.to/351gcYO * Martin Huburn visit www.martinhuburn.comor follow him on Twitter @mhuburn * Martin mentioned two of his favorite English comedians Darren Harriott and Joe Lycett * Josh Liston check out his website https://JCALdigital.org * Joshua Wildenberg visit his website: www.CausticComedy.com * Kamil Maleszyk mentioned several of Poland's best comedians. Including Rafal Paczes, Lukas Lotek Lotowski, Mateusz Soha, Abelard Giza, and Stand-Up Polska
SAVE ON ALL CLASSES THROUGH JUNE 30, 2020!!! The Online Stand-Up Comedy Writing course is for anyone who wants to earn how to write stand-up comedy. Whether you are starting from square one, or trying to become better at the craft this is the best course for you! Class levels vary depending on the amount of interaction you wish with the instructor. Full descriptions available by clicking HERE.
The Master Laughter Class is designed for speakers who want to add more humor to their programs. You'll learn specific formulas and strategies to punch up your program, kick up your keynote or supercharge your sermon with laughs. Class levels vary depending on the amount of interaction you wish with the instructor. Full descriptions at MasterLaughterClass.com
MARYELLEN HOOPER joins us today on the School of Laughs podcast. A veteran in the world of stand-up, Maryellen Hooper’s comedy has taken her from clubs and colleges to theaters and television.
She’s appeared on many late night talk shows including several appearances on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno. Her half-hour special on Comedy Central called “Lounge Lizards” received rave reviews and was played on heavy rotation. In 1998, the comedy industry awarded Maryellen “Funniest Female Stand-Up Comic” at the American Comedy Awards. Recently, the Walt Disney Company has asked Maryellen to perform on all four of its beautiful cruise ships.
With the recent postponement of large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, Maryellen has to adjust like all other comedians. The good news for us - she has time to join the podcast!
We cover a lot in this episode, including ...
Mary Ellen Hooper Show Notes: * Adapting during COIVD-19 * Preparing financially for work interruptions * Becoming a student of comedy * How she started comedy in late 80’s * Being an extra in Miami Vice * Moving to New York * Hanging with Adam Ferrara, Ray Romano, Kevin James * The move from NYC to Los Angeles * Moving from L.A. to Florida to raise family * The showcase that got her 46 bookings * How Disney Cruises were affected * Finding comedy in tough times * Working on a kids book * Acting led to comedy * Best advice for new comics
Learn tips on speaking from Steve Lowell (CSP). Steve is the past National President, Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS). Steve is incredibly gifted at helping identify their “expert insights.” These are the things or then thing that makes a speaker different from all the others. The expert insights are what you can provide that people need and are willing to learn. We discuss how he helps speakers tap into those.
We also talk about how his business has been impacted by the recent COIVD-19 “stay at home” lockdown. And, we address a few things speakers can do if they have a little extra time now to get better at their craft. There are a lot of tips on speaking in this episode which will benefit comedians as well.
Steve has authored two Amazon best-selling books Deep Thought Strategy and From Stage Fright to Spotlight. The latter provides over 100 tips for speakers to get more comfortable onstage so their message shines through.
https://www.stevelowell.com/ is the best place to order Steve’s books and learn more about his speaking programs.
Even more exciting is the news that Steve has personally invited all my listeners to attend his virtual event on Thursday April 16 as his guest. If you have not yet attended a WEN Global Event, this is your opportunity! All you have to do is go to www.TheLowells.Global to save your seat...just tell them The Lowells sent ya!
TIPS ON SPEAKING SHOW NOTES
We cover a lot, including:
- Selling from stage without “selling”
- Secular Altar Calls
- Converting sales on bigger ticket programs
- Speaking for “free”
- Transformational content
- George Carlin’s The Planet is FINE routine
- The three different levels of speakers
- Deep thought strategy
- Uncovering your expert insights
- Why you don't have to be different
- How to appear to be different
- Why you might need a tennis instructor
- Brian Tracy’s “Eat the Frog”
- Focusing on the outcomes for the audience
- 99 speakers secrets to mastering the stage
- Being the catalyst for excitement
And much, much more!
Aaron Weber is a standup comic born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. After graduating from Notre Dame in 2014, he moved to Nashville and started doing standup. Since then, he’s become a regular at Zanies Comedy Club and has performed all over the country. In 2018, he competed in the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival and was a part of John Crist‘s record-breaking Human Being Tour.
We get into a lot of fun topics today, including:
AARON WEBER SHOW NOTES * Performing some comedy at Notre Dame Memorizing comedy specials when he was a kid * Becoming the youngest comedian to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN * Going to his first Nashville open mic night * The benefits of being easy to work with * Performance skills learned on the John Crist tour dates * How he got invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry * His approach to writing comedy * Keeping his material fresh * Spotting and correcting “tics” on stage * Building his own web site to look like a *MySpace profile And a whole lot more!
Learn more about Aaron at www.aaronwebercomedy.com**
Today’s episode is in response to the extreme number of cancellations of events due to the COVID-19 Corona Virus Outbreak. We will approach it from three angles.
First, let’s take a brief moment and acknowledge how lucky we are to be performers in the first place.
Second, let’s remember the others affected in our industry.
And third, how can you add language to your contract to affect cancellations in the future.
We will cover a lot in the episode, including:
- Getting paid for expressing your views
- Uniting people in tough times
- Accepting or declining work as you see fit
- Being rewarded and compensated for your hustle and drive
- Creating work anywhere, anytime
- Rik’s last few gigs and how he tried to lighten the mood
- Traveling through busy airports during the outbreak
- Shout out to Cruise Ship performers including Kristin Key
- Gilda’s LaughFest cancellations and fast thinking ideas
- Covid-19 Federal Aid Package for Events Industry
- Having a contract
- Requesting deposits
- Adjusting your cancellation policies
And a whole lot more!
If you are already a PATREON supporter at ANY level, you can log into the Patreon news feed and grab both a simple CONTRACT template, as well as update language for your cancellation policies.
If you would like to receive a .pdf describing the cancellation policies so you can add it to your contract and you are not already a member of the free INSIDER TIP SHEET newsletter list, you can request joining by sending an email to SchoolOflaughs@gmail.com . Please put “Cancellation Policy” in the subject heading. I will add you to the newsletter list and you will be able to grab the .pdf from the newsletter. Let me know where you are based, how long you’ve been performing and what level you are at in the game. And if you can, let me know how you found out about the podcast. It will help me design new episodes.
Special thanks to Patreon Sponsor RAY PRICE who has been with us since the very beginning.
And, if you enjoyed the TRUMP bumpers in the episode go follow @EdWiley on TWITTER or visit EdWileyComedy.com
Victoria Jackson joins us today on the School of Laugh Podcast. Victoria Jackson may be best known for her 6-yr stint on Saturday Night Live. She was a regular cast member on SNL from 1986-1992. But even before that she was making people laugh. She became a TV star without her family even owning a TV when she was young. But when she was just 19 she left home and traveled to L.A. to take a shot at showbiz.
She made the transition from handstands to Hollywood and captured the curiosity of millions every Saturday night.
We get into all kinds of discussions today and I learn a lot, including:
Victoria Jackson Show Notes * Not having a TV set when she was kid * How a Rifleman’s son got her to move to L.A. * Marrying a fire eater * What Tonight Show booker Jim McCawley said to her before her first appearance * Her 20 appearances on the Tonight Show * The big difference between Johnny Carson and David Letterman * What aspect Lorne Michaels said she needed more work on * Her auditions for SNL * Why she is taking film classes * Where she feels she belongs in the arts * How she got so good at those handstands * Why she wasn’t asked back to the Tonight Show * What brought her to Nashville * Victoria Jackson’s advice to new comics
And so much more! To learn more about Victoria Jackson go to ... you guessed it - VictoriaJackson.com
Doc Kennedy is a stand-up comedian and podcast producer based out of Nashville.
Winner of the 2019 Lea Ciastko Spirit of Comedy Award, Doc is also the host of Free to Laugh: Comedy vs Political Correctness.
Originally from Montana and spending years near Seattle, Doc’s unique take on life brings laughs to people of all ages across the country performing in churches, clubs, corporate venues as well as entertaining our troops.
DOC KENNEDY SHOW NOTES * Editing the School of Laughs podcast. * Connecting through Club 52 Patreon hangout. * How the Nashville open mic scene used to look. * Using stand-up comedy to get into acting. * Working as a live production director. * Using clips from church promos for Doc's acting reel. * The Seattle comedy scene. * Being right of center in a left-leaning environment. * Cancel culture. * Doc's podcast Free to Laugh.
And a whole lot more!
LEARN MORE ABOUT DOC KENNEDY FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/DocKennedyLive/
WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBswFD4wHq1NkRBtxckuYLg/
VIEW ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/DocKennedyLive
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter JOHN HILL and CLUB 52. Also thanks to TIM KETCHERSID for his ITunes review.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
Visit www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon for more info today.
In this episode Doc Kennedy and I talk about Dave Chappelle receiving the Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center. We break down Dave's speech and what we comedians can take from it.
Watch the 8 minute speech here!
DAVE CHAPPELLE MARK TWAIN AWARD SHOW NOTES * What the venue was like. * How stand-up comedy is unique to America. * Every opinion has a comedian in its corner. * Appreciating all comedians, even when their views are offensive. * It took me years to learn how to play like myself. - Miles Davis * Dave's appreciation of Neal Brennan. * What Dave's mom did in helping him grow as a comedian. * What a Griot is and their value to humanity. * Sometimes you have to be a lion to be the lamb you really are. - Dave's mom
And a whole lot more!
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter GLEN DENEHIE and CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
Visit www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon for more info today.
Jeremy Nunes has appeared in The Break-Up, Last Comic Standing, two PBS mini-series, Comcast on Demand, a National Geographic Special and heard on ESPN Radio. Jeremy's clean and witty comedy show has been in demand for 18 years, mainly because of his clever observations, unique storytelling style and ability to improvise with his audience.
JEREMY NUNES SHOW NOTES * Trying to be Chris Farley. * Why Ryan Stiles inspired Jeremy to try improv comedy. * Similarities between being a Mayor and being a comedian. * Valuable advice from Dobie Maxwell. * Taking classes at Second City. * Tips for promoting a show. * Value of hiring a videographer. * Wearing make-up for video. * Distributing a comedy special. * Taking veteran comedian advice. * Tips for getting time off from a day job.
And a whole lot more!
LEARN MORE ABOUT JEREMY NUNES FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/frontporchcomedy
WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/frontporchcomedy
VIEW ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/jeremynunes
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter EDWARD REUBEN and CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
Visit www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon for more info today.
It is time for the 2020 Stand-Up Comedy Goals TRACKER episode. This show is a nerdy, comprehensive deep dive into measurable comedy goals for sand-up comedians. Fame and fortune are payoffs, but not necessarily great goals. And, goals in and of themselves won't make you funnier than anyone else. But they should make you funnier than you are now if you set them correctly. Without them, you may find yourself immersed in bitterness and resent everyone else's success.
"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals." - Henry David Thoreau
In this episode, we talk about specific daily, weekly, monthly and annual Stand-Up Comedy goals. It is the behind the scenes planning that no performer admits to doing (and many don't). But you aspire to be better than you are now, so you are thinking strategically about the year ahead. Congratulations!
We cover four areas of goals in this 2020 Stand-Up Comedy Goals Podcast episode. Specifically:
Writing - how much time are you giving yourself to be creative and develop material?
Performing - are you getting out of the house and getting on stage enough to see progress?
Earning - what is your income from comedy and related skills?
Investing - how much are spending to get your name out there so people can find you?
GET YOUR FREE GOAL TRACKER WORKSHEET.
Visit Episode 207 show notes page at www.SchoolOfLaughs.com.
You can drag the images off the page and print.
Jane Atkinson is founder of The Wealthy Speaker School, which provides online courses, group coaching and live events for all levels of speakers, helping people look at speaking as a business. Jane has over 30 years experience in the speaking business, has authored four books and is host of The Wealthy Speaker Podcast.
