IS CLOSING REFLECTION

I love to perform on stage. And this study only proved it further! The lessons I learned will allow me to flourish in my future which I hope is full of comedy! Other questions I would like to pursue is how to make a name for myself in comedy. Outside of DA at least! The most meaningful thing I’ve had throughout this experience was getting people’s honest feedback on my writing. DA supported me by giving me feedback on my work constantly. It helped add on to my ideas and also learn how to take constructive criticism. My culminating project was a stand-up performance. It went very well. Kenan was a lot more crowded than I expected, which only fueled my excitement. To see a wide array of students allowed me to get lots of feedback and it even ended in a standing ovation! It made me feel extremely proud of my work, and I’m glad it made people smile and laugh during the busy week before the end of winter break. I definitely want to continue this in the future, and from this study I know how to write in a style that is effective and fun. As well, I know how to hold myself accountable to meet dates that I need to have written by in order to allow time to rehearse. The advice I have to give to future Independent Study students is that you can really study whatever you want. Don’t be afraid to study something that isn’t extremely academic, for this creative process really helped me realize my passion. I loved doing this study, and I can’t wait to hear about all the other creative ones in the future!

PERFORMANCE TOMORROW AT 2:00-2:15 IN KENAN!

Come see me perform my stand up monologue in Kenan tomorrow during club period!

How to be a Good Comedy Show Audience Member

1. DO NOT HECKLE!

Easy enough right? It’s just one rule…

Well, I probably should explain what heckling is. While a comedian performs, a heckler is an audience member who yells or challenges the person on stage.

You don’t have to laugh at everything, but you also don’t have to make everyone aware of the fact that you didn’t find a joke funny.

Humor is subjective. Nobody deserves to be bothered for their jokes.

Writing Process

How do comedians write a monologue or sketch? That is a question that is simply unanswerable. Every comedian answers differently, including me. So, take this as a template, or try something new! There are no limits to how comedy can be made.

1. Write ideas in a journal
2. Write a rough draft of a sketch, then shut the notebook and computer and wait to read it!
3. Read the rough draft a night or so after to look at it through a different lens.
4. Repeat step 2!
5. After making final edits, put sketches in the correct format (as if it were to be used in a writer’s packet)
6. Get advice from peers
7. KEEP REWRITING AND REWORKING! Repeat all the steps over and over again!

My Short (but sweet?) Advice

For my writing, I find it easy to make jokes out of events in my everyday life. So, I highly recommend all aspiring comedians carry… A JOURNAL! Not very shocking, but having space to jot down whatever I like helps me remember what to focus on when writing sketches, especially if I write later in the day or even a week after!

Comedic Inspirations

As I mentioned in an earlier post, comedy is subjective. Thus, finding inspiration can be difficult at times. However, in this process, I have watched countless specials and shows that have helped me realize the styles of comedy I enjoy and that I can do somewhat successfully. Three in particular stuck out to me. If you would like to check out their work, a quick google search would do, but I recommend further looking into the writing. These three can make mundane things hilarious with small details.

1. Nathan Fielder
2. Fran Leibowitz
3. Bo Burnham

The Comedy Improv Club and Performance Anxiety

If there is one thing my study has taught me is that subjectivity and the issues that come with it are inevitable. No matter, what you cannot get EVERYONE to laugh. But, focusing on a core group can help. The core group I have found on campus is the comedy improv club. I trust their opinions, and rely on my members and their thoughts to further my work. Soon I will be performing in front of the club. After I receive their remaining thoughts, I will present it to the club and also any students who wish to hear it. This is something which originally made me nervous, but I now realize that however the jokes land will be a teaching experience for me. The anxiousness had turned into excitement. Stay alert on my blog for when I post performance dates!

Quarter 1 Reflection

So far in my journey of learning how to perform and write comedy to my best capabilities, I have not only learned the history and purpose of comedy and been able to write about it, but I also wrote 2 sketches and 1 comedic monologue! Even though they are only first drafts, they are a big step in furthering my comedic talent. The process of writing jokes can be extremely frustrating, for sometimes the jokes I think would be hilarious don’t land as well as I thought they would. However, I’ve now realized that these hiccups are apart of the learning process, and that feedback (whether it is laughter or lack thereof) is always helpful. Some of this feedback has been unexpected, with some people whom I am not friends with even subscribing to my blog! This has led me to have more feedback from my peers, which fosters an opportunity for more learning how to write for a wider audience. One question that stems from this is how can I write comedy specific to me but applicable and funny to a wide audience? I can try to answer this by performing for range of different people who know me in different ways. Maybe I could perform in the K-Commons, or say a quick blurb during morning meeting. Speaking of meeting, meeting with Mr.Bohanek, my content advisor has helped with this, for he has given me multiple resources as well as entertainers I can receive advice from. He also has had experience with my style of comedy, so he knows my weaknesses. If there is anything I could change, I would simply just get more feedback. Through this study, I’ve learned how feedback is such a vital part of the writing process in comedy. In all, I have been able to access more than enough help I need to succeed in my study and I can’t wait to engage more in this study.