# Standup Comedy Is Hard, I Am Learning **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455 "2011-01-13T15:07:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2011, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/82 "2011-10-02T00:06:40Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Rise, zombie! > > Come watch me! > > **Absolute Comedy Toronto, Wednesday, October 12. 2335 Yonge St., $6 at the door. Call ahead to reserve your spots; seating at 8, show starts at 8:30!** > > I’m funnier now. > > Actually I now have two sets; a modified version of the one linked upthread (ants are out, more punchlines and gags around the other themes added) and an entirely new one that’s slightly edgier but still needs work. Not sure which one I’ll do. > > I’ve also been to a LOT of comedy and holy crap… these people are good, I tells ya. Well, some of them are. The variance in quality is really quite surprising; there are people you can see for $10 who will make you howl with laughter, and there are people who have been at it for years who are just NOT FUNNY AT ALL. Best of luck! I can’t be there, but I have been travelling to the GTO on and off for a few months now with work. I’ll be in town a couple of times before Christmas. I’d love to know if you’re called back… ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/83 "2011-10-03T02:25:52Z")
[quote=“Lara\_Schembri, post:79, topic:567455”] [QUOTE=Lara schembri = how was your first performance on stage ? What do you do if you see that you are not managing to make the audience laugh ?[/QUOTE] I paniced once, and fell back on the first thing to enter my mind. An old Richard Pryor routine. Wrong! I learned from that I can tell you, the memory still embarrasses me. Don’t ever “borrow” from another comic. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2011, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/84 "2011-10-03T13:37:23Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Rise, zombie! > > Come watch me! > > **Absolute Comedy Toronto, Wednesday, October 12. 2335 Yonge St., $6 at the door. Call ahead to reserve your spots; seating at 8, show starts at 8:30!** > > I’m funnier now. > > Actually I now have two sets; a modified version of the one linked upthread (ants are out, more punchlines and gags around the other themes added) and an entirely new one that’s slightly edgier but still needs work. Not sure which one I’ll do. > > I’ve also been to a LOT of comedy and holy crap… these people are good, I tells ya. Well, some of them are. The variance in quality is really quite surprising; there are people you can see for $10 who will make you howl with laughter, and there are people who have been at it for years who are just NOT FUNNY AT ALL. To repeat what I said the first time I saw your routine… One of your biggest natural strengths is that you have a very likable demeanor on stage, which means you have a big advantage: the audience is going to WANT you to be funny. Even a guy with great material is going to have a hard time making people laugh if they don’t like him and identify with him. So, remember to work with that! ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/85 "2011-10-03T21:34:23Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > To repeat what I said the first time I saw your routine… > > One of your biggest natural strengths is that you have a very likable demeanor on stage, which means you have a big advantage: the audience is going to WANT you to be funny. > > Even a guy with great material is going to have a hard time making people laugh if they don’t like him and identify with him. > > So, remember to work with that! I suggest giving every member of the audience a handjob before your set. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/86 "2011-10-04T15:42:45Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > I suggest giving every member of the audience a handjob before your set. Weeeeelll, 90% of the guys in the crowd wouldn’t appreciate that from Rick. From Whitney CUmmings, maybe. My only point was this: the audoience is going to decide within a few seconds if they like an unfamiliar comedian who’s just walked on stage. If they DISlike him, it’s going to be very hard to make them laugh. I’ve seen audiences that project a a “Come on, a–hole, just TRY to make us laugh” attitude, and I felt sorry for the comics who’ve faced it. If the audience likes you and identifies with you within a few seconds of your entrance, you’ve already won a big victory. If the audience WANTS you to be funny, they’re more likely to laugh. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/87 "2011-10-04T15:59:09Z")
I agree with you. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/88 "2011-10-04T16:07:43Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > I suggest giving every member of the audience a handjob before your set. If RickJay is feeling edgy and risk-takey, maybe a handgun for every audience member. Closest thing you can get to doing standup in Kabul. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/89 "2011-10-04T16:17:37Z")
Stand-up school? I guess I always thought, like art, the genuine good stuff comes from pain and practice. **Rickjay** , would you describe how the course has helped you in a way unachievable by yourself? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/90 "2012-02-08T05:02:00Z")