JANE ATKINSON SHOW NOTES * If you don't get YOUR fee you haven't shown them enough value. * The discovery call. * Planning strategically what your outreach is going to be. * Making 50 connections, a month or 50 connections a week depending on how aggressive you're going to be. * Avoiding the spray and pray approach. * You can't you can't make big decisions playing small. * Do a lot of homework on the audience. * Being someone who doesn't listen with their mouth. * What changed as a result of our work together. * Knowing what's working, what's needs fixing. * Do I need a team or somebody to hire to get in there? * Think about your business as a whole, rather than that day to day working in the business. * Is your website clear on the value that you're bringing to the table? * Is your video is being effective in getting you the gig every time? * How are you reaching out to people? * What target markets are you approaching? * Using virtual assistants such as Biz Ease.
And a whole lot more!
LEARN MORE ABOUT JANE ATKINSON FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Jane.Speaker.Launcher
WATCH ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/janeatkinson
VIEW ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/janeatkinson1/
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter CHRIS RUPPE and CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
Visit www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon for more info today.
Today is an “after school special” where I talk with a handful of students and tackle the biggest questions on their minds!
QUESTIONS & TOPICS INCLUDE * What do you do when you bomb? * Finding comedians to hang with. * It's just an experiment every single time. * Expect there to be silence. * Beginning comedy with an already stable lifestyle. * Is it absolutely necessary to go all in with no safety net? * There's no shortcut around growing through stage time. * Finding parts in your world that are the least stable to help you create comedy. * Riches are in the niches. * Comedian Eddie B. (teaching niche) * Balance between you and your spouse. * Occasionally your comedy career has to go way off balance. * Best way to guarantee stage time is starting your own open mic. * Professional Speaker Mark Klein.
And a whole lot more!
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter JUDY BARBE and CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
Visit www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon for more info today.
Eric Thompson has been delighting and entertaining audiences since the early 1980’s with his unique style of comedy, magic, and illusions. Eric is an accomplished comedic magician, a veteran of hundreds of venues including comedy clubs, theaters, college campuses and corporate events. Outside his career, Eric has served on several boards for philanthropic, civic, business, and professional organizations over the years in his efforts to make his community and the region surrounding his home and business a better place to live, work, and play.
ERIC THOMPSON SHOW NOTES * The Ohio comedy scene in the 1980's * Marc Weiner * Comedian Pat Paulsen * Lingerie models and comedy show - a good mix? * The Johnny Carson Channel on SiriusXM * Comedian Bruce Baum * Performing for chickens * Using comedy to impact lives around the world * Million Miles, Million Smiles
And a whole lot more!
LEARN MORE ABOUT ERIC THOMPSON FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Eric-Thompson-Magic
WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/rugmansr
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter MAX WINFREY and CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
Visit www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon for more info today.
Brad Montgomery teaches people how to use happiness to boost productivity, creativity, innovation & profits. He turns typical meetings into transformational events using the power of happiness. Oh, and he’s pretty funny. Brad has transformed audiences in all 50 states and on four continents. His clients include Microsoft, Verizon, the FBI, the CIA, and the IRS (where he withheld 30% of his best strategies.) Brad specializes in using humor, interactivity, sound, music and visuals to ignite audiences so that they can use happiness as a tool to improve their lives and their jobs.
BRAD MONTGOMERY SHOW NOTES * Not the typical comedian childhood * Starting magic in junior high * Performing at renaissance fairs * Doing 140 shows in just 3 months * Changing the temperature of the room * The advantage of being a keynote speaker * Helping people think in different ways * Using coaches to get better at your craft
And a whole lot more!
LEARN MORE ABOUT BRAD MONTGOMERY Website: https://www.bradmontgomery.com
FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/bradlaughs
WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/BradMontgomery1
VIEW ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/bradmontgomerylive/
FOLLOW ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/bradmontgomery
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter JOHN P. SMITH and CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
Visit www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon for more info today.
Ric Walker is a performer, teacher, writer and director. As an actor he has appeared in numerous plays, independent films and television. He has worked as a corporate spokesman for companies such as Eli Lilly, Computer Associates and Oracle. He has improvised with and been a member of comedy troupes The Improvised Shakespeare Company, Comedy Sportz Chicago, The Second City and MCTD (Midwest Comedy Tool & Die). He is a member Emeritus of Second Story (Serendipity Theater Collective). Ric has designed and facilitated workshops on improvisation, public speaking and communications for corporations and organizations such as Coke, Pepsi, Starbucks and Northwestern University Law School. Ric is currently a Professor at Columbia College Chicago in the nation’s first BA in Comedy Writing and Performance.
RIC WALKER SHOW NOTES * Teaching comedy at Columbia University * Each semester culminates in a mini sketch show * Around 225 students. A popular Major * Is this how you want to represent yourself? * Are you saying this because you think it's a truth * Your job as the performer is to illuminate something for the audience and show them some new way of looking at it * Every day is an experiment * It's not about trying to do it perfect the first time * Give yourself permission to say whatever * Creating brave spaces * Is your premise clear? * Does your premise create a target assumption? * Is there a simple way that you are changing that story with that punch line? * Is the language sharp? * Six filters to test your joke structure * The ideal student * It's inexplicable how some people break and some people don't
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter DONNA LEWIS and CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
Visit www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon for more info today.
Starting his career in San Francisco, Tommy Drake had his first paid gig in 1990 and hasn't looked back! Tommy has performed 400 shows a year over the last 25 years!
TOMMY DRAKE SHOW NOTES * The $100 million gig * Why killing every night doesn’t teach you anything * Trying something new every show * Why headliners lose traction * Preparing for Dry Bar taping (step by step) * Why exceptional talent can be a curse * Opening 125 shows on tour for Cher * Working with Carnival Cruise
And a whole lot more!
LEARN MORE ABOUT TOMMY DRAKE FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/StuntComedian/
WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHqA3GjxiqOLRGX1XrwHtgg
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter BO SHUSTER, RAY PRICE and CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
Visit www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon for more info today.
Welcome to the 200th episode of the School of Laughs podcast! What an amazing journey this had been. Two hundred? Yes indeed. We made it.
So what have we learned two hundred episodes in? A lot. And in this episode we cover …
- Former School Of Laughs Student Success
- Comedy That Heals, Helps And Makes Whole
- Late Night Tv Comedians
- Dry Bar Comedy
- Insight From Industry Agents And Managers
- College Market
- Cruise Gigs
- Corporate Gigs
- Making And Selling Merch
- Thank You Club 52!!!
- The Lessons I’ve Learned
- You Have To Sacrifice
- Get Clear With Your Goal And Your “Why”
- New Class Offering For Speakers, CEO’s, Content Creators
What is on the horizon for the School of Laughs? In the first week of January 2020 I will be offering a brand new day and a half workshop for speakers and content creators who want to add confidence and comedy to their programs. This will be only for those who have an hour plus speech, training program, keynote or weekly digital offering. Stand-ups will definitely benefit from this as well. But the focus will be on helping you add comedy to specific parts of your presentation. We will meet in Nashville and more details will be coming soon. But I am extremely excited about the new program which I’ve designed from the ground up just for this interactive workshop.
If that sounds like something you would be interested in, send an email to SchoolOfLaughs@gmail.com and put "Master Laughter Class" in the subject line.
September 21st, 2019 I will be running the Business of Comedy Class in Nashville from 12:30-3:30 PM. Investment is $99. If that sounds like something you would be interested in, send an email to SchoolOfLaughs@gmail.com and put Business Class in the subject line. I’ll send more information your way.
Rik Roberts
www.RikRoberts.com
www.SchoolOfLaughs.com
Live from the Clean Comedy Challenge in Nashville, TN, Rik sits down with Larry Weaver. Larry is a stand-up comedian as well as a professional speaker and emcee. He is also owner/CEO of Trusted Speakers, an entertainment agency based in North Carolina.
LARRY WEAVER SHOW NOTES As usual, we cover a lot of ground on this episode. A few highlights include:
- Larry shares his experience of his first showcase being in Boston
- How everything learned in business school he applied to comedy
- The different videos that you need
- Difference between Booker and Agents
- What Larry looks for in potential clients
And a whole lot more!
LEARN MORE ABOUT LARRY WEAVER FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/corporate.entertainment/
WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/lwentertainment
VIEW ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/lweavernc/
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Jose Manek and CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
Visit www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon for more info today.
Grace Klein wanted to be a comedian from the very first time she got her family to laugh when she was a kid. It only took her a couple more decades to bring it to the stage, but once she started, she couldn’t stop. She brings her own spin to subjects like being single in your 30’s, not understanding church terms or young people, and being stuck in a health crazed-hiking-CrossFitting-kale eating-Fitbit wearing-society that she is too gluten, dairy, and peanut tolerant to fit into.
She started as an improv comedian before transitioning into stand-up. “I had been writing down ideas and jokes for years, pages and pages full of them. And then one day I looked through them all and thought, ‘this is stand-up material’. Granted, most of the jokes weren’t good, but stand-up comedy was really the only avenue for delivering them.”
Grace travels around as much as possible, but currently resides in San Diego, CA, even though she prefers flannel over designer clothes and still doesn’t understand why avocado toast costs $5.99 when it’s really just guac on bread. She prides herself most on the amount of times she’s been told she has “potential" and "how much better she looks with an Instagram crema filter."
GRACE KLEIN SHOW NOTES * Denver was the first place that she started doing stand-up. * Stand-up is like a muscle; you have to keep working it. * Improv is hugely helpful, even just for stage presence. * Brian Kohatsu is great at staying committed to a character. * Doing comedy at a 420 speakeasy weed bar. * Get more stage time and write more material. * How to forge a connection with an experienced comedian.
And a whole lot more!
LEARN MORE ABOUT GRACE KLEIN FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/gracekleincomedy
WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy_p-6jKvd9VxANsiQFz8eg/
VIEW ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/grace_e_klein/
FOLLOW ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/grace_e_klein/
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter DERRICK TENNANT and CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
Visit www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon for more info today.
Having worked as a keynote speaker and professional Master of Ceremonies nearly ten years, Thom Singer has become an advocate for creating strong experiences for conference attendees.
Thom has authored twelve books on the power of business relationships, sales, networking, presentation skills and entrepreneurship. He regularly speaks to corporate, law firm and convention audiences. Thom earned the prestigious Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation in 2014.
THOM SINGER SHOW NOTES
- Director of Marketing for a big law firm.
- Recalling 1983 going and seeing a then not famous Paula Poundstone.
- Was in the top 18 people in the world in the Toastmasters International speech contest.
- Thom's growing topic is called the "paradox of potential."
- Comedy is a great metaphor for business.
- Faster now noticing cues from the audience.
- A lot of meeting planners are scared of comedians.
- After a life of admiring stand up comedians, he recently started performing in open mic nights and comedy shows.
And a whole lot more!
LEARN MORE ABOUT THOM SINGER
FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ThomSingerSpeaker
WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/thomsinger
VIEW ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thomsinger/
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter John McCormack (online class & live class) and CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week. SchoolOflaughs.com/Patreon
Max Winfrey - a Stunt Comedian - has toured all over the U.S. and Canada. Max has performed for many Fortune 500 Companies. He has made numerous appearances on national television. Max was also a semi finalist on NBC's America's Got Talent.
He recently appeared at my "second job" the Huckabee Show on TBN. You can can see a link to that video HERE.
I met Max through the Christian Comedy Association. Since then, he and I have become friends. I wanted to share his story with you.
MAX WINFREY SHOW NOTES As usual, we cover a lot of ground on this episode. A few highlights include:
- Learning how to juggle at a leadership camp
- Noticing how danger appeals to people
- Being inspired by the Harem Globetrotters
- Setting psychological traps for people on stage
- Enabling people to participate
- Seeing Penn and TellerWAY before they became famous
- Getting an early gig at Kings Dominion Virginia
- How he almost lost his foot
- Why he had to ask a lady not to breath on the torches
- Appearing on America's Got Talent in 2011
- What the greatest prize and biggest gifts really are
And a whole lot more!
