Comedy:
Is a Dead Chicken Always Funny? Using Props for Your Comedy Act
The old school of comedy dictates that a true comedian doesn't use props. In fact, some comedy snobs might even dismiss props as something only magicians need. Before you throw away those Groucho Marx glasses and Pink Panther magnifying lens, here are a few arguments for comedy props and some tips on how to use them without losing your humor.
Props are a great way to tell stories and jokes about real stories. Props are just your way of setting the scenery or mood and for making a long story short (See, there's this astronaut who broke his helmet while in orbit…).
You need props to make a character. Impressionist comics like Mike Myers and Dana Carvey needed more than their arsenal of wit and wise cracks to send their audiences into laughing fits. Wigs, fake teeth, rubber beer guts and stick-on body hair can work wonders especially when used to enhance a character's personality and set his background without having to tell a narrative.
Use props depending on your audience
If you think it won't work, then by all means, use a prop but only if it will help tell your story. Otherwise, your comedy act might look stale.
Use props to tell a story, not as a joke
Some of the funniest comedians who utilize props are those who need them to develop a character or to push a story along. The worst thing you can do is use them as a joke by themselves (Look, I got Ronald McDonald's shoes on! Hilarious! Hahaha!).
To the last drop
Some props work so well that comedians can use them over and over again, but you can only squeeze a dead chicken so much. Most props have a shelf life, so if your act starts growing thin, then find another one.
Your best prop is…
Your body, actually. It's all there – the gestures, the feel, the smell, the look. Almost any object, person or animal can be represented by your body. Whether it's a car, an air balloon, a cheerleader, a mouse or even an ex-president, there's no better substitute for a comedy prop than your body. Use it wisely.
You can't win them all
If you're familiar with the comedian Carrot Top, then you'll know that there are people who like him and people who don’t. And Carrot Top uses props. Some people do appreciate the creative use of comedy props to enhance an act and if it works for this group of people, then you have nothing to worry about.
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