2 ([info]2_gryphon) wrote,
@ 2009-10-08 20:09:00
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Interesting e-mail.
You know how you can be asked a question a million times and not really have a good answer for it, but then one day, in some kind of ten minute projectile genius infection, you give an answer to that same question better than you thought possible?

I did that today. (Names have been changed to protect the guilty.)

********************
"When chatting to some friends the other night they said I could quite possible do well on stand up comedy etc after I had done a rambling piece about some sillyness over here in the UK. This gained some laughs from them, so I guess that was where they were coming from, not sure but oh well. Thing is, I've no real idea on how to go about getting material into my head, a couple things seem to be there I could use, but well that would get old quickly and was wondering if you would be able to help me out in any way."
*********************

My reply:

You know, it's an interesting subject you present here. This was a question I found myself asking also in my first years as a comic. Where do I get more material? How do I make more jokes and find new things to make fun of.

The answer was elusively simple. You have to allow yourself more opportunities for comedy to come into your life. You have to invite it in, in a sense. You have to view everything you see, hear, learn or experience within the window of potential comedy material. A hundred potential jokes fly by you every day, if you only pay attention and look for them.

Comedy is more than making jokes. It's an actual path in life. You have to *pursue* comedy. You have to put yourself in the way of it and let it crash into you! You have to make choices in your life that bring you on a collision course with funny!

Your friends are going to get completely pissed and go to a karaoke bar and you don't really feel like joining them? Get up and go anyway! You could be passing up a story that would get you a standing ovation! Your friend needs help moving out? Do it! You get the chance to bungee jump from a bridge? Take it! Never let the chance for a funny moment to pass by without staring it right in the face and wringing every possible bit of funny from it. Turn your very life into a search for comedy.

It's a very interesting mindset to get into. Almost meditative. But you'll find that with a little practice and dedication, you'll have more jokes throwing themselves at you than you can possibly use!

More than anything, you have to love comedy. It's absolutely necessary. You have to love everything about it or it will quickly turn into a bad relationship. If you think you can undertake this, then comedy can be more personally rewarding than anything else in your life.

All my best, and good luck!

- 2 Gryphon

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[info]poinktferret
2009-10-09 04:21 am UTC (link)
Good answer

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[info]nitrofox2112
2009-10-09 04:27 am UTC (link)
you know, for years i've been wanting to ask how i could be better a doing standup as a hobby, just for the thrill of entertaining, thank you!

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[info]hellfire99x
2009-10-09 04:37 am UTC (link)
And that's about the truth of it. Well-written. ;)

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[info]kiranlightpaw
2009-10-09 04:45 am UTC (link)
Get up and go anyway! You could be passing up a story that would get you a standing ovation!

Great answer!

Speaking from a non-comedic point of view, I can think of a lot of great experiences I've had in my life where I forced myself, even over my own internal objections (and as anyone who's ever been painfully shy can tell you, you can come up with great reasons not to socialize), it usually pays off tenfold. It could be many different ways - memorable experiences, funny stories, friendships, or a life-changing turn.

I can remember one really memorable night during my sophomore year at Auburn. I was tired and didn't want to do anything except sit in my dorm room and play on the computer. A couple of friends came over and convinced me to go out that night and go try to watch a meteor shower. Even though I didn't really feel like it, I went. Well, that night we got chased off by a farmer because we were on private land and ran across a klan rally in Elmore county. We ended up watching the most amazing, gorgeous meteor shower I've ever seen from a pullthrough on US-280 in Tallapoosa County, followed by watching the sun come up at IHOP. That one night is one my best college memories.

Another one that comes to mind is what followed my first trip to AC03. In the Atlanta airport on my way to Philadelphia, I met only the second fur I'd ever met in real life - [info]flainfalcon. A few weeks after I got back, I saw him post an email to one of the mailing lists I was on about this "little con they were planning to start in Atlanta." In spite of 30 hours of work and 15 hours of college, I took a few seconds to IM some guy I've never met named Tiger Paw about getting involved. :P

I guess the point of my rambling is that life gives us lots of opportunities. Taking a chance on them, even when we sometimes don't want to, really has the potential to pay off wonderfully.

Edited at 2009-10-09 04:45 am UTC

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[info]footpad
2009-10-09 05:36 am UTC (link)
And so comedy turns out to be like everything else: perhaps seeded by a certain measure of natural aptitude (you do look a bit funny, you know), but basically built on a whole heap of application, dedication and perspiration.

It's sort of incredibly prosaic and inspiring at the same time. I like it!

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[info]restorf
2009-10-09 06:08 am UTC (link)
That's the reason you and Kage are so entertaining to me. You both lead rather interesting lives and are able to integrate those situations into funny stories. Comedy is a tough career choice, but the best comedians live life to the fullest.

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[info]kitt3ns
2009-10-09 06:34 am UTC (link)
I think this is good advice for anybody, comedian or no.

Get up and force yourself to have fun in life! You've only got 80 or so years! Make them count!