LEARN MORE ABOUT MAX WINFREY FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/StuntComedian/
WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/maxwinfrey
VIEW ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/stuntcomedian/
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter KAY DODDand CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
Visit www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon for more info today.
PODCAST TIPS FROM DAVID HOOPER David Hooper has released “BIG PODCAST – Grow Your Podcast Audience, Build Listener Loyalty & Get Everybody Talking About Your Show”. This book has changed the way I think about doing interviews and producing my show. If you are considering releasing a podcast, you are going to love this interview!
We cover a lot of ground, specifically:
- Determining WHY you want to do a show
- Landing on a s STYLE and PERSONALITY for your podcast
- Advantages of a podcast over stage show
- The influence of reviews on potential listeners
- Frequency of release
- Value of consistency
- Understanding you need to have a point
- Using an outline – or not?
- Discovering your audience
- Sharing your philosophy and opinions
- A simple format for putting together an episode
- Equipment set up and choices
- How to make the files sound good and get smaller
- Where to host your podcast
And much, much more!
Link not working? Try HERE instead.
LEARN MORE ABOUT DAVID HOOPER Want to buy Dave’s book? Purchase BIG PODCAST on AMAZONtoday!
Get the QUICK START PODCAST GUIDE FOR FREE AT bigpodcast.com
David Hooper has also appeared on MARKETING, A MUSIC BUSINESS TAKE where we cover how to use examples fro the music industry to apply to your comedy career.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter JEREMY LEEand CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
CLICK PIC FOR MORE DETAILS
You will define your stage persona, style and point of view. You will learn how to create expectations through your marketing, branding and introductions. From nailing your elevator pitch, to refining your value proposition, you will learn how to make it easier for bookers to hire you.
Meet comics from around the country during a quarterly online “hangout”. As a group, we tackle our top struggles and how to approach overcoming them. Think of it as your personal monthly mastermind group. Over the course of the year you will learn how to get more gigs, and leverage every opportunity that comes your way.
Sound good?
Club 52 is available to anyone supporting the podcast through Patreon at $7 a month or more. To learn more about Patreon, just click here. Or go to SchoolOflaughs.com/Patreon
Andrew Stanley graduated from college with a finance degree. He always thought he was funny but didn’t know how to explore writing comedy. A mutual friend introduced Andrew to Scott Dunn, who writes for a lot of great comedians (Listen to Scott’s Episode of the podcast here). Scott recommended Andrew write five minutes of jokes, and then go do them at the local comedy club open mic.
Andrew hesitated at first because of a fear of speaking in public. His father and grandfather are well known and respected pastors. Yet, he didn’t see himself as someone who would stand in front of strangers and talk for a living. But he mustered up a few jokes and attended an open mic at the Laughing Skull in Atlanta.
With 20 comedians doing five minutes each, he remembers leaving there thinking he wasn’t the best, but wasn’t the worst. He decided to keep at it. Lucky for us he did.
We cover a lot of ground on the podcast, including:
- How his father Andy Stanley influenced my podcast
- How the School of Laughs podcast influenced Andrew's early days
- How Lace Larabee encouraged him to pursue comedy
- Inviting friends out to see you perform
- Transitioning out of work and into Stand-Up Comedy
- Who was the last one to decide he should go into comedy full time
- Balancing church and comedy club events
- Being dark in the light place and light in the dark place
- Early successes that have led to more work
- The Catalyst Conference
- The blessings of family
- The benefits of clean comedy
- Confusing family-friendly with clean comedy
- Venn diagram of what works in comedy environments
- Building material that works in all places
- Starting with a punchline and building the joke from there
- The necessity of stage time
- Exploring writing processes
- Learning when and how to say “no” to wrong opportunities
AND A WHOLE LOT MORE!
Follow Andrew Stanley: https://twitter.com/andrewWstanley
https://www.facebook.com/andrew.stanley.986
https://www.instagram.com/andrewwstanley/
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter DUSTIN CRIDERand CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
You will define your stage persona, style and point of view. You will learn how to create expectations through your marketing, branding and introductions. From nailing your elevator pitch, to refining your value proposition, you will learn how to make it easier for bookers to hire you.
Meet comics from around the country during a quarterly online “hangout”. As a group, we tackle our top struggles and how to approach overcoming them. Think of it as your personal monthly mastermind group. Over the course of the year you will learn how to get more gigs, and leverage every opportunity that comes your way.
Sound good?
Club 52 is available to anyone supporting the podcast through Patreon at $7 a month or more. To learn more about Patreon, just click here. Or go to SchoolOflaughs.com/Patreon
Stage Fright, Stolen Jokes, Getting Paid On this "After School Special" I take questions from a handful of students (along with a spouse of a student) about comedy.
Matt asks about the best way to get a joke out of your notebook and on to the stage. And, he also asks how many jokes I’ve written since I began stand-up comedy? I tackle those questions and if you want to know more you can listen to STAND UP COMEDY FIRST STEPS [EP. 144] for more tips!
Chris wants to know when should a comedian expect to start making some money? The real answer is "how soon can you develop 15-20 solid minutes?" Along with the answers on this podcast you might be interested in listening to HOW DO I GET PAID TO DO COMEDY? [EP. 015] and PAID WORK AT A COMEDY CLUB – AM I READY? [EP. 014] .
Sheila asks about ways to overcome the fear of performing. Stage fright is the product of fear. Some fear is rational. Other fear ... totally ridiculous! Listen in for the answer. If you would like even more tips, you might like OVERCOMING STAGE FRIGHT [EP. 054] .
How do you protect your material from being stolen?, asks Dave. It's a great question. We've tackled it before in JOKE THIEVES – STOLEN LAUGHTER [EP. 031] if you would like a deeper answer.
And Chris’ wife asks for tips on how to be a supportive spouse. I think this is great! How awesome it is for Chris to have the support of his wife as he pursues a dream. We discuss the role of support here. And for a wider look at the topic, you may like STARTING COMEDY LATE IN LIFE [EP. 108] and COMEDY CAREER-HOME LIFE BALANCE [EP. 013] .
Other Q & A Podcast Episodes If you like this type of Q & A format, here are some more episodes you might enjoy:
12 TIPS COMEDIANS CAN’T IGNORE [EP. 002]
AFTER SCHOOL SPECIAL [EP. 016]
MAIL BAG, FIX-A-JOKE [EP. 091]
LISTENER EMAIL QUESTIONS [EP. 107]
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter KATIE SHAFERand CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
CLICK PIC FOR MORE DETAILS
You will define your stage persona, style and point of view. You will learn how to create expectations through your marketing, branding and introductions. From nailing your elevator pitch, to refining your value proposition, you will learn how to make it easier for bookers to hire you.
Meet comics from around the country during a quarterly online “hangout”. As a group, we tackle our top struggles and how to approach overcoming them. Think of it as your personal monthly mastermind group. Over the course of the year you will learn how to get more gigs, and leverage every opportunity that comes your way.
Sound good?
Club 52 is available to anyone supporting the podcast through Patreon at $7 a month or more. To learn more about Patreon, just click here. Or go to SchoolOflaughs.com/Patreon
Kerri Pomarolli joins us today to discuss tips for beginning comedians. Kerri is a talented stand-up, writer and performer. She has penned five books, sold two scripts to the Hallmark Channeland also coaches new comedians through her site TheLaughDr.com
Kerri is based in Los Angeles. She has appeared in over 75 stage productions and had recurring roles on Port Charles, and The Young and The Restless and "General Hospital". She has been in motion pictures such as "DeadLock", and her latest is on Netflix, "The Brennan Manning Story"
All that to say, listen to her tips!!!
Kerri Pomarolli Show Notes We cover a lot of useful information fro new comedians today. Including,
- Why writing is the KEY to comedy
- How taking classes or having a mentor is crucial to a quick start
- The one thing there is NO SUBSTITUTE for if you want to be a great comedian
- How many shows she thinks it takes to get your feet wet in comedy
- Her comedy barometer for getting to the punch line
- Why TAGS are so great
- Why a joke is like a telegram
- When it is a good idea to TURN DOWN an agent
- Comedy crowds versus church audiences
- How to dress for a show
- Script writing tips
- How to pitch a script
and so much more!
If you enjoy listening to Kerri, check out this previous episode where we discuss how to recognize and take advantage of opportunity.
BE OPEN TO OPPORTUNITY W/ KERRI POMAROLLI [EP. 125]
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Paul Swann and CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
DAMIAN MASON Do Business Better is the new book from Speaker/Author Damian Mason. The goal of the book is to fine tune your Traits, Habits and Actions to help you succeed. As entrepreneurs we can get bogged down with "tasks" instead of business. Our very nature has us chasing squirrels and looking for the next thing. After reading this book, I've been able to get that focus back and identify what has been working and what has not.
Damian Mason and I go back a few years. I've watched him develop three separate programs to serve his clients. This latest book is an offshoot of his new program.
If the name sounds familiar, it's because I had Damian on the show abc in episode 150 talking about THE BUSINESS OF CREATIVITY. It's definitely worth another listen.
DO BUSINESS BETTER WITH DAMIAN MASON Show Notes We cover a lot of ground in this fast-paced interview. Including:
- How to serve your clients well
- Being prepared to develop the next thing before it's necessary
- Identifying your strengths and weaknesses
- How you can tap into your TALENT STACK
- The benefits of breaking down tape of your set/program
- And much, much more
In fact so much more, that is you are a Patreon Club 52 member - there is a bonus podcast waiting for you! Just head on over to PATREONright now to listen.
And this is me on his podcast (click pic to listen):
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT DAMIAN MASON Web SIte: https://www.damianmason.com
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter JOSH LISTONand CLUB 52.
Club 52is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
CLICK PIC FOR MORE DETAILS
You will define your stage persona, style and point of view. You will learn how to create expectations through your marketing, branding and introductions. From nailing your elevator pitch, to refining your value proposition, you will learn how to make it easier for bookers to hire you.
Meet comics from around the country during a quarterly online “hangout”. As a group, we tackle our top struggles and how to approach overcoming them. Think of it as your personal monthly mastermind group. Over the course of the year you will learn how to get more gigs, and leverage every opportunity that comes your way.
Sound good?
Club 52 is available to anyone supporting the podcast through Patreon at $7 a month or more. To learn more about Patreon, just click here. Or go to SchoolOflaughs.com/Patreon
AARON SORRELS Aaron Sorrels "The Unemployed Alcoholic" approaches comedy, speaking and recovery support in a nonthreatening way.He shares stories and lessons he's learned while respecting other peoples' boundaries and decisions. After years of struggling with alcohol and the results of its impact, he got clean, got focused and got funny. Aaron uses humor to facilitate the steps of recovery. He takes the stage with a purpose to bring the laughs and work through the struggles associated with addiction and recovery.
He's developed the REAL Supportmodel and will not judge, criticize or attempt to control people. Click here to read more about REAL Support.
AARON SORRELS Show Notes We talk about a variety of things including:
- The lifestyle and decisions that led to the point of recovery
- How a podcast host showed up at his first attempt at stand-up
- How to navigate performing in bars as a recovering alcoholic
- The value of connecting with other comedians
- Making sure he maintains a Christ-Centered walk
- Creating stage time with CleanComedyTime.com
- Building relationships in comedy
And a whole lot more!
In fact so much more, that is you are a Patreon Club 52 member - there is a bonus podcast waiting for you! Just head on over to PATREONright now to listen.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT AARON SORRELS Web SIte: theUnemployedAlcoholic.com
Join his newsletter list: https://theunemployedalcoholic.com/noteworthy
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter ALLEN-MICHAEL HARBER and CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
You will define your stage persona, style and point of view. You will learn how to create expectations through your marketing, branding and introductions. From nailing your elevator pitch, to refining your value proposition, you will learn how to make it easier for bookers to hire you.
Meet comics from around the country during a quarterly online “hangout”. As a group, we tackle our top struggles and how to approach overcoming them. Think of it as your personal monthly mastermind group. Over the course of the year you will learn how to get more gigs, and leverage every opportunity that comes your way.
Sound good?
