Hey y'all. In a couple of weeks, I have to do a half hour set at show in New York City that's pretty important in the context of all the shows I've done. Up to now I've done up to 20 minute sets, and I'm trying to compile old shit and furiously write new stuff so I'll be ready. I was just wondering if any comedians have had a similar situation and how they handled it, and if they had any tips or stories to relate.
I've set up a show in my hometown where I can do a half hour a few days before the big show, so I'm hoping that will be of help. I'm excited but also admittedly a bit scared(or 'scurred', if you will). Help calm my ass down if you can...
My first half hour...
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NickFlanagan
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Mar 13, 2004 12:47 pm
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Re: My first half hour...
NickFlanagan,
Just keep studying yer notes man I have never done more then ten minutes. But you have done 20 whats 10 minutes more?
YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!
Just keep studying yer notes man I have never done more then ten minutes. But you have done 20 whats 10 minutes more?
YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!
"I'm on the Zoloft to keep from killing y'all"
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Re: My first half hour...
smjmcomic,
It's 30 he has to do! You'll be great! You're smart and funny and i bet you're a killer on stage!
It's 30 he has to do! You'll be great! You're smart and funny and i bet you're a killer on stage!
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NickFlanagan
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Mar 13, 2004 12:47 pm
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Re: My first half hour...
Jennifer--thank you for your words--you're a lady and a half! I'll make sure my mojo's workin' for this show. Smjm, thank you too. Support rules! I'll get that extra ten...and even if I don't, I'm planning on partying down whilst there, no matter how things go. I'll definitely get a picture in front of the Pryor billboard. I can't wait! 
Re: My first half hour...
NickFlanagan,
Do Not even think about the time just have fun go nuts and you'll be ok
Do Not even think about the time just have fun go nuts and you'll be ok
"I'm on the Zoloft to keep from killing y'all"
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Re: My first half hour...
NickFlanagan,
I can totally relate to this situation as I had my first 20 minutes but I was lucky to hav gotten advice from a seasoned successful comic here in Australia. He told me that alot of my material could be stretched to longer as I only seemed to touch on subjects. So I took a roll of butcher block paper and unrolled it on my living room floor and wrote out each topic. Then I mind mapped (this is a technique where you just let your mind flow with the first ideas that come out of your head and you off shoot them from the original thought until you have exhausted all possibilities -- usually the crazier and weirder the better) each topic as to where else I could go with it. I didn't expand all my topics which were about 20 in total but I went into the exercise thinking if I expanded each topic only by 1 minute that would be an additional 20 minutes. See the point is it takes the pressure off you to come up with new material it just helps you make material you are already happy and confident with stronger. In the end I expanded 3 topics and got an addtional 10 minutes making my act 30 plus including wait time for laughter and relating to the audience as well as any ad libbing I am now looking at about 35 - 40 minutes depending on the crowd. I hope this helps. ;p
Daria
I can totally relate to this situation as I had my first 20 minutes but I was lucky to hav gotten advice from a seasoned successful comic here in Australia. He told me that alot of my material could be stretched to longer as I only seemed to touch on subjects. So I took a roll of butcher block paper and unrolled it on my living room floor and wrote out each topic. Then I mind mapped (this is a technique where you just let your mind flow with the first ideas that come out of your head and you off shoot them from the original thought until you have exhausted all possibilities -- usually the crazier and weirder the better) each topic as to where else I could go with it. I didn't expand all my topics which were about 20 in total but I went into the exercise thinking if I expanded each topic only by 1 minute that would be an additional 20 minutes. See the point is it takes the pressure off you to come up with new material it just helps you make material you are already happy and confident with stronger. In the end I expanded 3 topics and got an addtional 10 minutes making my act 30 plus including wait time for laughter and relating to the audience as well as any ad libbing I am now looking at about 35 - 40 minutes depending on the crowd. I hope this helps. ;p
Daria
Re: My first half hour...
Daria,
I mind map too. It does work. It's actually better is you just follow the threads out as far as you can go. Don't try to be funny.
Then I look for ways to link different threads. If you don't write anything great at first the exercise itself strengthens your creativity.
russ
I mind map too. It does work. It's actually better is you just follow the threads out as far as you can go. Don't try to be funny.
Then I look for ways to link different threads. If you don't write anything great at first the exercise itself strengthens your creativity.
russ
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NickFlanagan
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Mar 13, 2004 12:47 pm
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Re: My first half hour...
Thanks for the great advice, everybody. Daria, your 'mind map'suggestion really could be of help to me--I mostly peddle in one liners and little anecdotes, but I've always wanted to cross that bridge and just carry a topic as far as I can. I'm definitely going to employ this mind map wildness.
Re: My first half hour...
Have fun with it. I can't even comprehend doing that much. Today I did about a 35 minute speech on "stand-up" (with notes and visual aids) and that was complicated. I managed to get quite a few laughs out of these germans off of stuff that I had written and stuff the pros recorded.
It went well (says my friend and my teacher), but I wasn't happy. I needed more laughter...that's my way of knowing that people like what I'm doing. And my teacher said I should try stand-up. Encouragement. Like I need any more.
It's just one more step to getting myself mentally prepared and ready for a real club.
Rock the mic and throw down! Woo!
Jane
It went well (says my friend and my teacher), but I wasn't happy. I needed more laughter...that's my way of knowing that people like what I'm doing. And my teacher said I should try stand-up. Encouragement. Like I need any more.
It's just one more step to getting myself mentally prepared and ready for a real club.
Rock the mic and throw down! Woo!
Jane
I don't know Karate. But I know Ka-Razy!
Re: My first half hour...
NickFlanagan,
Hey man, this is my first post here. What i did to help was found any ten min spot i could do, opened with something solid and then did all new shit, record it go over it ect. I used to never do that and just throw maybe one new bit in at a time but this really forced me to listen, analize, and try to make funny. Plus you really feel like you acomlished something by weeks end. Not all the little guys may have made it and you may take more bumps then usaual but its a great feeling after a week of gigs to have a new solid ten.
WHere in nyc? Take care
~Jamie
Hey man, this is my first post here. What i did to help was found any ten min spot i could do, opened with something solid and then did all new shit, record it go over it ect. I used to never do that and just throw maybe one new bit in at a time but this really forced me to listen, analize, and try to make funny. Plus you really feel like you acomlished something by weeks end. Not all the little guys may have made it and you may take more bumps then usaual but its a great feeling after a week of gigs to have a new solid ten.
WHere in nyc? Take care
~Jamie
