The NEW Comedy Bible

1. Embrace Your Authentic Self: The Foundation of Great Comedy

"Comedy is not about picking funny topics; rather, it's about making ordinary topics funny."

Find your truth. The best comedy comes from personal experiences, observations, and unique perspectives. Start by identifying your authentic topics - things that genuinely interest, anger, or excite you. These could be related to your job, relationships, background, or daily life. Don't worry if these topics don't seem inherently funny; the humor will come from your unique take on them.

Turn problems into punchlines. Once you've identified your topics, look for the hard, weird, scary, or stupid aspects of them. This is where you'll find the comedy gold. For example, if you're talking about dating, don't just describe your experiences - explain why dating is hard, weird, scary, or stupid. This approach helps you connect with your audience through shared experiences and emotions.

Authentic topics to explore:

• Your job or profession
• Relationship status
• Upbringing and family dynamics
• Cultural background
• Personal quirks and flaws

2. Master the Art of Joke Structure for Consistent Laughs

"Stand-up is the art of turning problems into punchlines."

Learn the formula. Successful jokes follow a specific structure: Setup (Topic + Attitude + Premise) + Payoff (Act-out, Turn, or Mix). The setup introduces your topic, conveys your attitude towards it, and presents your unique premise or perspective. The payoff delivers the laugh through an unexpected twist, physical performance, or clever comparison.

Practice relentlessly. Write jokes every day, following this structure. Start with your authentic topics and apply different attitudes (hard, weird, scary, stupid) to generate premises. Then, craft payoffs using act-outs (physical performances), turns (unexpected twists), or mixes (clever comparisons). Remember, the first draft doesn't have to be perfect - focus on quantity, and quality will follow.

Key components of joke structure:

• Setup: Topic + Attitude + Premise
• Payoff: Act-out, Turn, or Mix
• Tag: Repeat of attitude or additional comment

3. Develop Your Comedy Persona through Practice and Persistence

"Your comedy persona is being your most authentic self onstage."

Find your voice. Your comedy persona is not a character you invent, but rather an amplified version of your authentic self. It develops organically over time as you perform and refine your material. Pay attention to what topics resonate with you, what delivery style feels natural, and how audiences respond to different aspects of your performance.

Commit to the process. Developing a strong comedy persona takes time and persistence. Perform regularly at open mics, record your sets, and review them critically. Be patient with yourself and allow your unique voice to emerge gradually. Remember that even successful comedians took years to refine their personas.

Elements that shape your comedy persona:

• Topics you're passionate about
• Your natural speaking style and energy level
• Personal experiences and background
• Unique observations and perspectives
• Physical appearance and stage presence

4. Harness the Power of Act-Outs and Turns for Explosive Punchlines

"Act-outs rely on your physicality and attitude, and less on your ability to do spot-on impersonations of real people."

Master act-outs. Act-outs are physical performances that bring your jokes to life. They involve embodying characters, objects, or situations you're describing. The key to effective act-outs is commitment and exaggeration. Don't worry about perfect impressions; focus on capturing the essence of what you're portraying through body language, facial expressions, and vocal changes.

Craft surprising turns. Turns are unexpected twists that subvert the audience's expectations. They often involve setting up a pattern and then breaking it in a surprising way. The "List of Three" technique is a classic example: present two similar items, then surprise with a third that's completely different. Practice creating turns by looking for unexpected connections between ideas or by taking your premises to extreme conclusions.

Tips for effective act-outs and turns:

• Commit fully to your physical performances
• Use exaggerated movements and expressions
• Practice transitioning smoothly between your normal delivery and act-outs
• Look for unexpected connections to create surprising turns
• Use the "List of Three" technique for reliable laughs

5. Craft Compelling Setups to Hook Your Audience

"A confused audience is a quiet audience."

Clarity is key. Your setup should be clear, concise, and relatable. Avoid using "I, me, or my" too often, as it can distance the audience. Instead, focus on universal experiences or observations that draw the audience in. Use present tense to make your material feel immediate and engaging.

Build anticipation. A good setup creates tension or curiosity that the punchline will release. Use your attitude (hard, weird, scary, stupid) to signal the emotional direction of the joke. Present your premise in a way that makes the audience eager to hear your unique take on the topic.

Elements of a strong setup:

• Clear and concise language
• Universal experiences or observations
• Present tense for immediacy
• Strong attitude to signal emotional direction
• Intriguing premise that creates anticipation

6. Conquer Stage Fright and Handle Hecklers Like a Pro

"Bombing happens. Even after many years of performing, it's still true that new material always comes with a risk of failure, and old material gets, well, old."

Prepare for success. Minimize stage fright by thoroughly preparing your material and rehearsing your delivery. Create a detailed set list to keep yourself on track. Practice your act in front of a mirror or record yourself to refine your timing and delivery. Remember that some nervousness is normal and can even enhance your performance if channeled properly.

Stay in control. When dealing with hecklers, remember that you have the power of the microphone and the audience's attention. Respond with wit rather than aggression. Have a few prepared comebacks ready, but also practice improvising responses. If a heckler becomes truly disruptive, don't hesitate to ask for help from club management.

Strategies for managing stage fright and hecklers:

• Create a detailed set list
• Practice thoroughly before performances
• Channel nervous energy into your performance
• Respond to hecklers with wit, not aggression
• Have prepared comebacks ready
• Know when to seek help from club management

7. Continuously Refine Your Material through Feedback and Rewriting

"The more you write, the more material you'll develop, which will increase your chances of getting paid gigs."

Embrace the process. Great comedy material is not created in a single draft. After each performance, review your set critically. Identify which jokes worked well and which need improvement. Pay attention to audience reactions, both during the performance and when reviewing recordings. Be willing to cut or significantly revise jokes that consistently underperform.

Seek diverse feedback. Don't rely solely on your own judgment. Work with a comedy buddy to get honest feedback on your material. Perform at different venues and for various audiences to see how your jokes land in different contexts. Consider taking comedy classes or workshops to get professional guidance and connect with other comedians.

Steps for refining your material:

• Record and review your performances
• Calculate your Laughs Per Minute (LPM) score
• Identify and revise underperforming jokes
• Seek feedback from a comedy buddy and diverse audiences
• Attend comedy classes or workshops for professional guidance
• Continuously write new material to keep your act fresh

Last updated: February 4, 2025