COMEDY GOALS
Your COMEDY GOALS will be determined by how you want to grow as a comedian and performer.
Some only aspire to get stage time at an open mic in a bar. Others want to have a comedy special on Netflix or Dry Bar.
Here are some thoughts:
REACH FOR THE STARS - Let’s say your goal is a COMEDY SPECIAL. Reverse engineer that goal as follows:
Ultimate goal : COMEDY SPECIAL. the step before that might be…
CLUB or SHOW HEADLINER (Solid 45-60 minutes of content that lands). Step before that might be…
CLUB or SHOW FEATURE (Solid 30 that lands). Step before that might be…
CLUB or SHOW OPENER or EMCEE (Solid 10-15 that lands). Step before that might be…
OPEN MICS, LOCAL SHOWS, ETC. (anywhere from 5 - 10 of solid and/or in-process material)
Just remember - you don’t do 5 or 6 open mics and suddenly have a Netflix special or cruise gigs. Put a logical path in place to reach your comedy goals.
If your goal is simply to hit open mics, consider creating a very tight 5-minute set that you can refine from mic to mic. People do not remember your jokes. They just don’t. Especially if you are hitting different mics during the week. It’s okay to continue performing the same 5-minute set over the course of a few months until the material is second nature. This will make you a much stronger comedian. Once you have that “tight five” down, then work on the next 5-minute set. Over time you will link those together and create a strong 10-min, or 20-min, or 45-min or longer set. This is a wise comedy path to follow.
OTHER GOALS TO CONSIDER…
Write EVERY day! At least one joke every day. Toss out the clinkers later!
Write on a SCHEDULE. Give yourself a set amount of time each day to write. 30 mins, 60, less, more. You decide.
LOG ALL YOUR JOKES. A spreadsheet is great for this! Log the joke title, length and how well it ranks (1-5, for example).
FILM YOUR SETS - get in the habit of filming your sets for future reference.