Club 52 is available to anyone supporting the podcast through Patreon at $7 a month or more. To learn more about Patreon, just click here. Or go to SchoolOflaughs.com/Patreon
Join us for an online open mic night! Yes - you can do time or just sit back and watch/listen. It will be a blast and is really easy to be part of the fun. Just click here and follow the three simple steps to signing up:
https://www.martysimpson.com/punchlines-in-pajamas.html
MARTY SIMPSON Show Notes We talk about a variety of things including:
- Playing for the South Carolina Gamecocks
- Coaching at a private school
- First time onstage emceeing a 5 hour talent show
- Harsh realties of Last Comic Standing
- Networking with comics by helping them
- Influences including Horace H. B. Sanders and Mike Goodwin
- Why it takes awhile to know Marty Simpson
- The incredible value of other comedians insight
- How to take suggestions and turn them into applause breaks
- Punchlines in Pajamas - an online open mic
And a whole lot more!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MARTY SIMPSON YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Web SIte: https://www.martysimpson.com
Keys / Kids joke ... start at the 5:28 mark
https://youtu.be/vrHIRrCQzxo?t=280 Lying slowly the old way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPyFfMJbAYY The newer way with the added lines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkDimYFLDfo This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Jenny Locklin and CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
You will define your stage persona, style and point of view. You will learn how to create expectations through your marketing, branding and introductions. From nailing your elevator pitch, to refining your value proposition, you will learn how to make it easier for bookers to hire you.
Meet comics from around the country during a quarterly online “hangout”. As a group, we tackle our top struggles and how to approach overcoming them. Think of it as your personal monthly mastermind group. Over the course of the year you will learn how to get more gigs, and leverage every opportunity that comes your way.
Sound good?
Club 52 is available to anyone supporting the podcast through Patreon at $7 a month or more. To learn more about Patreon, just click here. Or go to SchoolOflaughs.com/Patreon
Lisa Mills spent years of working in social service programs and nonprofit organizations. By honing her skills talking to those groups she also found her sense of humor. Using that humor she discovered she could connect and break the ice with the families she was helping. Her comedy shined bright at a conference she had helped plan. As the conference neared, Lisa and the event planners realized that some of the subject matter was going to be pretty heavy. They decided someone should lighten up the group between messages. That someone was Lisa Mills.
She wrote ten minutes of material the night before and she instantly caught the comedy bug.
LISA MILLS SHOW NOTES We cover a lot of ground in this episode, Specifically we talk about:
- Searching out comedy mentors on Youtube
- Hiring Kerri Pomarollii (past guest) to help her with her material
- How she works out new material onstage
- How (and why) she skipped open mics
- The unlikely benefit of having no local comedy community
- Meeting up with Chonda Pierce and Kelly Swanson
- Putting on the SHECON conference with Kay Dodd
- How she preps for events with clients
- The number one thing she tells new speakers
and a whole lot more!
Visit her website: https://www.lisamillsspeaks.com/
MORE ABOUT LISA MILLS Lisa is an award-winning comedian, motivational speaker, actor, and author. Her acting debut was working alongside network television’s favorite military gal, Catherine Bell on the Lifetime Channel’s hit show, Army Wives. As an in-demand keynote speaker, she is known for her message of Transforming Ordinary Into Extraordinary. Her always funny, laser-sharp wit has been featured on the Lifetime Network, NOW Network, Impact Network, Netflix, the Dove Channel, and iHeart Radio. She can be seen headlining venues around the country while touring and promoting her latest book, Lord Did I Really Shave My Legs For This?
Lisa Mills resides just outside the city of Atlanta with her awesome husband and two amazing sons.
Dan Whitehurst talks about going from cop to comedy. Dan is a friend of mine from nearly the first few weeks I moved to Nashville in 1999. I knew al little about his backstory, but have always wanted to learn more about the man behind that impressive beard.
DAN WHITEHURST Show Notes We talk about a variety of things including:
- Past jobs as prison guard, detective and national guard
- Learning to tell stories and how he hones them
- Trying to do comedy during a basketball game
- An odd show at the Loft in Georgia with Keith Alberstadt
- The trade off of fun and money in the feature spot
- The hustle behind performing in Branson
- A shout out to Joey I.L.O.
- Why he moved out to the country ... and then back
- How the Nashville comedy scene has changed
- Working cleaner
And a whole lot more!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT DAN WHITEHURST Watch his clip on why he left the police force from Huckabee on TBN: https://youtu.be/WzU4Vz7S-aU
Sponsors:
This episode is brought to you by John McCormack and CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
CLICK PIC FOR MORE DETAILS
You will define your stage persona, style and point of view. You will learn how to create expectations through your marketing, branding and introductions. From nailing your elevator pitch, to refining your value proposition, you will learn how to make it easier for bookers to hire you.
Meet comics from around the country during a quarterly online “hangout”. As a group, we tackle our top struggles and how to approach overcoming them. Think of it as your personal monthly mastermind group. Over the course of the year you will learn how to get more gigs, and leverage every opportunity that comes your way.
Sound good?
Club 52 is available to anyone supporting the podcast through Patreon at $7 a month or more. To learn more about Patreon, just click here. Or go to SchoolOflaughs.com/Patreon
Kay Dodd shares how she hit the reset button on her career after she decided “clean” was the way to go. Early in her journey she worked with Jeff Foxworthy on a few dates and he encouraged her to have a clean act. It took tossing out the old show and starting anew. Lucky for us, she is every bit as funny and able to perform anywhere with her current show.
KAY DODD SHOW NOTES We talk about a variety of things including:
- Discovering the Christian Comedy Association thanks to a friend’s email
- Taking a comedy class that helped her jump full time into comedy after just a year
- Leaving her office job to pursue comedy
- Getting her foot in the door at the Punchline and other clubs
- Working for Aubrey Pippin at The Comedy House Theater in the 90’s
- How CHT would “rate the audience” and why
- Setting up a Quarterly Fundraiser
And a whole lot more!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT KAY DODD: http://www.kaydodd.com
@KayDoddComedy on Twitter
Sponsors:
This episode is brought to you by John McCormack and CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
Its time for the ever popular "After School Special"! Today I chat with a few students after a Stand-Up Comedy Level One: Writingclass in Nashville. They ask insight fun questions about choosing the right material for the right audience, how to include the opposite sex in your material, and how to survive the politically correct atmosphere that has chewed up and spit out so many of today's comedians. ALL ABOUT THE AUDIENCE SHOW NOTES Michael, an EMT, asks about how you find your audience, how long does it take to develop your niche and how you write material specifically for a type of audience.
June, who works in special education, asks “What do guys think is funny?” Specifically, are there some topics that guys are naturally uncomfortable listening to?
We talk about including the guys by writing tag lines or using analogies that make the material accessible. My approach is to include everyone every five minutes. I don’t stay on a topic that is so exclusive that it alienates part of the audience for more than a few minutes at a time.
Amy, a real estate broker, asks about how older folks can get into comedy. Is it easier, harder or how difficult is it to become a comedian when you are a little bit older. My advice is to find the people who want to listen to what you have to say and go to them. Sometimes hoping they find you is just not going to cut it. I give specific advice on how you can connect to your potential audience and start from where you are now.
Judgemental "PC" Audiences Michael asks a mother question, this time about the political correctness in comedy today. Has it ruined the ability for a comedian to say what is on their mind? Don’t audiences realize they don’t have to watch a show if they don’t like it?
My take is that if you present yourself as an authentic comedian, it is hard for the audience to separate your comedic angle from your true point of view. So write a joke that explores all angles of a topic. Be aware of potential animosity and write to address those audience members.
It comes down to intent. You must make that clear on stage so that the joke can survive. I don’t like the judgmental / TMZ type of audience member who is looking for a scoop on your bad behavior to share on social media. But, if you make yourself clear you should be able to avoid winding up in their cross-hairs.
Sponsors:
This episode is brought to you by Scott Love and CLUB 52.
Club 52is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
CLICK PIC FOR MORE DETAILS
You will define your stage persona, style and point of view. You will learn how to create expectations through your marketing, branding and introductions. From nailing your elevator pitch, to refining your value proposition, you will learn how to make it easier for bookers to hire you.
Meet comics from around the country during a quarterly online “hangout”. As a group, we tackle our top struggles and how to approach overcoming them. Think of it as your personal monthly mastermind group. Over the course of the year you will learn how to get more gigs, and leverage every opportunity that comes your way.
Sound good?
Club 52 is available to anyone supporting the podcast through Patreon at $7 a month or more. To learn more about Patreon, just click here. Or go to SchoolOflaughs.com/Patreon
Comedian John Felts joins us today from Wilmington, NC. John is a hit with his audiences because he takes time to research the group and write specific jokes for them. Customizing comedy shows isn't easy. It takes time and a little bit of courage. But it pays off with huge laughs.
John walks us through the steps he takes to get the inside information. He discusses how to implement the material in the show for maximum results. Although he has done this for quite some time, he still is experimenting with ways to make customizing comedy shows even better.
We also cover how to produce your own comedy shows. John Felts is the producer of the Clean Comedy Getaway series which features top clean comedians from around the country. We dig into the nitty gritty details of putting that together.
In this episode we specifically discuss:
How to study your audience
Finding out what NOT TO SAY in advance
When to do crowd work
The benefits of customizing comedy shows
Mistakes he learned from in promoting and advertising a show
Securing a venue for your own show
Difficulty in marketing across multiple demographics
Line up diversity in comedy shows
Overcoming the stigma of a "clean" show
Protecting your brand by keeping standards high
Importance of building an email list
The long road to turning a profit
How BrownPaperTickets.com helped him
Tips on keeping the family happy while you do comedy
Knowing your priorities in life
And much, much more!
To find out more about John and his comedy please visit:
http://www.johnfeltscomedy.com
https://www.cleangetawaycomedy.com
Sponsors:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Jeremy Lee and CLUB 52.
Club 52 is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
It is time for the 2019 Stand-Up Comedy Goals Podcast. This episode is a nerdy, comprehensive deep dive into measurable goals for sand-up comedians. Fame and fortune are payoffs, but not necessarily great goals. And, goals in and of themselves won't make you funnier than anyone else. But they should make you funnier than you are now if you set them correctly. Without them, you may find yourself immersed in bitterness and resent everyone else's success.
"What you getby achieving your goals is not as important as what you becomeby achieving your goals." - Henry David Thoreau
In this episode, we talk about specific daily, weekly, monthly and annual goals you can set for your comedy career. It is the behind the scenes planning that no performer admits to doing (and many don't). But you aspire to be better than you are now, so you are thinking strategically about the year ahead. Congratulations!
We cover four areas of goals in this 2019 Stand-Up Comedy Goals Podcast episode. Specifically:
Writing- how much time are you giving yourself to be creative and develop material?
Performing- are you getting out of the house and getting on stage enough to see progress?
Earning- what is your income from comedy and related skills?
Investing- how much are spending to get your name out there so people can find you?
2019 STAND-UP COMEDY GOALS PODCAST BONUS!
GET YOUR FREEGOAL TRACKER WORKSHEET!
This .pdf is designed to help inspire you to create, measure and improve upon over sixty goals for your comedy career. Whether you are reading this post in December, February or August all you have to do is request this free worksheet and I’ll send it your way.
If you would like a 2019 Goals Worksheet, e-mail me at SchoolOfLaughs.com and put GOALS TRACKER 2019 in the subject line. I’ll send you the worksheet and you will receive the bi-monthly INSIDER TIPS NEWSLETTER as well. It is full of comedy news, blog recaps, podcast summaries and a challenge to get your comedy career on the right track. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter anytime. No hard feelings.
DID YOU FAIL YOUR GOALS IN 2018??? If you are really interested in achieving goals but have had trouble, check out this blog post: "What Is Holding You Back?"
As in all things in life, you want to make sure your family is on boardwith your goals.
Remember - your ability plus your work ethic equals your opportunities. So, set some short and long term goals and make sure to generate opportunities through focused effort.
Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Patreonsupporter Darby Slaton and CLUB 52.