ZOMBIE UPDATE! 27 gigs later, here I am doing 65% of the same material (35% new) in the same venue. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KZvnGBC3cv8/maxresdefault.jpg "Rick Jones: Absolute Comedy, Feb. 1, 2012") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZvnGBC3cv8) ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/91 "2012-02-08T05:29:26Z")
Well done! “soak it up.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/92 "2012-02-09T04:51:46Z")
Great job, **RickJay**! Loved the new stuff! ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/93 "2012-02-09T07:44:06Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > ZOMBIE UPDATE! > > 27 gigs later, here I am doing 65% of the same material (35% new) in the same venue. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZvnGBC3cv8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZvnGBC3cv8) Hey! This is great stuff! I like the “pee boulders… chardonnay?” joke the best. Great non-sequitur. I like the physicality of the routine. One of my favorite standup moments is when Nick Swardson [pretends to be lifting a gallon of milk](http://comedians.jokes.com/nick-swardson/videos/nick-swardson---hanging-with-grandma) for his grandma (:50-:60) (and then he lifts the stool). You just don’t see physicality very often in standup… well, I don’t anyway. I’m really glad you worked out the timing of your Fishcatraz joke. I could tell in the original that the joke had potential for way more laughs than it got. You nailed it in this video, for sure. You also seem to respond really well to the audience now, better than you used to. Although the audience at this place seemed less responsive early on, you got 'em going by the end. There was a lot more positive energy in the first video you posted (like they started out rooting for you), but I think winning over the second place is a bigger accomplishment. The circularity of the catbox/cat turning fish into poop story is really clever. It makes for a great closer! I also think you look very friendly, if that matters. My only real complaint is that you spend a lot of time looking at the floor. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/94 "2012-02-09T08:00:41Z")
Man, you are _good_. I watched the first video you posted way back and was impressed, but now you’ve got considerably more presence and confidence. Again I genuinely laughed out loud several times. Agree with **rachel** about what your line of sight looks like, but that might be because of the elevated camera angle and the audience sitting down low. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/95 "2012-02-09T19:09:20Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Agree with **rachel** about what your line of sight looks like, but that might be because of the elevated camera angle and the audience sitting down low. No, you’re both right. I have to work on that. I’ve a habit of looking downwards when I think. It is exaggerrated a bit by having to look downwards at the audience but I do look at the floor too much. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/96 "2012-02-09T19:18:54Z")
Very funny. You only have one box of shit? We have FOUR! ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/97 "2012-02-09T19:38:59Z")
Applause!! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/98 "2012-02-10T04:12:59Z")
Good stuff! Congratulations Rick. As others have mentioned, your confidence is showing now. Keep it up! ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/99 "2012-02-10T16:17:38Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > … As others have mentioned, your confidence is showing now. > > … Better that than your underwear 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/100 "2012-02-10T16:56:57Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > No, you’re both right. I have to work on that. I’ve a habit of looking downwards when I think. It is exaggerrated a bit by having to look downwards at the audience but I do look at the floor too much. Maybe you could work that into your routine. At one point, you could say, “You know, I’ve heard I look down at the floor too much. But I find it comes in handy.” Then at some point later, say, “Ooh! A quarter!” And bend down to pick it up. Or something like that. I’ll leave the shaping of the comedy to you. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455/101 "2012-02-10T17:53:47Z")
Damn. That was Really Good. It was fresh, not just a lot of TV references, you have a great on-stage persona that is likeable. I did notice that you were stepping on a couple of your lines. Give us a chance to laugh. Especially the last joke about the cat turning your fish into cat shit. Leave a tiny bit of a pause after “Let’s review”. Those that get what you are going to say will start laughing immediately. Those that don’t, will be waiting for the punch line, and the suspense plus the other people laughing will prime them for a bigger laugh. But wow. Regards, Shodan PS - The Small One is seven! One of us is getting old - I hope it’s you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standup-comedy-is-hard-i-am-learning/567455.md?page=6)