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Learn how to write jokes and create your own stand up comedy act in this series of do it yourself comedy videos from our professional television comic and experienced joke writer, comedian and comedy instructor.
There are 20 videos in this series:
The comfort level of a stand-up comic greatly determines the success of the performance, as the audience feeds off of the performer's energy. Find out how to harness confidence on stage with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Writing jokes requires starting with a foundation and a strong point of view to make a connection with the audience. Find a reason to write about a certain topic with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Inspiration for new jokes can come from anywhere, so always be prepared with a tape recorder when the idea strikes. Document a great joke idea on tape instead of on paper with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Writer's block as a stand-up comic can be frightening, but working through ideas and using free-association writing techniques can open up new avenues of inspiration. Keep writing joke after joke, no matter their quality, with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Being a hit with the crowd when performing stand-up is a great feeling, but remember to stay calm and maintain composure to ensure a successful set. Kill on stage over and over with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Bombing on stage is inevitable for all comedians at one point, but working through it and acknowledging the failure is a sure way to learn from the experience. Maintain dignity when bombing on stage with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Off stage, bombing can affect a comedian greatly, and it could potentially affect future performance. Get into the right mindset for learning from bad experiences with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Timing in stand-up comedy is extremely important, but it is usually something that comes naturally to some people. Understand the finer points of impeccable timing on stage with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Working the crowd as a stand-up comic is a great way to kill time between jokes, and it helps to ask questions to the crowd on prepared topics. Involve the crowd in a few jokes during a show with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Repeating jokes to different crowds is part of being a stand-up comic, but it is beneficial to change them up slightly each time, making them stronger, funnier jokes. Understand how to freshen up an old joke with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Creating fresh jokes involves maintaining interest and keeping each joke alive and new for the audience. Get the audience excited about new and old material alike with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Doing homework and research as a stand-up comic keeps the material poignant and accurate, as even a slip up of a few words can ruin the integrity of a good joke. Study your own material between shows with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Staying calm before a show is crucial to putting on a great performance, as hanging out with the wrong crowd beforehand can greatly affect your mood and motivation. Prepare for a comedy show properly with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Before doing a stand-up act, avoid hanging out with bad influences, such as draining people, because this could greatly affect the quality of the performance. Psych yourself up before a show by hanging out with positive people with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Getting stage time can be difficult, so find a city with plenty of comedy clubs. Consider making deals with club owners to get a bit of stage time with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Dealing with hecklers in a stand-up comedy show is best done by letting them embarrass themselves, so avoid shutting them up too quickly. Gather as much ammunition against the heckler as possible with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Cheap laughs during a stand-up comedy show should be avoided, because they diminish the integrity of the comedian as an artist of his craft. Avoid making fun of audience members to get a cheap laugh with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
A hack comedian is someone who uses old, successful ideas in his act in order to get guaranteed laughs. Try original material before resorting to the same old jokes with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Stealing comedy material from another comedian can be a subtle as changing the wording of a whole bit, but it is considered sneaky and dishonorable in the stand-up world. Create only original material with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
Stage fright as a stand-up comedian must be conquered to minimize the agony and anxiety that festers for the time off stage. Get over stage fright, and get on with your life and career, with great tips from a television comic and performance instructor in this free video on stand-up comedy.
“So what is the deal with airports? You walk in and everybody is in such a hurry. Its like the time your dad left without you at the gas station and made you chase the car down the road while your brother and sister are in the back seat giving you the finger...what?...why is everyone leaving?...sir, please don't throw your beer at me...why is my microphone off?...” Stand up comedy is a difficult career and making it is no laughing matter. It takes work, practice, persistence, and wit sharper than Oscar Wilde's pen. It is important for a comedian to be relevant, creative, intelligent, and accessible, even when objects are being thrown at him or her from an angry customer in the audience. In this free video series, let comedian Chris Murphy school you in the art of humor as he teaches you how to do stand up comedy. Learn how to find inspiration for jokes, how to practice jokes, how to avoid being a hack and stealing jokes. Get great advice on timing jokes right, working with your audience, and overcoming stage fright. This step by step comedy lesson is sure to make you laugh and get you closer to your dream of telling jokes for a living.
Chris Murphy Chris Murphy has been a stand-up comedian for more than 15 years. He is a veteran of the New York City comedy circuit, appearing regularly at the Broadway Comedy Club and the New York Comedy Club. Murphy has appeared on A&E Evening at the Improv and Caroline's Comedy Hour, as well as Comedy Central's Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, where he was a contributing writer for the show. He currently teaches and performs stand-up comedy in New York City.dkdk
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