Club 52is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
CLICK PIC FOR MORE DETAILS
You will define your stage persona, style and point of view. You will learn how to create expectations through your marketing, branding and introductions. From nailing your elevator pitch, to refining your value proposition, you will learn how to make it easier for bookers to hire you.
Meet comics from around the country during a quarterly online “hangout”. As a group, we tackle our top struggles and how to approach overcoming them. Think of it as your personal monthly mastermind group. Over the course of the year you will learn how to get more gigs, and leverage every opportunity that comes your way.
Sound good?
Club 52 is available to anyone supporting the podcast through Patreon at $7 a month or more. To learn more about Patreon, just click here. Or go to SchoolOflaughs.com/Patreon
Comedian Dale Jones has a prescription for hilarious high-energy comedy. Which is good, because his stand-up is infectious and contagious!
If you've never seen Dale Jones perform there is only one thing you need to know: he was influenced by Looney Tunes. Yes, Dale blends the physical cartoonish expressions with high level, smart material to create a truly unique show. Lot's of comics claim to be "unique". Dale truly is!
JANUARY 2019 Nashville Comedy Writing Classes - Sign Up Now
Dale Jones started his comedy career in 1993. Initially, he tried to be "the cool guy" onstage. After a friend suggested he be more like his crazy "offstage" self, he scrapped everything and rebooted as the high energy persona you see today.
DALE JONES HAS A PRESCRIPTION SHOW NOTES We cover a lot, specifically ...
- Being married to comedienne JODY WHITE
- Working on Cruise Ships
- Structuring multiple sets for the same audience
- The advantage of "gigs on land" over cruises
- The physical toll his comedy takes on his body
- How he stays in shape mentally and physically
- Performing for PureFlix Comedy All-Stars
- Favorite clubs
- How emceeing has changed over the years
- Memorizing short one-liners
- Giving the audience a chance to catch their breath
- Working in new material
- Upcoming shows
and much, much more! Before you go anywhere else, visit Dale Jones online! www.DaleJonesComic.com
You can download his DVD "I have a Prescription" RIGHT HERE
And see his upcoming shows, including performances at The Stardome in Birmingham, The Comedy Catch in Chattanoogaand Two Guys Named Chrisshows in North Carolina.
Sponsors:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Darby Slaton and CLUB 52.
Club 52is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
Learn more at www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon
Comedians Jonnie W. and Brian Bates join us today to talk about the differences and similarities between church, corporate and comedy club gigs. We each primarily perform in a different environment. Jonnie plays mostly in churches, Brian is comedy clubs and I'm usually off at a corporate event.
JANUARY 2019 Nashville Comedy Writing Classes - Sign Up Now
In clubs there are "A" rooms, "B" rooms, etc., but is that true for the other niches? We dig in and talk about it. Can a "B" room improved not an "A" room? Can a "B" slip into a "C"?
We also talk about what our ideal audience and set up would be like.
**CHURCH, CORPORATE AND COMEDY CLUB GIGS SHOW NOTES** We cover a lot, specifically ...
- How NOT to dip your TOE into show business
- "Coaching" the event planner prior to the show
- The importance of restroom location
- Tell tale signs of a "B" room
- The last time we each went long by mistake
- Learning how to land on a punchlineat short notice
- When it's a "first time" how you can help the venue
- Why scoring an 8 out of 10 at a corporate gigis actually a 12
- How to overcome a tired audienceat a corporate event
- The double edged sword of customized material
- Ways you can "sneak in" customized material
- Why you don't bring up Michael Vick
- Should wear headphones in the bathroom
- Reasons why women are so great!
and much, much more! Before you go anywhere else, visit the fellas online! www.JonnieW.com
www.BrianBatesComedy.com
Sponsors:
This episode is brought to you by Patreonsupporter Greg Smrdel and by CLUB 52.
Club 52is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
CLICK PIC FOR MORE DETAILS
You will define your stage persona, style and point of view. You will learn how to create expectations through your marketing, branding and introductions. From nailing your elevator pitch, to refining your value proposition, you will learn how to make it easier for bookers to hire you.
Meet comics from around the country during a quarterly online “hangout”. As a group, we tackle our top struggles and how to approach overcoming them. Think of it as your personal monthly mastermind group. Over the course of the year you will learn how to get more gigs, and leverage every opportunity that comes your way.
Sound good?
Club 52 is available to anyone supporting the podcast through Patreon at $7 a month or more. To learn more about Patreon, just click here. Or go to SchoolOflaughs.com/Patreon
Comedian Rhonda Corey joins us today from cold and snowy Rhode Island. Rhonda and I first connected back in the Fall of 2014 when she took the School of Laughs Online Writing Course. Initially, she admits her set-pus were little long. But very quickly I noticed she could take feedback and make changes to her material. The next time I looked up she was crafting super tight and extremely funny material.
Today she joins the podcast to recap some recent successes as well as where she wants to head in the new year. We talk about a variety of things including … RHONDA COREY SHOW NOTES Starting comedy as part of Take Two Ministries Attending multiple Clean Comedy Challenges Learning how to “trust her gut” with material Connecting with members of the Christian Comedy Association Working on her video demo Tips for generating leads for shows How to keep from feeling isolated Her goals for 2019 and much, much more! you can find out more about Rhonda Corey at: www.RhondaCorey.com https://www.facebook.com/rhondacoreycomedy/ https://www.instagram.com/rhondacoreycomedy/ MORE ABOUT RHONDA COREY Comedian Rhonda Corey truly embodies the New England spirit. It’s no wonder that her authenticity with a twist of lovable sass has resonated with audiences from Rhode Island to California!
Rhonda has always loved to bring joy to people through laughter. This passion has continued throughout her life and now more than ever, she sees that there is a genuine need for joy and laughter. She wants to use comedy to provide an escape and a much-needed laugh for those dealing with loss or burdens in their lives.
Rhonda redefines the comedy event experience by creating an environment where adults in any stage of life can laugh together. She is the creator of Out of the Blue Comedy, a multi-performer show that is 100% clean, and the co-founder/comedic half of Take Two Ministries.
When she’s not on stage, you can find her baking treats (or eating what she bakes), shopping for bargains, or starting another project that has yet to be finished. She credits her husband John, son Alex, dog Chewy and kitty Fiona for providing endless material.
Rhonda’s winning combination of wit and charm will leave you refreshed and entertained. Book Rhonda Corey now to add life and laughter to your next event.
Todays’ guest Ross Bennett walks us though the steps of his comedy career. Those steps cover nearly 40 years of ups and downs, twists and surprises and … accomplishment. You can catch Ross Bennett and friends on the “Make Comedy Great Again” tour:
https://www.makecomedygreatagain.com
Ross Bennett Show Notes: * His early days as a yearbook photographer * Being inspired by SNL and Steve Martin * Almost giving up on pursuing a Letterman spot * The changes that opened up the opportunity for Letterman * The beauty of having an act * The primary difference between L.A. and N.Y.C. * His attention to diction and enunciation * The job of a comedian (Observation, Relation, Revelation) * How a comic is like a translator * Importance of a SLOWER pace in delivery * Keys to doing comedy OUTSIDE of a club environment * Understanding that “YOU ARE ENOUGH” * Not “hiding behind your jokes” * Getting your personality ahead of the joke * Comedians as archers * The 1/2 dozen ways you can open a show
More About Ross Bennett Ross Bennett is a popular headliner at comedy clubs. He is a veteran and a comedian. Ross Bennett appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman. He won "Best Supporting Actor in A Comedy Web Series" at LAWEBFEST2016. Check out his winning performance on Addicted to Show Business. He is a recurring guest on The Bob and Tom Show morning show.
He loves performing for casinos, cruise ships and country clubs.
Sponsors:
This episode is brought to you by Patreonsupporter Maria DiMaggio and by CLUB 52.
Club 52is a one-year program designed to challenge you to get bigger, better and more bookable. You will be prompted to examine your material, performance and business practices via email each week.
CLICK PIC FOR MORE DETAILS
You will define your stage persona, style and point of view. You will learn how to create expectations through your marketing, branding and introductions. From nailing your elevator pitch, to refining your value proposition, you will learn how to make it easier for bookers to hire you.
Meet comics from around the country during a monthly online “hangout”. As a group, we tackle our top struggles and how to approach overcoming them. Think of it as your personal monthly mastermind group. Over the course of the year you will learn how to get more gigs, and leverage every opportunity that comes your way.
Sound good?
Club 52 is available to anyone supporting the podcast through Patreon at $7 a month or more. To learn more about Patreon, just click here. Or go to SchoolOflaughs.com/Patreon
Mike James joins us today to talk about cruises, corporate gigs and leaving the software field to go full time into comedy. Thanks to Patreon supporter Christy Largent and to the Hot Breath podcast with Joel Byars for sponsoring this episode. To learn how you can support the podcast check out www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon.
Mike James is a clean comedian based the Phoenix, AZ area. After working as a software engineer for many years (including coding EXCEL) he decided to go full time into his comedy career.
We cover a lot of ground in this episode. Mike is especially interesting because he started full time much later in life. People often ask me about starting comedy at a later stage life. In fact we covered it in STARTING COMEDY LATE IN LIFE [EP. 108] with Rex Havens awhile back. Rex also left a big time job when he didn't have to to pursue comedy.
Mike James and I talk about: * Having the "comedy discussion" with his wife * Being initially inspired by his son's love of improvcomedy * Getting his start in Phoenix area * Importance of delegating what isn't your strong suit * Moving beyond clubs to corporate gigs * Exploring work on cruise ships * Booking cruise ship gigs * How to STAY booked on cruise ships * The challenge of filling a LOT of time on cruise ships * Staying focused while on a cruise * Starting Cross-Eyed Comedywith Brian Kohatsu
and much, much more.
Find out more about Mike James at his web site: MikeJamesComedy.com
Episode Sponsors ... This episode is sponsored by PATREON supporter Christy Largentand the "HOT BREATH" PODCAST with JOEL BYARS. Hot Breath focuses on Stand-Up just like the School of Laughs. Trust me, you will dig it!
CLICK HEREto find your preferred listening method and SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/hotbreathpod/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/HotBreathPod/
Joey I.L.O. joins us today today to discuss a myriad of comedy topics! Thanks to Patreon supporter John Peters and to theft Breath podcast with Joel Byars for sponsoring this episode. To learn how you can support the podcast check out www.SchoolOfLuaghs.com/Patreon.
Joey is I.L.O. is a man of many talents. From acting, singing and physical comedy to stand-up laced with characters an impersonations - he is a gifted performer. I believe I first met Joey in 2008 but it wasn’t until May of 2018 that we performed together on the Collision of Comedy Tour along with Jonnie W.After a few dates in Wisconsin I knew that Joey was going to be a big time performer. His energy and commitment to a bit is something to see.
Joey was living in Minneapolis at that time. It was a few years later when he took an opportunity in Branson MO. We talk about that transition and what it took for Joey I.L.O. to go from the new kid in town to recently being nominated for Comedian of the Year in Branson.
Joey I.L.O. and I also talk about: Being raised by clowns
The immense influence of his Father
Lessons he learned from promoting his own shows
Overcoming challenges off stage
Booking gigs well in advance
Having the flexibility in Branson to travel out
The time his father hung up on John Pinette
Dabbling in acting
Playing “Otis Campbell” from Andy Griffith Show
and much, much more.
Find out more about Joey I.L.O. at his web site: joeyilocomedy.com
Hit him up on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joey.i.l.o
Episode Sponsors ... This episode is sponsored by PATREON supporter John Peters and the "HOT BREATH" PODCAST with JOEL BYARS. Hot Breath focuses on Stand-Up just like the School of Laughs. Trust me, you will dig it!
CLICK HEREto find your preferred listening method and SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/hotbreathpod/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/HotBreathPod/
BONE HAMPTON - America's Got Talent comedian and Dove Award-winning “Comedian of the Year” joins me today to talk all things comedy. I've known Bone for a solid ten years and although we've broke bread, appeared on some of the same tapings and are part of the Christian Comedy Association, I haven't spent as much time as I would have liked with him. So today, we make up for it with an in-depth hour long interview that is wall to wall jam packed with comedy gold.
