There's a classic phrase that was brought back in the 2000's that was originally a motivational poster produced by the United Kingdom Government in 1939 during World War II. The classic line was in the great tradition of the "stiff upper lip" British ethos, reminding people that when the setbacks happen, don't panic. Douglas Adams, in his brilliant novel A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, satirized the simplicity of the message with his catch phrase "Don't Panic" during an alien invasion early in his now famous work. While being on stage isn't comparable to the life of a middle class British citizen fearing Nazi bombs in 1939, one could argue stand up comedy resembles an alien attack, what with the wide eyed looks and panic attacks on both ends of the show. Regardless, both spiffy catchphrases are a great way to approach hiccups and setbacks in a set. Recently, I found myself in a situation where a riff went off the rails, with no exit strategy. I felt like George W. Bush in 2004. It was a hot crowd, and up until this point I was having a great set. At the point in the story I realized I was in over my head, I started to internally panic. But I remembered three key components:
1. The audience doesn't have a copy of my set list, so they have no actual expectation of where this is going 2. I'm a funny guy and I can find a way out if I just stay calm and think about my word choice 3. No matter how this goes, I still have two great closers to end on a high note So let's breakdown the three steps to getting out of a bit gone wrong. No One Has A Copy of Your Set Understanding that your mess ups are only in your rearview mirror and not the crowd's is crucial to moving forward. In this case, I was riding riff momentum and never actually told the story about my jackass principal wanting me to quit standup before. Eventually, I figured out how to weave out and pivot as soon as I could. While I knew I had gone into uncharted territories, they hadn't. They were still waiting, trusting, and anticipating a punchline, and while I may not have a finally crafted ending (yet), I can just move forward knowing that no one will come up and say, "I thought the punchline was..." Too often we are hard on ourselves for missing a tag or a key word in the setup, when in reality, only we knew it was missing. If the attitude and commitment to the bit is there, you can replace perfect joke structure with near perfect persona. Sometimes a little high energy can fix a low performing joke. If you are working on a new bit, feel free to rant a little and let new punchlines come to you. If you find yourself lost in a story or set up, always remember you have the freedom to map yourself out. You Are Funnier Than Your Jokes Whenever I find myself in a bit that's DOA, and only I am really aware of that, I remind myself I'm a funny person and I can make people laugh. You gotta Stuart Smalley yourself sometimes (Google it, kiddos). I'm a professional comedian. Which means, like a pro athlete, I might have a shot clock issue, but it's my job to find the shot, draw the foul, or get the ball out of bounds for a fresh start. I love sports analogies and that's about as clear as I can make it. You set up the play (joke) and you will have to use instinct and skill to get out of a tough defense. Recently, I had a show that was hit and miss. The crowd was chatty and they felt the need to yell things out. I decided to go with it, engage, and find punchlines as I went. It was a sort of mixture of crowd work and bits without the crowd thinking I scripted it. I treated the awkward outbursts like I would a conversation at dinner. I listened for my opportunities to chime in without bulldozing them with the mic. Trying to be "louder" is not the same as trying to be "funnier" than the room. If you let the jokes come to you, instead of forcing the whole night in your favor, they'll settle down and trust you. After the show, a woman approached me and said she appreciated how calm and relaxed I was when the crowd got rowdy. She mentioned how the last couple of shows made her feel anxious when the comic got on edge about the chatter and seemed ruffled. She asked my secret. I told her, "I treat every show like a date where I'm in control. I'm dating the crowd." I want them to see me as a calm entity. A person who they can trust in times of peril. I'm Always Okay If I Know I Have More Jokes One important thing to remember when trying new jokes or rants is this: Always have a backup plan. I have closing bits that are elaborate stories with act outs and call backs, but I also have one joke that is ready to go at the end if needed. It's a minute long, so I never have to worry about running over. Everyone should have a back pocket joke. It will give you confidence to try anything, knowing that once you get out you have a lighthouse guiding you to shore. On a similar note, after you get off stage, you are going to feel a bit beat up when one or two jokes didn't land or you let yourself go off the rails unsuccessfully. That's normal and it is your nervous system proving you still care about the experience you and the audience have together. But it's important to remember that comedy doesn't end the night your set isn't an A+. It keeps going. I literally had to regroup recently and go drive three hundred miles the next day. It's a journey, not a sprint. Literally. Final Thoughts Stand up comedy is an unnatural act in many ways. You are participating in two of the greatest fears/struggles of humanity: Public Speaking and Humor. When both are done well, it looks easy. When it goes south, EVERYONE notices. And considering how many shows we do for free at different points in our career, it's what Jerry Seinfeld calls a form of self torture. Just remember that when the walls are crumbling in front of you, it's going to be okay. There are future shows and new tags to try. In reality, you'll never see that audience again, and the next crowd is excited about seeing you. And look, as long as you don't do what Kramer did at The Laugh Factory (YouTube it, kiddos) after he lost the crowd, then you're killing the game, playa!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Paul Douglas Moomjean Blog's About What's on His MindBlogging allows for me to rant when there is no stage in the moment to talk about what's important and/or funny to me. Archives
October 2024
Categories |