How To Write A Stand

Learning how to deal with hecklers is key to performing stand up comedy successfully. Here are my very best picks - the books I return to over and over again, and the books that helped me understand everything I know about jokes and joking. After watching some MBA grads giving presentations, you may start thinking that the breed is naturally inclined for a career in standup comedy.

Learning how to write jokes, how to build your persona, how to practice, and all about why people laugh can help you add direction to your sets and mature into a more knowledgeable and skilled comic. Write the topic at the top of a sheet of paper and start listing why you think the topic is funny.

Some people dislike this approach, but it's an easy way to get some stage time without having to book or find a bringer. This powerful technique applies to comedians who are using old school joke writing techniques as well as those using the more powerful topic driven stand-up strategies.

Logan's book is a little more verbose and is not a 'how to' guide for writing jokes, giving exercises rather than specific tips, but there is useful advice on performance, how to get your first gig and the business side of the business. Don't do new jokes every time you're on stage.

Sometimes people laugh when you don't expect them to, so be listening just like you would in any conversation. There are a few reasons why comedians prefer to use the active voice for their jokes. For example, watching a stand-up set, you may suddenly notice that a comedian is talking about train commutes when ten minutes ago she was on a riff about a special type of cashew at Trader Joe's.

Of course, read this is much easier to write about than it is to put into practice— with time, comics become experts at sniffing out those unhelpful words. Stand up comedy is about telling jokes, not stories. A great stand up comic always leaves the audience wanting more.