BONE HAMPTON SHOW NOTES Specifically, Bone Hampton and I talk about:
- His days as University of North Texasfootball player and Rah Rah dude
- Winning $500 from Oscar-winning actor, Jamie Foxx
- Being one of the few clean comedians in Hollywood
- Opening for Carmanon the road
- Learning to do Bible jokes for the unsaved
- BET’s “Comic View"
- His two stints as Guest Co-Host of ABC’s “The View"
- His friendship with Actress/Comedienne Sherri Shepherd
- How he worked on NBC’s “My Name is Earl"
- America's Got Talent
- The importance of honing a 90 second set
- The role a "back story" plays in television
and a whole lot more!
More about BONE HAMPTON
When he’s not on set, the comedian/actor answers the call of the road, traveling across the country bringing merriment to the masses. As one of the superstars of clean/Christian entertainment, Bone is the host of JoyFest, the premiere gospel music festival. Bone has toured with the likes of Chonda Pierce, LeCrae, as well as Sherri Shepherd. He credits his success, in part, to “co-laborers in the faith”–friends such as Shepherd and Zachary Levi (“Chuck”) “who believe it is possible to be a Christian and make it in showbiz.”
His memorable appearance in the bestselling DVD, “Thou Shalt Laugh: The Deuce,” hosted Emmy Award-winning comedy legend Tim Conway (“The Carol Burnett Show” and “SpongeBob Square Pants”), led to a repeat performance in the follow up project, “Thou Shalt Laugh 5” hosted by Chonda Pierce and featuring Thor Ramsey (“Bananas”), Taylor Mason (Taylor’s Attic”), and Victoria Jackson (“Saturday Night Live”).
Visit his:
WEBSITE: https://bonehampton.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/bonehampton/
Episode Sponsors ... This episode is sponsored by PATREON supporter Amy Lynch and the "HOT BREATH" PODCAST with JOEL BYARS. Hot Breath focuses on Stand-Up just like the School of Laughs. Trust me, you will dig it!
CLICK HEREto find your preferred listening method and SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/hotbreathpod/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/HotBreathPod/
Happy Labor Day weekend, America. And to everyone else – Hello! This is a comedy podcast about other comedy podcasts. Follow me?
Thanks to our sponsors HOT BREATH podcast with Joel Byars and Patreon supporter B. Ellen Wesley!
As I was thinking about taking a week off of podcasting to celebrate the holiday, I decided to do something a little different. I’ll give you SIX podcasts instead! Yes, it’s true. Although only partially true. Fuzzy math, fake news. But real podcasts.
In short, I am sharing with you six OTHER podcast episodes on which I have been interviewed. YES – THIS IS A SIX IN ONE COMEDY PODCAST BONANZA! You will hear some info that you have not picked up on the School of Laughs podcast before. And, you may hear a couple of stories for the second time. Either way, lots of fun conversations with some excellent hosts. Let’s get into the details!
My Peeps Show Episode #4 “RIK ROBERTS”
First we go way back to my appearance as a guest on the MY PEEPS SHOW podcast with Anthony Rece. Aside from having the catchiest theme song of any show I’ve been a guest on, Anthony is a genuinely curious host who gets the most out of his guests. We covered a lot of ground on the show and I know you’ll dig it!
In this episode I get to know the very talented Rik Roberts.Rik has been doing stand up for 27 years and whether its Riks great comedic storytelling or his 2nd to none Barney impression from the Andy Griffith Show his talent is unquestioned.
5 AM Miracle Episode #211 Traveling Like a Pro with Comedian Rik Roberts
Next up you can check out the 5 AM Miracle with Jeff Sanders. It wold be a miracle if I got up at 5 AM for sure. Jeff’s podcast is focused on achieving more with your day and I share how I stay productive on the road. Some ninja tips in here for maximizing your time away from home.
Is it possible to be a highly-productive road warrior? In this week’s episode of The 5 AM Miracle Podcast I chat with comedian Rik Roberts about his extensive travel schedule and how he manages to stay wildly productive.
Hot Breath Episode #105 Rik Roberts Reveals How to Find Your “Ultimate” Audience, Creating a Corporate Keynote
Rik Roberts is an almost 30 year comedy veteran with an inspirational business instinct he candidly shares with the Hot Breathiverse. Listen and learn how to get more business in your show business. Enjoy this comedy podcast.
On Faith’s Edge Episode #99 The Art and Business of Clean Comedy – Comedian, Rik Roberts
http://bit.ly/podcastRIKOnFaithsEdge099
After you’ve tuned up your productivity, listen to Joe Taylor and the ON FAITH’S EDGE podcast. Joe is a former atheist who is searching for answers and learning his way to heaven. We get a little deep on this one! I think this is a great episode for both atheists and believers alike. We got to hang out at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville, ate some yogurt and recorded this conversation.
We got to hang out at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville, ate some yogurt and recorded this conversation.
We talk about:
-
- HIs latest project THINKING REAL LOUD
- What it takes to be a comedian. Here’s a hint, it’s more than thinking you’re funny
- How he intertwines his faith when he performs at bars and clubs
- His path away from God and how he reconnects with God now.
- The moment when he prayed for direction and the incredible answer he received
- and did Comedian Daren Streblow steal from Rik to buy Herbal Life?
School of Hard knock Knocks Episode #65 Rik Roberts – Comedy under Christian constraints
Need a little more religion? How about this interview from Australian Morry Morgan? Morry hosts the School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast. Sorry wonders how you can be a Christian and still make fun of things? Aren’t there too many constraints? You’ll hear my perspective on finding the funny within the beliefs of Christianity, and how being squeaky clean can be great for business.
The Art of Bombing Episode #59 RIK ROBERTS
Lastly, lets be honest, all the gigs aren’t valet parking and standing ovations. On THE ART OF BOMBING comedy podcast, Dave Blublitz explores the dark reality of failure. Lucky for us, there are lots of lessons in the lack of laughs!
“Do you ask questions before you agree to a gig? Or are you so desperate for stage time that you take every gig offered? This week I’m joined by Rik Roberts from the “School Of Laughs”. Rik has a couple of great stories about bombing at a corporate gig and bombing with a whole Improv troupe in front of 3,000 people. We talk about asking lots of questions before accepting gigs, pros & cons of self producing projects, having a marketing plan, and more.”
EPISODE SPONSORS … This episode is sponsored by "https://schooloflaughs.com/patreon-a-way-for-you-to-support-the-podcast/">PATREON supporter B. Ellen Wesley and the “HOT BREATH” PODCAST with JOEL BYARS. Hot Breath focuses on Stand-Up just like the School of Laughs. Trust me, you will dig it!
CLICK HEREto find your preferred listening method and SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
Comedian Scott Longjoins us today to talk about creating a local presence in your market. If you haven't realized the importance of becoming a resource in your own community - you are missing out.
I've known Scott Long for over 25 years. We started roughly the same time in similar cities. He lived in Indianapolis, the home of mega successful "The Bob and Tom Show." I started in Columbus, OH, the most successful location of the Funny Bone Comedy Clubs. Both were cities with great local comedy scenes. Because of that, the competition for stage time was strong. I believe that made us each a better comedian. Both of us are still at it, although we have done it in slightly different ways.
Today, Scott is a known commodity in his city. He has strategically positioned himself as the "go to guy" for comedy fundraisers, corporate events and more in Indianapolis. On the show he shares specifics on how to create opportunities that serve both your community and yourself.
SCOTT LONG SHOW NOTES: Specifically, Scott Long and I talk about: * The importance of re-creating yourself in comedy * Producing your own shows * Creating your own opportunities * How to get a LOT of media exposure * Using tough gigs to prepare for bigger opportunities * Choosing not to move to L.A. or N.Y.C. * His inspiration to try more corporate events * Involving his daughter in his comedy * The pressure of self-producing your own events
And a whole lot more!
Learn more about Scott Long: Website Facebook Twitter THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY PATREON SUPPORTER **Rory Gardener** and **The Hot Breath Podcast … SUBSCRIBE TODAY!**
Comedian Nazareth joins us today and talks about his journey from Palestine to Kuwait to … Toledo and then Hollywood.
His passion for comedy ignited when he asked himself one day“What do I want to do in life that if I never get paid for itI’d still do it to the best of my ability?” Making people laugh was the only thing that came to mind. The next day he signed up at a California comedy club for open-mike night. He took the stage before a crowd of nine drunks. Nazareth recalls them laughing so hard that one of them fell off their chair. From the moment that he discovered his talent for bringing comic relief his desire to do it for a living was without question.
COMEDIAN NAZARETH SHOW NOTES: Today we talk about many things, including: * Being a Christian Palestinian born in … Nazareth * Deciding what jokes to put into a TV set * Moving to Kuwait when he was 3 yrs old * Transplanting to Toledo for college * Impressions of America before arrival * Going from accounting to comedy * Using comedy as a tool to create acceptance * Starting comedy in Hollywood * How he started “Laughter for All” Stadium shows * How he keeps his family close when he is away * His new book “Hope in 24 hours”
And a whole lot more!
Learn more about Nazareth: Website: https://www.nazarethusa.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyeEDxcMLTM Episode Sponsors ... THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY PATREON SUPPORTER **RHONDA COREY** AND **THE ART OF BOMBING PODCAST ... SUBSCRIBE TODAY!**
KRISTIN WEBER is a funny lady who not only does comedy, but she also performs with an accordion. Take that Judy Tenuta!
Kristin started her comedy journey around 2010. She took sketch classes with the Groundlingsand when she needed to develop a character she picked up the accordion as part of that process. She now travels the country performing at a range of events including churches, fund raisers, youth retreats and women's conferences.
Now based in Atlanta, GA, Kristin is getting more comfortable delivering her comedy, despite the fact the act of getting onstage in front of an audience is genuinely terrifying.
KRISTIN WEBER SHOW NOTES: Today we talk about many things, including: * Overcoming a series of bad shows by taking time off * Her fear of being in front of an audience * The benefit of being in your thirties as an entertainer * Focusing on sharing the gift of comedy * Learning to enjoy the variety of gig opportunities * Her Craig's Listaccordion transaction * The art of song parodies * The difference between a stand up and an improvisational comedian * Her top tip for new comics * The benefit of an opening song
And a whole lot more!
LEARN MORE ABOUT KRISTIN WEBER AT HER WEBSITE: http://www.kristinweberonline.com
Episode Sponsors ... THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY PATREON SUPPORTER ALLEN-MICHAEL HARBER AND THE ART OF BOMBING PODCAST ... SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
FOLLOW ART OF BOMBING ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/artofbombingpod
FOLLOW ART OF BOMBING ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/artobpodcast/
RIK'S UPCOMING LIVE PUBLIC APPEARANCES Jul 17, 27 AUGUST 3, 10, 17 2018 6:ooPM TBN Studios Hendersonville, TN(Just North of Nashville)
Tickets are FREE but must be reserved.
Tickets for HUCKABEE in Hendersonville from ShowClix
https://www.showclix.com/event/huckabee
REQUESTING TICKETS. All available live taping dates for the HACKABLE show are listed on the calendar as they are confirmed one month out. Please choose the taping date you are interested in and follow the prompts. If the date you choose is already at capacity, feel free to enter as standby or choose a future date.
Mike Goodwin is a refreshingly funny comedian, speaker, and leader. His signature bowtie is a nod to his expectation-defying brand of comedy that leaves a variety of audiences - from corporate events to swanky galas - laughing hysterically and completely inspired, without a foul or vulgar word spoken.
A native of Camden, South Carolina, Mike was raised in a family that had its share of dysfunction. He learned at an early age how to use laughter to pierce through tension and in some cases, ease pain. As a result, he developed an affinity for comedy and used it as a way to cope through difficult situations he faced as a child.
After graduating from high school, Mike enlisted in the United States Army, where he served for a total of 12 years - four in active duty, and the balance as an ROTC cadet and commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Reserves. While attending college at Lander University in Greenwood, SC, he became active on campus and honed his leadership skills by serving as a campus ambassador, hosting events, and joining his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi.
