PsySal3d ago
Think about comedy, stand up comedy. Are there artists working in that field who expressly DO NOT PREPARE? I guess that is improv-- but do stand-up comedians ever do a set where it's pure improv? It feels sometimes like Andy Kaufman was improving based on just a (precalculated) idea-- though Andy Kaufman is nothing if not pure enigma so who is to say?
Show threadPsySal

Like I personally think I could get up and if I was in the right mood tell say a ghost story that was funny at least TO ME-- and that might be also interesting or maybe even a bit funny for someone else to watch.

Is there a narration improv night as a thing in a city somewhr like maybe the city I live in? Like come and make up a ghost story? At Dickens pub? Calgary?

May 10 at 5:25amTusky
Show threadChip Collier3d ago
@PsySal good comedians build routines up by taking rough ideas and failing to make people laugh. They do this again and again until they’ve found the little part that made them think it was funny and how to communicate that. Many record themselves through this process so they can improvise or adlib a bit and try and put a solid act together.
Great comedians never stop doing this even after they’ve had a special or some success. They keep working on it again and again.
They talk a lot about this, but there are some good documentaries that go into it as well. Jerry Seinfeld did one a while back and you get to see him completely bomb several times while trying to make a joke funny.
This was after the sitcom. He’s pretty dedicated to that craft.
Show threadPsySal3d ago
@photex that is so interesting-- tbh I didn't consider he importance of jteratjng the routine and adjusting with audiences. But it makes sense.
Show threadChip Collier2d ago

@PsySal even Conan said he did this in preparation for the Oscars which was really interesting because he’s hiring a table of writers and just taking their material out to crowds and developing how he’s going to deliver. He’d drive to small casinos or tiny strip mall comedy clubs and ask to go on unannounced.

https://youtu.be/wmpGnyV1tFE?is=sjN-P2Tj-xoswGny

https://youtu.be/itWxXyCfW5s?is=ilQ3P5mfHVpABGee

Jerry Seinfeld's advice (from Comedian - 2002)

YouTube
Show threadPsySal2d ago
@photex huh.