Imagine the thrill of crafting a joke, the anticipation of delivering it on stage, and the exhilaration when it lands perfectly. Explore the emotional journey of a comedian, from the birth of a joke to its public debut.
All jokes require a connection with the audience
Creating a funny bit and then sharing it on stage is an amazing experience, which is why comedy is booming
- Jim Gaffigan compares the feeling of witnessing the birth of a joke to a drug rush
- Being on stage, which most of the world considers its’ #1 fear, is a comedian’s happy place
- It’s truly a remarkable sensation, physically and emotionally, to have an idea and follow it through to the point where it makes an audience laugh
Writing jokes in the moment
Laurie Kilmartin, writer on the late-night comedy show “Conan”, explains the benefits of doing this instead of sitting down with a pen and paper
- Riffing jokes onstage is the best because you’re performing in and with your natural rhythm
- A pre-written joke will be awkward the first time it is performed
- Once a comedian has trained their brain to live in “joke writing mode”, jokes are everywhere
- The time it takes making something funny varies, joke by joke
Every comedian eventually develops a way to come back from the pain of bombing and repair a broken joke
Think back to what’s missing and take it back to the lab, then try again.
- The experience of writing a joke and telling it on stage to an audience’s laughter is one of the best feelings that most comedians have ever experienced, up there with new relationship sex and opening a big check.
