Stand Up Comedy Thread

**Rod Nunley** · 02-02-2010, 08:18 AM

I am going to do it. I am going to preform at an open mic here in Austin. And it all starts here. I've been a stand up comedy nerd for longer than I can remember. I used to stay up late and record An Evening at the Improv at 2am when I was in high school so I could watch it over and over. Every night when I go to bed I listen to stand up comedy on my ipod. I devour stand up comedy and have always had the dream of doing it. Being a stand up.

Well now is that time.

I am spending the next few months working on material and going to open mics to see what it's like and then I will preform.

I know a few on the board (Evan Valentino and Michal O'Connell) have done this before (or all the time) and wanted to create a thread for discussion on the topic.

I'm starting from scratch here. I'm trying to learn how to take a random funny thought and work it into a real joke with set up and punchline.

My biggest problem is being unsure of joke construction and knowing if what I come up with is actually funny.

And the fact that for all the stuff on the internet about stand up comedy looks like either a scam of some sort or written by totally unprofessional people.

**Rosemary's Baby** · 02-02-2010, 08:19 AM

Not a stand-up comic, but there's a pretty good interview with Louis CK over at ain't it cool.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/43834

**Rod Nunley** · 02-02-2010, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by Rosemary's Baby

Not a stand-up comic, but there's a pretty good interview with Louis CK over at ain't it cool.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/43834

Louis CK is in fact a very good stand up comic. Thanks for the heads up.

**Rosemary's Baby** · 02-02-2010, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by rodnunley

Louis CK is in fact a very good stand up comic. Thanks for the heads up.

Oh yeah, I was saying that I'm not one.

**thatguyfromsyracuse** · 02-02-2010, 08:24 AM

Even Valentino!

**Evan the Shaggy** · 02-02-2010, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by thatguyfromsyracuse

Even Valentino!

Evon Valencio!

**Rod Nunley** · 02-02-2010, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by thatguyfromsyracuse

Even Valentino!

Whoops.

**thatguyfromsyracuse** · 02-02-2010, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by rodnunley

Whoops.

It was unintentionally hilarious!

**Greenville 90210** · 02-02-2010, 09:04 AM

Awesome. Good luck, man.

I'm the other guy on the board that does stand-up regularly. Here's my advice: Have fun and don't get too drunk.

**Rod Nunley** · 02-02-2010, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by Scotland Green

Awesome. Good luck, man.

I'm the other guy on the board that does stand-up regularly. Here's my advice: Have fun and don't get too drunk.

Well I don't drink so that part is easy. For those who have done stand up ... can you talk about the first joke you ever wrote and kept. The first time you finished a joke and said ... "this is going on stage with me."