I didn’t care about what I was writing and I knew in the back of my mind that any stand-up comedian reading it wouldn’t care either. After all, if a comic wants to get acquainted with improv they can easily drop some cash on classes and find themselves on the popular improv team, "Never Get Off The Circle Jerk".
So I mumbled to myself “Shut the fuck up and say it.” My reply, “Say what?” Right back at me, “Anything. Anything you want to talk about.” So here we are amidst a blog entry with little direction but I’m really enjoying writing it and I promise there is a point just stay with us. Err, me.
The point is write, perform, say whatever the fuck you want, whatever feels good and stand by it. This is a something I’ve been largely keeping in mind while generating new stand-up material. My background is in theater and sketch comedy which both require plot, characters, dialogue, resolution, etc. …if you want to bog yourself down during 5 minutes of stage time, keep all that shit in mind.
So lately I’ve been practicing the art of winging it by simply being in the moment while feeling out a joke and audiences have responded favorably. I should note that I still choose words my words wisely; I’m not trying out that new gang bang joke without some thought and like any good date the audience appreciates being romanced over a blatant muscle fuck.
Something that assisted me with this ‘shut up and say it’ breakthrough was a run in with one of Chicago’s most loved homegrown comics, Sean Flannery. I had the chance to bend his ear after the show, Blackout Diaries, and boldly asked him “What is stand-up comedy? Is it one liners? Is it storytelling? Is it set up, premise, act out (as described in The Comedy Bible)?” He plainly said, “It is someone standing on a stage, alone, with a microphone entertaining a room full of people. That’s it.”
Well, that’s it! Don’t overthink. Love your comedy. I’m late for improv class. Peace out.
Contributing Writer
Krystal LaFianza-Pitzen
Krystal LaFianza-Pitzen