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[info]starblade_enkai
2009-10-09 07:38 am UTC (link)
I know someone who follows that philosophy. So you're saying I should seek them out rather than avoiding them? Cuz they're also a douchebag and I usually 'lose' in any encounter with them.

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[info]joeflairpez13
2009-10-09 07:43 am UTC (link)
I've been thinking about comedy lately. Your post eloquently described what I've wondered for some time. Good work.

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[info]djmethodist
2009-10-09 08:26 am UTC (link)
Your comments remind me of this part in a certain film (Waking Life), wherein one of the people in it talks about how saying "Yes" to a single moment in life can become infectious, and you start saying "Yes" to other experiences and things and, from there is my own interpretation, you build up stories and experience and a proper philosophy out of having -done- stuff. :3

I like your style, Sir.

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[info]expandranon
2009-10-09 09:03 am UTC (link)
You're like the Zen Master of Funny. :D

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[info]ben_raccoon
2009-10-09 10:41 am UTC (link)
So in summary, go live life and find the humor in everything. Sounds like a good idea whether or not you want to be a comedian.

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[info]katheralockhart
2009-10-09 11:06 am UTC (link)
you know, that is a very good answer 2 ^v^.

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[info]alphawolfsabre
2009-10-09 12:04 pm UTC (link)
Well said indeed!
Hope you guys are enjoying California so far. ^_^

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[info]halioffirpine
2009-10-09 01:37 pm UTC (link)
I never thought that when I started http://matthewebel.net I'd be able to come up with decent songs month after month... but you'd be surprised what can come to you when you keep your mind open to inspiration.

Keep bringing the funny.

Pax,
Hali

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[info]xerxesqados
2009-10-09 02:32 pm UTC (link)
So all I'd have to do is put myself in a situation with great potential to humiliate me, and then you'll hang out with me? =D

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[info]kazilith
2009-10-09 08:37 pm UTC (link)
Good shit, and inspirational to boot.

"You get the chance to bungee jump from a bridge? Take it! Never let the chance for a funny moment to pass by without staring it right in the face and wringing every possible bit of funny from it."

Splat... giggle...

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[info]miami_pony
2009-10-12 07:02 pm UTC (link)
But then again, think of all of those amazing comedic gems that start with:
"So I was sitting at home by myself, being bored.. when all of a sudden.."
But wait...
It turns out, THERE ARE NO COMEDIC GEMS that begin that way! Do you know why? Because unless you're mister pointy-beak-face, being at home alone by yourself being bored is not inspiring, and therefore IS NOT FUNNY.
So, in other words, get out of your goddamn house and GO DO SOMETHING. And by 'something' I do not mean "go on a WOW raid." Jesus Expletive Christ by all means do not go on a fucking WOW raid.

Whee! Hi 2! LTNS. Luv you, bro.
PS My balls are still bigger than yours, even if you use yours more.

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[info]katiebignuts
2009-10-12 07:26 pm UTC (link)
This is a great answer.
I've considered stand up and the moment I became at all serious about it I started to see the humor everywhere.

I absolutely love comedy and stand up so I'm geared to thinking humorously about everything.

This is great advice to give anyone who is similarly inclined :)

Thanks for the great advice.

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List of co-host
[info]ratnard
2009-10-14 10:52 pm UTC (link)
Has someone made a list of co-host for every 2 Sense show? I started to create one from scratch, but then I thought, I should see if someone has already made one. On the Rant Radio episodes, there was an announcement about about show notes. I went searching for them, but I could not find them. It seams that they are no longer available on-line.

PS. I seam not to get the concept of a blog were I am suppose to respond to the comment made my the blogs owner and not start a completely different topic.

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[info]jeeves_the_roo
2009-10-16 08:14 am UTC (link)
Comedy that comes from real life situations is always the most hard-hitting in my experience as a consumer of mirth. ^^ So yeah, that does seem like a very good answer! Even if only one in a hundred of those oppertunities eventually finds its way into a show, you'll find a lot more material if you're open to see all those chances. Very eloquently surmised, 2!

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[info]ratnard
2009-11-18 02:54 am UTC (link)
I realized the other day, that you were the guy from Scotland that did not like booze. This seamed to make 2's head explode. Then some time later you sent in a letter asking about the best way to get to know your roommates. 2's response was that you should go drinking with your potential roommates. He also said that if your roommate does not drink, you should find a different roommate. I found it quite amusing once a realized it.

So how did you search for a roommate. Did you get rejected because you do not drink?

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[info]jeeves_the_roo
2009-11-18 08:27 am UTC (link)
Actually I got reassigned to a different hall of residence because of space issues, so I ended up in a room all of my own. Nevertheless, the advice was helpful and I spent most of my freshers week chatting to people in the pubs here. :3 The ironic thing is while I still don't drink heavily, and have still never been drunk, I have discovered some booze that is to my taste since coming to University.

Sadly, I still don't like Whisky.

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