MIKE GOODWIN SHOW NOTES: Today we talk about many things, including: * Pacing Your Set * Getting started with Akintunde * Taking the focus off of him at the beginning of the set * Having Fun and Blessing the People * Leadership * Speaking Gigs
All of this and more in this episode of the Rik Roberts School of Laughs!
LEARN MORE ABOUT NMIKE GOODWIN:
WEBSITE: https://www.edwileycomedy.com
Episode Sponsors ... THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY PATREON SUPPORTER KAY DODD AND THE ART OF BOMBING PODCAST ... SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
Ed Wiley is a comedian who weaves spot-on impressions and music into a traditional stand-up act.
A native Georgian, Ed lives on a south Georgia farm with his wife, six children, eight cats, a dog, umpteen goats, two rabbits, and a healthy supply of antacids. In other words, it's a homeschool paradise.
Ed blends just the right mix of stand-up, guitar, improv, and impressions to bring a clean, relevant show with something for everyone. His act reaches across generations and backgrounds to connect with people of all ages.
ED WILEY SHOW NOTES: Today we talk about many things, including: * His previous life as a Elvis Impersonator * Six Children / Sixty Goats * The subjectivity of Stand up comedy * Derrick Tenant’s "Bleep Free" Comedy Show * Family open mics on the farm * Having three different pieces go viral on Facebook * Civil War Mix Tape * Trump hands on April the Giraffe * Trump on staff at your church video clip with 6 million views * How tweets don’t always translate to the stand-up show * Dealing with trolls and haters * Driving two and half hours (each way) to do an open mic, every week * Doing impressions in grade school to get out of trouble
All of this and more in this episode of the Rik Roberts School of Laughs!
LEARN MORE ABOUT ED WILEY: WEBSITE: https://www.edwileycomedy.com FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/edwileycomedy TWITTER: https://twitter.com/EdWiley
Episode Sponsors ... THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY PATREON SUPPORTER BRAD BER AND THE ART OF BOMBING PODCAST ... SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
FOLLOW ART OF BOMBING ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/artofbombingpod
FOLLOW ART OF BOMBING ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/artobpodcast/
RIK'S UPCOMING LIVE PUBLIC APPEARANCES June 15, 19 | July 13, 17, 27 | 6:ooPM TBN Studios Hendersonville, TN(Just North of Nashville)
Tickets are FREE but must be reserved.
Tickets for HUCKABEE in Hendersonville from ShowClix
https://www.showclix.com/event/huckabee
REQUESTING TICKETS. All available live taping dates for the HUCKABEEshow are listed on the calendar as they are confirmed one month out. Please choose the taping date you are interested in and follow the prompts. If the date you choose is already at capacity, feel free to enter as standby or choose a future date.
Today I am joined by former School of Laughs students and full time comedians Jonnie W.and Brian Bates. Over some tasty BBQ we discuss the recent happenings in the world of comedy. Specifically, Michelle Wolfe and the White House Correspondents Dinner, Netflix Comedy Specials and the passing of a fellow comedian.
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY PATREON SUPPORTER NEIL RITTLEAND THE CLEAN COMEDY CHALLENGE. You would think that an occupation such as comedy would be relatively stress-free. After all, it's all about the laughs, right? Well, sort of yes and sort of no. You see every joke has a target. I could be the traffic, the drivers, the car or the police. Sometimes, the comedian hits on a target and the reaction is bigger than the joke. Or, even an unintended response from a misinterpreted punch line. Other times, the comedian is challenged for not being "sensitive" or "politically correct" with their material. Despite freedom of speech, as comedian is not free form judgement. In today's world, we are quick to celebrate the mistakes of others. Comedy is no different. It makes it hard for the comedian to do their job when every word is picked apart and mass distributed over a network of trigger-happy-texters and social media rabble-rousers. What is a comic to do? The three of us share our takes on Michelle Wolfe and the 2018 White House Correspondents Dinner roast. The good, bad and ugly as well as the reaction, opportunity and results. Also on the agenda is a quick discussion about the proliferation of NETFLIXcomedy specials. Is having so many specials good or bad for the comedy marketplace? Are great comedians putting out subpar specials just to grab a handful of cash? Am I only mad because I don't have a NETFLIX special? And, finally, we talk about the long-lasting feeling of connection to other comedians. When one of our own passes away, we feel like we just saw them yesterday. But, we may not have worked with or talked to them in over a decade. What is it about the brotherhood and sisterhood of comedy that connects us? All of this and more in this episode of the Rik Roberts School of Laughs!
(C)(P) 2018 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED SCHOOL OF LAUGHS
WWW.SCHOOLOFLAUGHS.COM
Today we are going to weed and feed our act, business and relationships.
Spring is a time of fresh rain, budding flowers and horrific, crippling allergies. Ahh, soak it in. Don’t look now but I see some weeds popping up. Daggone it! My beautiful yard is all covered with chickweed, ribwort and quack grass.
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY PATREON SUPPORTER SEAN SELLERS AND THE CLEAN COMEDY CHALLENGE. As I walked around the year this year I thought, enough is enough. Time to weed and feed. In the past I tolerated the weeds because green is green and honestly, they dominated a good portion of the lawn. But, they kept spreading and now there is more weed than grass. And, uhm, this ain’t COLORADO.
Within a week of application I saw the weeds starting to turn yellow. By the second week (after a little rain and ninety degree temperatures) the fertilizer kicked in and boosted the grass noticeably. The weeds we now dead and brown.
As I wandered around the yard it occurred to me that this would be a great metaphor for shoring up my act. Clean out the junk and let the good stuff grow deep. The lawn product directions said to "apply to lawn while wet". I advise you think about your act soon after a performance. When you do, here are some things to consider:
WEED AND FEED - TIPS FOR A STRONGER ACT SHOW NOTES Take a long look at your opening and closing bits
Search out any wordy or unnecessarily long stories
Be objective and pull any "hacky" or "entry level" jokes
Ask yourself, would I write this joke today? If not, YANK IT!
Spend more time on bits and see if you can "deepen the roots"
If you have trouble, do this exercise with another comedian
Now apply this "weeding" to your business approach
Use the PARETO PRINCIPLE to direct your focus
Shine the sun on what's delivering the biggest payoff
Rid your business of time consuming / low return practices
When in a rut, help someone else
Weed and feed your relationships
End toxic relationships and focus on solid mutually beneficial friends
Episode Sponsors ... We are sponsored today by the Clean Comedy Challenge (www.CleanComedyChallenge.com) and Patreon supporter SEAN SELLERS. Visit PATREON to learn how you can support the podcast through a small, recurring monthly donation.
RIK'S UPCOMING LIVE PUBLIC APPEARANCES May 18 & 24 / 2018 6:ooPM TBN Studios Hendersonville, TN(Just North of Nashville)
Tickets are FREE but must be reserved.
Tickets for HUCKABEE in Hendersonville from ShowClix
https://www.showclix.com/event/huckabee
REQUESTING TICKETS. All available live taping dates for the HUCKABEEshow are listed on the calendar as they are confirmed one month out. Please choose the taping date you are interested in and follow the prompts. If the date you choose is already at capacity, feel free to enter as standby or choose a future date.
This week I sit and talk with the creative and hilarious Clayburn Cox. Clayburn is based in Auburn, AL where he teaches Photoshop to high school students. Those students torture him with those very skills. Clayburn and I first met in 2008 at a Christian Comedy Association conference in Murfreesboro TN. That conference introduced Clay and myself to a new group of comedians that would eventually become our friends.
Clayburn Cox show notes: Specifically, we talk about ...
- Trying out jokes and stories on his students
- Balancing work, family and comedy
- The Toothbrush Story
- Putting on your own shows in a smaller town
- His new love for hecklers
- The intricacies of the craft of stand up comedy
- One liners and stories
- How Clayburn develops stories
- The group mentality of a comedy club audience
- Overcoming a gap between stage and the audience
- Seeing his humor in his children
- The potential for a family-filled comedy show
- Using a "strum stick” to break up the performance
- His DVD recording in Auburn
- The next CD project coming soon
To learn more about Clayburn Cox visit:
WEBSITE: http://clayburncoxcomedy.com
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/theclayburncox/
Episode Sponsors ... We are sponsored today by the Clean Comedy Challenge (www.CleanComedyChallenge.com) and Patreon supporter DERRICK TENANT. Visit PATREONto learn how you can support the podcast through a small, recurring monthly donation.
==
RIK'S UPCOMING LIVE PUBLIC APPEARANCES TBN Studios Hendersonville, TN (Just North of Nashville)
May 3, 4, 18, 24 - 2018 6:ooPM
Tickets are FREE but must be reserved.
Tickets for HUCKABEE in Hendersonville from ShowClix
https://www.showclix.com/event/huckabee
REQUESTING TICKETS. All available live taping dates for the HUCKABEEshow are listed on the calendar as they are confirmed one month out. Please choose the taping date you are interested in and follow the prompts. If the date you choose is already at capacity, feel free to enter as standby or choose a future date.
Comedian Mark Klein joins us today to discuss coming up in the 1980’s comedy boom, how it has changed and what stays the same.
- Living in a sellers market in the 1980’s
- Being part of a comedy duo with Bob Batch
- Keys to making a corporate event a success
- Creating a clean show separate from his nightclub act
- Discovering laughs that were once masked by language
- The benefits of working on a cruise ship (yay - no cell phones!)
- Tapping into “Hidden World” comedy situations
- Learning to think about “Who’s Not Hiring Me?”
- A couple of thingS he wishes he would have done earlier
- The benefits (and limits) of having an agent
- What we are really paid for as comedians
- Dropping hints and planting business tips in your show
- Switching the focus from income to impact
- Producing a comedy show for cable TV and other outlets
To learn ore about Mark Klein visit:
WEBSITE: CorpJester.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/corpjester
Episode Sponsors ... THE RIK ROBERTS SCHOOL OF LAUGHS www.SchoolOfLaughs.com
We are sponsored today by the Clean Comedy Challenge (www.CleanComedyChallenge.com) and Patreon supporter Ray Price. Visit PATREON to learn how you can support the podcast through a small, recurring monthly donation.
THIS PODCAST IS PRODUCTION OF THE RIK ROBERTS SCHOOL OF LAUGHS. ANY MISUSE, REPRODUCTION OR UNAUTHORIZED ACTIVITY IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. (C) (P)
Dusty Slay joins me on the podcast today to discuss all things comedy. Dusty was born and raised in Alabama. He moved to Charleston, SC and got started at first by performing Improv comedy. He tried a little stand-up comedy. His first set was great. But then the following shows were not that good and he took a four year break before trying again. Lucky for us, the second time around stuck and he has been onstage since 2008. So, ten years into comedy is where we pick up today.
DUSTY SLAY SHOW NOTES: Specifically, Dusty Slay and I talk about:
- Growing up (and writing about) living in a trailer park
- Learning to write about real life
- How real life comedy is easier to remember
- Performing sober since 29 years old
- Moving to Nashville to be more geographically centered
- Landing in a new town with an hour of solid material
- Moving up into headlining at comedy clubs
- Resetting the stage when following high energy
- Experimenting with crowd work
- Adjusting delivery for different types of audience
- Slowing down enough to allow the audience to react
- Accepting comics who are different than you
- What led up to Dusty’s Jimmy Kimmel appearance
- The role comedy festivals played in the appearance
- The value of keeping a five minute set handy
- Developing a YouTube channel
and much, much more!
DUSTY SLAY ONLINE: Dusty Slay on Jimmy Kimmel: https://youtu.be/o5j4Y5pcbr0
Dusty Slay web site: http://dustyslay.com
Dusty Slay Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlqb-g3sQjQ
DUSTY SLAY BIO
Slay has appeared on several network shows including ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! NBC’s “Last Comic Standing”, the popular program “Laughs on FOX” and he was a featured comedian on “TMZ”. Dusty’s comedy is regularly showcased on many nationally syndicated radio programs including Sirius XM, Pandora Radio and “The Bob and Tom Radio Show”. He’s also been invited to numerous comedy festivals across America including: The Bridgetown Comedy Festival 2017, The Laughing Skull Festival 2015-16, The Charleston Comedy Festival and The Cape Fear Comedy Festival. Dusty won both the “Fight Night Competition” and the “Almost Famous Competition” at the Charlotte Comedy Zone in 2014. During his years in Charleston, SC Slay won The Charleston Comedy Festival Stand Up Competition two years in a row and was voted “Best Local Comic” by the readers of the Charleston City Paper in 2013 and 2014.
