Developing A Writing Schedule

Date: July 30, 2010      Posted By: Adam White

I know from personal experience that the most prolific I ever was as a comedian is when I had a strict writing schedule. It wasn’t easy. Actually, it was. I worked 2nd shift at a comedy club. By noon every day I had to be at the coffee shop. I say that it wasn’t easy because it took me about a year of what I’ll call ‘casual motivation’ (others might call it ‘half-assed attempts’) to get hooked into this writing schedule. For a year I would go to the coffee shop with a book, hang out, write anywhere from 0-4 pages of thoughts, and then spend the rest of the afternoon goofing off. Eventually I started realizing how good I felt when I noticed that I had written three… Read more

A Comedian’s Security Notebook

Date: July 29, 2010      Posted By: Adam White

Right now. Where is your notebook and pen? If you had a genius idea for a joke, what would you do with it? If you had to look around for a pen or find a scrap of paper, then you need to get serious about being ready for inspiration. For every ten ideas you write in your notebook, one of them might be a keeper. One of the others could lead to something funny. For every ten little scraps of paper with a joke on them, how many of them do you lose? I know very funny comics who say, “I don’t keep a notebook, but if a funny idea hits me, I always write it down.” Fair enough. If that works, cool. Here’s the problem. I know LOTS of mediocre comics who say the same thing. For some… Read more

3 Reasons Why Comics Should Arrive On Time

Date: July 28, 2010      Posted By: Adam White

So far the latest anyone has ever be to a Louisville Comedy Underground show is 65 minutes. Of course, this person who brought 7-8 friends in tow still had an excuse. “My granny was sick.” Way to throw granny under the bus. He didn’t get to perform, and of course I was the asshole. You should always show up at least 30 minutes before the show unless you have been told otherwise. Why? 1. If you show up five minutes before the show starts, then we’ve already assumed that you aren’t going to be here for the show. You’ve stressed out everyone else so that you can be unprofessional. Look at it from the other side. You own a bar with a comedy night. You’ve paid $500 for the talent. Spent… Read more