Comedy:
Anecdotes: Comedian’s Tool
Just like in writing, an effective comedian never runs out of stories to tell, especially those who are doing a stand-up stunt. Why? It’s what brews the fun for the audience. You can’t just stand like a dead fish in front of an eager audience. Some fun story must be told. And what best will prime up the audiences’ laughing belly than with a well-thought of anecdote.
There are scripted anecdotes that keep on getting told whenever a comedian starts a routine. A good comedian will not tell an anecdote the same way he has executed it during his last show. It just isn't healthy for the business. You will never know when one of the fans who just showed up during your last show will turn up on your next to just be disappointed with your stale jokes. So, yeah, it’s important to mix things up often.
So, how does one make sure that an old anecdote doesn't make you lose your old audience? Here are some tips:
Change your anecdotal character’s names
Since anecdotes are more of biographical stories, changing the names of the characters is one way.
Change the location
Wet your audiences appetite with telling a story of the same kind with a different setting. Creativity should lead you the way. From a city to a fairy tale place or whatever suits your audience’s taste or your joking stamina should do it.
Change the direction of the story.
Varying your anecdote’s results or climax can be fun if your creativity will let you pull it off. Say, if you are telling a joke about a nun who’s riding a bike, which is normally known as a green joke, you can make it more wholesome if you are in front of kids. Backup plans must always be prepared.
So, what if a heckler tells you that he’s heard of that joke before, you can easily say, “I don’t think so, you’re mind is just fooling you. That must be just some de jav ue.
Proper delivery or timing counts if you want anecdotes to shine as gems while doing stand up comedy. However, old jokes can be tiring. It’s up to you how you can recycle your old jokes.
To make things easier for you, getting your mind well-stocked with anecdotes is the best way to do it. Refreshing your mental joke library is no joke but it surely pays. Pun overly intended.
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