STAGE TIME magazine and Stand Up NY partnered to sponsor the first-ever Advanced Punch-Up class for beginner and working comedians seeking advice on showcasing for industry.
The three-day workshop taught by comedy veteran Todd Lynn (Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Late Night with Conan O’Brien) focused on using techniques such as creative referencing and word economy, and Lynn’s stage-tested “2-3-2 rule” for building a killer showcase set. The former My Wife and Kids star also invited special guest Morgan Murphy to speak to students about her stand-up showcases which led to writing jobs on Crank Yankers, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
We sat in on the workshop and compiled a quick reference guide of showcasing dos and dont’s.
7 Things to Avoid When Showcasing
1. Don’t walk onstage and say, “How ya’ll doing?”
2. Don’t say, “Give it up for the host.”
3. Don’t say, “I don’t know what I’m going to talk about.”
4. Avoid first draft jokes. Continue to write 2nd, 3rd and final drafts of your joke. Use the elements of comedy writing to maximize your joke and get the most laughs out of it.
5. Don’t establish yourself through gathering. Example: “Where’s the ladies at?”
6. Avoid hack jokes. Topical humor is time-sensitive (Example: Kanye West and David Letterman)
7. No crowd work! The industry wants to know who you are, not where the audience is from.
5 Things to Do On a Showcase
1. Be prepared.
2. Kill from start to finish.
3. Start with a strong opening.
4. Your base should be an extension of your opening.
5. Your closing should be strong and wrap up your set.
Comedian Hannibal Burress snagged one of the most coveted jobs in comedy this past August: He was hired as a writer for Saturday Night Live, the day after his killer set on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon aired.
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon – Hannibal Buress
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon|MySpace Videos
