(Emmy Award Winning Writer, Instructor of Writing for Late Night TV)
Make a habit of writing one really good topical joke per day. That way when a packet is asked for, you’ve already got a head start.
After you’ve edited a joke down, challenge yourself to lose one more word. You’ll always find it.
Try to think of a joke using a subtopic of the headline for the set up rather than just the headline. This will help lessen the chance of you doing the same joke as everybody else.
(Emmy Award Winning Writer, Instructor of Writing for Late Night TV)
Make a habit of writing one really good topical joke per day. That way when a packet is asked for, you’ve already got a head start.
After you’ve edited a joke down, challenge yourself to lose one more word. You’ll always find it.
Try to think of a joke using a subtopic of the headline for the set up rather than just the headline. This will help lessen the chance of you doing the same joke as everybody else.
(Emmy Award Winning Writer, Instructor of Writing for Late Night TV)
Make a habit of writing one really good topical joke per day. That way when a packet is asked for, you’ve already got a head start.
After you’ve edited a joke down, challenge yourself to lose one more word. You’ll always find it.
Try to think of a joke using a subtopic of the headline for the set up rather than just the headline. This will help lessen the chance of you doing the same joke as everybody else.
Your job is to warm up the crowd, don’t worry about crushing which is tough to do as the opening act
Always check with the producer/booker/manager for announcements, birthdays, etc.
You’ll get more work if you work clean.
Practice crowd work when you have the opportunity; it is invaluable and there will be situations where you have no choice.
When doing crowd work always repeat back what the audience says.
Learn to level the room; bring it down if someone crushes, and bring it up if someone bombs.
Have access to a car for road work.
Always arrive early and don’t drink or do drugs; you are now being paid to work.
Make sure you know how much time to do in between acts if any.
Be an asset to the club or booker. i.e “Do you need help with anything”? goes much further than “how many drinks can I get for free”.
Your job is to warm up the crowd, don’t worry about crushing which is tough to do as the opening act
Always check with the producer/booker/manager for announcements, birthdays, etc.
You’ll get more work if you work clean.
Practice crowd work when you have the opportunity; it is invaluable and there will be situations where you have no choice.
When doing crowd work always repeat back what the audience says.
Learn to level the room; bring it down if someone crushes, and bring it up if someone bombs.
Have access to a car for road work.
Always arrive early and don’t drink or do drugs; you are now being paid to work.
Make sure you know how much time to do in between acts if any.
Be an asset to the club or booker. i.e “Do you need help with anything”? goes much further than “how many drinks can I get for free”.
