Here are some solo exercises you can use to improve your acting skills. Good actors can make things believable. Being credible onstage for an actout joke or a sincere punchline is crucial. You also need performance skills and good vocal variety. Try these tools from the world of acting when …
185 BLANKS WALK INTO A BAR
A joke writing format from improvisation comedy. This is a fun exercise you can play alone or with fellow comedians to work on your punchlines. You have a fixed setup and you can make multiple punchlines. First you need to think of a random object or ask an online tool …
POINT-OF-VIEW. The Heart of a Joke
Your joke needs at least 2 parts, a setup and punchline. This is joke structure. But what makes a joke very satisfying is attitude. What is it you are really trying to say? Having a clear point-of-view is what helps you create a relationship to your audience. Ideally every joke, …
WRITING SETUPS FOR JOKES.
Random Punchlines – A setup joke writing exercise. It is helpful to be able to separate a punchline from the setup. Below are a list of 30 punchlines to real jokes. You should pick a random punchline and write as many setups as you possibly can for it. Setups should …
PREMISE DECONSTRUCTION. Using Improvisation to find Joke Premises
As a standup, you know the importance of strong, focused premises. But coming up with great ideas can be difficult. Taking a tip from improv can help spark new premises in a low-pressure, creative way. The format “Armando” asks an improviser to give a truthful, autobiographical monologue about a word …
JOKE RACK SIMILES. Comparing unlike things.
Write original punchlines using comparisons to random objects. Fill In The Blanks with an object, and then write your own punchline. Sex with me is like a (blank). We will choose ‘meeting’ for this example.. Now write your own punchline. It lasts too long and 80% of the people don’t …
THE SIMILE GAME. Comparing two verbs using like.
Choose two random activities that end in -ing. Say why the two unlike things are alike. Speaking Russian is a lot like turning on a fan, because when you’re near either things are spinning. Tossing horseshoes is a lot like buying groceries because nobody wants to play that game.
101 TOM SWIFTIES. A Pun exercise
A Tom Swiftie is a short joke that uses a slightly different double meaning for an adverb, which is great for practicing wordplay jokes. Pun a phrase with an adverb, using the format: “[phrase]” he said “[adverb]-ly. I have a split personality,” said Tom, being frank. “I hope you freeze to death”, …
WRITING PUNS. The Pun Store exercise
Write as many puns for each ‘store’ as you possibly can. Then pick a new store and repeat till you feel your Dad vibes flowing. THE PUN STORE I run a BLANK store. (Let the internet help you find a random object.) How’s business? Pretty ________ (insert adjective) Example: I …
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