Episode Sponsors ... We are sponsored today by the Clean Comedy Challenge (www.CleanComedyChallenge.com) and Patreon supporter Brad Ber. Visit PATREON to learn how you can support the podcast through a small, recurring monthly donation.
You know the biggest decision you have when releasing a CD - Independent or Label? That is the decision I was faced with on my new release “Thinking Real Loud”. This is my tenth CD. The previous nine I had done it all by myself. The recording, mixing, promoting, distribution - everything. This time around I thought about trying it a different. way. After much research I have found the pro’s and con’s of recording a CD independently versus working with a record label are fairly equal in risk and reward. You should weight both against each other honestly before you make your decision. There was one major factor, though, that led to my decision. Listen in for that.
Releasing a CD Show Notes We cover several points today concerning releasing a CD. Here are several things to consider when choosing a label or doing it all by yourself include: * Who has control of the experience? * Do you have the ability to set deadlines realistically and effectively? * How will Parkinson’s Law apply to project completion? * What does the American Picker’s have in common with comedy? * Can you get it recorded in one night? * Why you shouldn’t be like Chili’s * Are you able to choose, book and reserve a venue? * Are you a skilled at the technical side of recording? * Are you adept at marketing and promoting the CD * Can you handle distribution? * Can you collect royalties?
As you can see releasing a CD can be quite a process. Below are links to my project if you are interested on how it turned out and what it looks like to have a record label produce your project. Live before 3/16: https://800PGR.lnk.to/RikRobertsPreorderWE Live beginning 3/16: https://800PGR.lnk.to/RikRobertsWE RELATED PODCASTS Episode 048 about Sound Exchange Episode 065 about Discmakers Episode 152 with the founders of Third Coast Comedy Club Episode 070: With the producer of my previous CD “HALF FOOL”, Nathan Meckel The record label I talked about in the episode is 800 POUND GORILLA. Episode Sponsors ... We are sponsored today by the Clean Comedy Challenge (www.CleanComedyChallenge.com) and Patreon Supporter Bruce Bradford-Royle. Visit PATREON to learn how you can support the podcast through a small, recurring monthly donation
Finding your comedic voice is like finding and ATM that prints money without asking for your PIN number. It is the sweetest piece of information you will never have as a comedian. Your comedic voice is that little accent that goes on all of your material. The comedic voice is your brand, style and uniqueness all rolled into one. When will you find your comedic voice? It all depends. The more times you get on stage the better chance you will have to discover it. Just doing a couple of open mics a month probably won't lead to any incredible discoveries.
It's often been said that it can take about 7 years of constant, consistent and relentless stage time to find that golden nugget. Do you have the patience and drive to push through? Will you have the same drive and recognition a few years later to notice that your voice has changed a little? Can you go through that process again?
In this episode we talk about finding your comedic voice, hecklers & agents. The questions come from students of mine in Nashville, TN after a recent writing class.
SPONSORS
We are sponsored today by the Clean Comedy Challenge (www.CleanComedyChallenge.com) and by Patreon member Sean Sellers. Visit PATREON to learn how you can support the podcast through a small, recurring monthly donation
Learn more about LIVE and ONLINE comedy classes at www.SchoolofLaughs.com
You better grab a pen and get ready to take some notes. This episode is like a mini-business course with comedian Kenn Kington. Kenn spent early years as a sales person for a Fortune 500 company. When he ventured into comedy he took that same work ethic and created a career that now spans over 30 years.
Beginning by producing his own Incredible Ultimate Date Night Comedy Events at churches across the country, Kenn finds a need and solves it. Very few comedians think this way. Instead, most have shows and need someone to solve the problem of an empty calendar. Flipping your mindset into a problem solver will pay dividends every time.
Kenn shares with us a lot of tips, including:
Meeting his wife after a DVD taping
Encountering Tim Hawkins really, really early on
Using video to showcase your skill set to buyers
Thinking ahead and seeing others
Avoiding the bait and switch approach to date nights
Duct Tape Date Night conception
The value of giving something away
A tip he picked up from me for after shows
Why you should announce your vision more than you ask for gigs
I know you are going to love this episode and probably listen to it more than once. Get to know Kenn through the links below.
Kenn Kington Resources List ...
KENNWORKS.com
Follow Kenn Kington …
Website: http://www.kennkington.com
Twitter: @KennKington
This podcast is a production of the Rik Roberts School of Laughs. All rights reserved. No unauthorized reproduction or use of this podcast is permitted without written consent from Rik Roberts.
School of Laughs (c) (p)
www.SchoolOfLaughs.com
Brian Kohatsu joins us today to talk about the comedy scene in Arizona. And, there is more going on than you might think. From the Improv in Tempe to the Orpheum in Flagstaff and everything in between, the comedy scene is alive and well.
Brian has a background in Improv comedy, stand-up and lucky for us - videography!
We spend a good deal of the episode going over “down and dirty” tips on how to get high quality video without spending a ton of money. Lots of times, you have tools at your disposal already and just need tap into it.
Included in the conversation ….
- Tips we picked up from Dennis Miller
- Full list of clubs in the Arizona area
- Recording from the mixing board
- How to mic the audience
- Having multiple options for audio
- Using your cell phone for audio, video or editing
- Trouble shooting the showroom in advance
- Recording easy in the week to get the settings right
- Spending money when it counts
- The evolution from reel to reel, to mini-disc to SD cards
- Vinyl making a come back
- Selling 8-Tracks after shows
The YouTube link to the "Video Tips for Comedians with Brian Kohatsu"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV3651ndKrU
Brian teaches Improv at Stir Crazy Comedy Club https://stircrazycomedyclub.com/
OTHER AZ CLUBS:
The Tempe Improv: www.tempeimprov.com
Stand Up Live: www.standuplive.com/
Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy: https://moa.houseofcomedy.net/
Comedy Spot (Scottsdale): thecomedyspot.net/
Laff’s Cafe (Tuscon): https://www.laffstucson.com/
The Orpheum (Flagstaff): https://www.orpheumflagstaff.com/
Follow Brian Kohatsu …
Here is Brian’s Website: https://www.briankohatsu.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/brian.kohatsu
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/briankohatsu/
Twitter https://twitter.com/BrianKohatsu
YouTube
Sponsors ... This episode was sponsored by the CLEAN COMEDY CHALLENGE and PATREON supporter NEIL RITTLE.
Jason Michaels joins us today to talk about performing as a magician and … overcoming Tourette Syndrome. Accomplishing the impossible can seem daunting. Impossible, even. But what is impossible anyway? Often times it is a self-limiting thought revolving around our mind. We feel trapped by it and allow it to keep us from our fun potential.
Jason Michaels has learned to overcome such limitations and proves it every time he steps on stage.
We cover quite about of ground in this episode. Specifically, we talk about:
- Getting started in magic
- How acting helped him notice he could focus
- Learning he had Tourettes syndrome
- Key to getting good volunteers on stage
- Discovering his show is not about him
- A mentor to helped him tell his story
- His new book
- Creating a web site that sells
For more on Jason Michaels check out: BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Impossible-Too-Professional/dp/099892900X
Stephen Bargatze’s episode link
https://schooloflaughs.com/093-stephen-bargatze-i-hate-kids-podcast/
WebSite: https://www.jasonmichaelsmagic.com/
TED talk: https://youtu.be/Z6BXeIjnaYE”?rel=0"
Sponsors:
This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Jason Dux and by the Clean Comedy Challenge.
Visit www.CleanComedyChallenge.com for more info on the locations and dates for this event.
And, if you would like to sponsor the show through a monthly donation on Patreon, visit www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon for more info.
Today I am joined by Jonnie W. and Brian Bates to discuss our best and worst of 2017. We kick it off with the worst shows because let’s face it that is more interesting!
As years change we find ourselves reflecting back on the good, the bad, and the ugly. Regardless of how hard you plan ahead there’ll always be a few surprises along the way. Even after 26 years as a full-time Comedian there are surprises. That is what makes it a fun career.
We talk about the value of a great and commanding introduction. And how a lack of one can set you up for failure. Rick wonders allowed if one of his speeches resulted in the firing of the one who hired him. Brian Bates just got out of jail. And lots of guys there thanked him for visiting.
We also talk about what lies ahead in 2018. Each of us have set forth a goal for the new year. From writing more biblically-based material, to being more fearless, we establish a target for the year ahead.
So what was your best and worst of 2017? I would love to hear from you about your successes and failures. And what is your goal for 2018? Comment below, or send an email to schooloflaughs@gmail.com. Let me know if I can read them on the air.
Do you want to get more laughs in 2018? Maybe your writing needs to be punched up. Or maybe you just need to get started from scratch. Check out the online writing class available or attend one of the live courses in Nashville. Half the battle is knowing what not to do. The other half is developing great habits early in your career. There is no need to go it alone when there are so many resources available online. Whether it is my course or another one do yourself a favor and save many years of frustration by looking at the roadmap first.
This episode of the school last podcast is brought to you by Patreon supporter Seth Knorr. To learn how you can support the podcast through a small, recurring monthly donation check out www.schooloflaughs.com/PATREON.
Today I am joined by students who want to know insights on starting your own comedy show, how to get started when you are an introvert, getting spots on booked shows and writing for others.
Learn more about upcoming comedy classes and workshops at www.SchoolOfLaughs.com
Send your questions to SchoolOfLaughs@gmail.com and I will answer them on an upcoming show.
(C) (P) School Of Laughs 2017
Josh Novey is a self proclaimed “Fat Veteran”. I would describe more like a gentle bear of a comedian. At almost 8 years into his comedy journey Josh has found his groove and is putting in the work to make it more than full time job. Having just recorded a DVD despite strep throat and laryngitis, Josh sits down to talk all things comedy.
Specifically, we discuss:
Overcoming the juvenile tendencies of most open mics
How a comedy seminar fast tracked his ability to go pro
Creating your own shows
The comedy scene in Des Moines, IA
Preparing his DVD before and after the recording
Reaping the rewards of high quality video footage
His upcoming move to Los Angeles
And much, much more.
An Iraq War veteran, Josh has used his humor and easy-going stage presence to entertain thousands of people. Josh is a clean comedian, so every time he goes on stage you know the whole family will be able to enjoy. Your mom will love his charm and find him endearing and your dad will think he’s tough because he was in the Army. He has performed across the United States at corporate events, fundraisers, clubs, coffee shops, colleges, churches and veterans groups.
Find out more about Josh at:
http://joshnovey.com
https://www.facebook.com/joshnoveycomedy
Devin Henderson joins me to day to talk about corporate entertaining. He started magic at 11 years old. After college he went full speed ahead after his dream. Not full speed, he slows down to have kids - 5 of them - from time to time. This episode is brought to you by Patreon Supporter Seth Knorr.
We met up at the National Speakers Association conference this past year. Specifically, we talked about:
- His audition for America’s Got Talent
- Transitioning from purely doing magic into more comedy and speaking
- What happened when I did a slide show with no slides
- How his daughters inspire his comedy
- The Girl Talk Song
- Going #8
- Not comparing yourself to others
- Investing in yourself
- The Christian Comedy Association
Devin Henderson takes humor seriously. He teaches that humor in the workplace isn’t just nice to have, it’s a must-have for any organization looking to boost overall creativity, productivity, camaraderie and fun. An organization with happy people makes happy customers. Devin isn’t just a funny speaker who makes people laugh, he helps people learn to engage their sense of humor as a useful life skill. If you’re looking for a hilarious and interactive motivational speaker to address humor in a way that will help your people deal with difficult situations and difficult people, Devin Henderson is the keynote speaker for you.
Find him on Facebook
on YOUTUBE
On Line: http://devinhenderson.com
“Hold” music provided by https://www.bensound.com