Comedians
Does anyone here know any professional (or amateur) comedians?
If so, did you know them when they were younger, just joking around for family and friends? How did they branch out and hone their skills? Were they ever able to make a career of it, or was it the whole starving artist lifestyle that required a steady income, making their vocation more of an avocation?
Two friends who are rising up in the improv-and-monologue circuit. One was always sort of a funny guy, the other was less obviously the funny person.
Both of them have only recently begun doing this seriously, and both took improv comedy classes. I can really see a difference in how they think about situational and observational stuff now that they've been taking these courses for years. I saw both of them perform in the same show this weekend and it was fabulous.
That said, they both made $40 each for the show. One of them had been a corporate paralegal full-time until she got laid off. The other has been writing screenplays. My sense is that, unless you're really successful, a side occupation (even in a related field like comedy screenwriting) is needed.
Where are these improv comedy classes then?
Abouts in NYC. I'm not sure of all of them, but a lot are through the Upright Citizen's Brigade.
Do you have a local community theatre, Geegee? They could probably point whichever one of your kids this is in the right direction.
We're stuck in a bloody snowglobe.
For these type of people, you really need an online presence, which means a constant flow of new material. You could make an acceptable living off of advertising, even through youtube if needed, if you're good. Even if you're not big theater known.Originally Posted by Dreadnaught
Last edited by Ominous Gamer; 09-17-2010 at 02:19 AM. Reason: missed an important word
Indeed, one of my friends has tried that. But ultimately it gets down to becoming a bit of a an online breakout.
We do, and a children's theater as well. They're not geared toward comedy, though. Their philosophy is more toward drama first, everything following that. The kid would hate having to dress up in robes and cite Shakespeare just to get a gig in comedy.
I looked up Robin Williams' history, which has theory (Cranbrook) and drama (Julliard) roots. Improv places in the region, and even Second City in Chicago, most often won't take anyone under 21 years old. Because comedy is usually done in places with drinking.
My cousin actually tried a stint as a stand-up comedian, performed at Second City in Chicago and all that. It never really caught on though. I don't remember much of him when I was younger as we rarely saw each other, but I remember him being goofy and good-natured, and he was funny when I last saw him a few years ago, so the comedy thing wasn't that surprising to me.
Someone there might have suggestions, though. Or send a PM to Aoshi for the next time he graces us with his presence. Using community resources is much more likely to get you relevant advice, though.
We're stuck in a bloody snowglobe.
Not sure Aoshi would be helpful, since he likes drama and theatre. Maybe he knows people who know people, though.There seem to be two groups in comedy. One that views it as an extension of drama (that would be the academic comedian), and the other that views it as a genre all its own (that would be the self-taught comic).
It can't hurt.
My only experience is musical theatre, and that was from a long-ass time ago (and not really pro, anyway). Ow-she is the only other real theatre-geek I know who is here, everyone else is geek-geek.
Which kid are we talking about? The adult or the high school freshman? It actually makes a difference.
We're stuck in a bloody snowglobe.
The 19 year old. He used to do some pretty funny home-skits chiding the drama and theatre geeks in high school, actually. Lately he's done very dry humor making fun of politics and politicians (since his interest runs that way) and even some fairly good impressions like WF Buckley. He also does a great hippie, French and German accents, and "retard". That sounds bad, I know, but he's really quite funny. He did a whole ad-lib thing recently about "Why do parents with Special Needs Kids give their kids the most retarded looking haircuts?....." then he went on to speculate about Sarah Palin's Downs son's future haircut, and how do kids in Alaska ride the short bus. That sounds really horrible when typed out, but that's his kind of humor.
Well, if you don't have any clubs nearby with open mic nights (you don't generally have to be 21 to perform at or get into those, at least here - you just have to be 21 to drink - also applies to bands playing at bars) so that he can start getting a following that way, OG's youtube idea is perfectly reasonable.
We're stuck in a bloody snowglobe.
Are those youtubes young comics performing in their...bathroom? Or in front of an audience? See, how would a young kid start out and know where to go?
I would recommend against performing in the bathroom, but that could just be my own personal prejudices talking.
He just needs to get a friend to take a video of him doing his thing, then post it on youtube. Tell all his friends, whatever. And then repeat, regularly - and hopefully manage to get it to spread to people who are not his mates.
We're stuck in a bloody snowglobe.
There was a kid in the English boarding school I went to for two years, called Andrew Watts.
He was in the same house as me, though a couple of years below.
I was shocked to see his name and face (unbelievably familiar, even after all these years) on t'interweb on the lineup for the Comedy Store in London, a few years back.
I was naturally intrigued, so a google session ensued and I found out that he'd made quite a name for himself on the comedy scene. The Comedy Store, f'rinstance, is pretty high up there on any comedian's career path.
~
Andrew Watts
Reading Comedy Festival New Act of the Year 2006
Finalist, So You Think You're Funny 2006
King Gong, the Comedy Store (London) November 2006
Andrew Watts (has) been performing stand-up comedy since February 2006. His defiantly middle-class observational style has endeared him to audiences across London and the Home Counties.
"Moments of observational genius" Three Weeks
"A nice, modest approach … his social awkwardness is what makes him funny" chortle.co.uk
"Pure genius, in both material and timing." Surrey Mirror
~
In school he was most definitely quirky. Memories of him in large white underpants (he was a chubby boy) chasing smaller kids around screaming at the top of his lungs. Such were the antics in English boarding schools
He was a Young Conservative I seem to remember, and had been to see the likes of William Hague speak. I had always had him pegged as a politician. He was posh and came from an old money family too.
Funny how things turn out.
Last edited by Timbuk2; 09-24-2010 at 08:28 AM.
That's kinda neat!
Is that a house like in Harry Potter?
Keep on keepin' the beat alive!
Dunno what the houses are in Harry Potter, as I've not read the books nor seen the movies, but I'm guessing he goes to an English private school, so probably the same, yes.
In any case, dating back hundreds of years, old English boarding schools have individual boarding houses within the school where the boarders live.
There is competition between the houses, both academically and in sports.
Wiki has this to say about it.
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in ex-British colonies. Historically it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school. In the case of a day school, however, the word 'house' refers only to a grouping of pupils, rather than to a particular building. The house system has been common in the state sector for many years. It is attracting increasing attention in public and parochial secondary schools in the United States.[1]
Pupils are likely to be divided into a number of houses, which are often named after saints, famous historical alumni or notable regional landmarks (at international schools, for example, houses may be named after famous local people). Other more arbitrary names – animal names or colours, for example – may be used where the house system is adopted by a primary school.
The house system exists to provide a system for pastoral care of the students. In a world with absentee parents more and more children require schools to look after their basic physical, social and emotional needs. Learning can only take place when these needs are being met, so it is natural for the school to provide this care. Traditionally, the need was only with boarding students, hence the history of the house system, but now day students are in need of this as well.
A secondary feature of house systems is the competition between houses. The traditional school sports day is usually an inter-house competition. Debating competitions and charity drives are also often organised along inter-house lines. Merit points for behaviour and academic achievement may also be totalled up for comparison between houses.
We had factions at our school, they competed in sports and debating etc but it was not a boarding school hence the lack of a House.
Thor (Green), Apollo (Gold), Centaur (Blue) & Pegasus (Red) were the factions. From memory Pegasus kicked arse in everything the whole time I was there....I was in Apollo.
As for the comedy gig questions, I don't know anyone that's made the leap so can't help there but I think Lolli is onto something with the Community Theatre suggestion - if he can handle performing somebody else's work in front of an audience it should help him perform his own material.
The youtube idea has merit too, although the distinct lack of an actual live audience will not necessarily equip him for the rigours of performing live it will give him an opportunity for exposure.
Perhaps a little from column A and a little from column B would be worthwhile.
First rule of amateur comedy - Get a stage name. It allows you to get into character and disconnect from your own persona, it also allows you to leave the character behind if the career doesn't pan out.
Such is Life...
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