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Those of you who've always wanted to try your hand at standup comedy and joke writing should always take some time out of your day to listen to the professionals.
Comedian Gary Gulman, who first garnered attention as a finalist on Last Comic Standing and whose discography includes such albums as Conversations with Inanimate Objects and It's About Time has just what you need.
Ahead of the New Year, Gulman posted the following messages to his Twitter account:
Starting January 1 I am going to give one joke writing tip each day. I can’t promise they will be effective but the… https://t.co/MaO0bQTH3r— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1546197772.0
Most of the tips will be for people who have been doing Standup for a month or more. Also feel free to ask question… https://t.co/IXjOMoFpfI— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1546200975.0
Gulman kept his word.
The comedy tips arrived right on schedule.
1)Record every set. The hard part: Listen to it and transcribe everything you want to say again. It’s sometimes dep… https://t.co/yAwaz1ZW6h— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1546361964.0
Some of these tips came with extra advice and clarification.
2)Write out a favorite joke word for word 1 sentence at a time. After completing each sentence, analyze each word.… https://t.co/B1Gp3wpQ3c— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1546447999.0
You can do 2) at any stage but probably best early on in your career. If it sounds daunting to write out entire jo… https://t.co/SoAiTON1pk— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1546448188.0
But @_______ said she never writes down any of her jokes and she made $,,,,,, last year! THEN LET HER TEACH YOU!… https://t.co/FPUkRKccju— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1546490000.0
Then he soldiered on.
Tip 3) for tomorrow will be for standup veterans. I will continue to tweet these every day until December 31 or unt… https://t.co/MVusrHXgzK— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1546448732.0
3)Go through an old notebook/file. You will probably find a premise/sentence/phrase that you forgot. (I found a pro… https://t.co/T6YMmMjQbI— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1546531133.0
4)Procrastinating? Open your notebook/laptop. Set a timer to your favorite number between 15 and 19 minutes. WRITE… https://t.co/Ru3NKiOdf9— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1546649840.0
Here's some more detailed advice again:
5)Mark Twain said, and I’m paraphrasing, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the di… https://t.co/BThxkXoJmq— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1546710393.0
I promise, unless maybe for charity, I WILL NEVER SELL YOU JOKE TIPS in a book or anywhere else. #GulManTip #WriteNow— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1546794995.0
Carry on.
6)Words with the sound “buh” “puh” and “kuh” esp. @ the beginning/end are funnier. No1 knows why. “Buick” is funnie… https://t.co/QxlKNAOOvx— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1546794394.0
7)Find a comic friend to call/meet and go over jokes/premises/ideas. Play “Is This Funny?” Be honest but gentle & D… https://t.co/kTdY5pwkQ7— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1546880901.0
Number 8 comes with add-ons.
8)When trying out new jokes you have to be PREPARED. Start with a few proven jokes to make sure the crowd is recept… https://t.co/XBvZn0OsnF— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1546967184.0
8a) “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” - Saint John Wooden UCLA Basketball Coach Philosopher Humanitarian.… https://t.co/NjwemJ69AB— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1546967242.0
8b)This is the stage entrance @carnegiehall. I don’t know when I will perform here. I do know I’ll be on time. #Prepared #GulManTip— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1546967913.0
8c) 99% of the comedians I love are going over notes before they get on stage. That’s not a coincidence. @iamcolinquinn— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1546974120.0
Onward!
9)Cannibalize your act. Go through your joke inventory and relocate some jokes or pieces of jokes. Add them to joke… https://t.co/rkFRJOEl6X— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1547052016.0
Oh, wait, here we go again:
10)Get on stage! Writing a joke down is less than 50% of the process. You need to get on stage a ridiculous amount… https://t.co/0cwekdZeDu— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1547141876.0
10a)I used to go when my friend @randyvera would take a break from singing. The audience did not listen to a single… https://t.co/i9P5CDdrYT— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1547142150.0
GO HOME AND WRITE.
11)Had a bad set? Go home and write. Had a great set? Go home and write. Bumped by Bob Saget? Go home and write. Fe… https://t.co/0fXvk4bkLj— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1547226064.0
When in doubt, refer to Emerson.
12)Read Emerson’s “Self Reliance” NOW! Already read it?READ IT AGAIN. There is gold within. It will be the least po… https://t.co/m3WRGSTWiR— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1547312424.0
#13 is crucial, people.
Today’s tip #13 is being fact checked by my staff. It’s another instant classic. #GulManTip #WriteNow— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1547397576.0
13)I have this framed on a wall next to the bed. I interpret it as endorsed permission to fail. Go on stage tonight… https://t.co/0hovSdmAyl— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1547409226.0
Be kind to people. It goes a long way.
14)Best insight I ever got came two shows in: Nearly all of your work will come from other comedians. Be a good cow… https://t.co/mzCNlrJTDV— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1547485291.0
I said earlier this year that there are no shortcuts but that wasn’t true. Self-Reliance is one today’s will be two… https://t.co/spYXbKrTkq— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1547478192.0
It's not over till it's over.
15)You know that joke you’re sick of telling? Write/type it w/ space in between each sentence. Add some details, ch… https://t.co/HAK8qiM9cB— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1547573046.0
And we continue...
16)Be the comedian you wanted to see. Think about the things that you wished someone made jokes about when you sat… https://t.co/nYTY6EqCG4— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1547658137.0
17)You’ve been killing every night. You’re not sure this is still a challenge. For the next few months ask to go on… https://t.co/x42KsGw6Da— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1547746298.0
18)Read books. Listen to Audio Books. You need a huge inventory of words to write interesting jokes. If you bombard… https://t.co/Gwym2k9exo— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1547834458.0
18a) “You can’t be a good writer without being a devoted reader.” - J.K. Rowling— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1547834573.0
You've got to admire this guy's commitment:
19)Use variety in your words. Don’t keep using the same word. If you use a word that is crucial to your punchline y… https://t.co/wHw3T0K9Q2— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1547917472.0
20)Today, try to eliminate those verbal tics. The “and aaaahs” (I Call it Miller-ing) after the flat punchline, the… https://t.co/GeJMSX41nf— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1548008264.0
21)I could never prove it but I believe that young Jews started walking a bit taller in 1995. I did. That was the… https://t.co/P8I7soXOR8— (((Gary Gulman))) (@(((Gary Gulman)))) 1548091416.0
The month is not over yet, and Gulman's advice is going over quite well.
If you’re a comic and you’re not following @GaryGulman on here, you’re missing out on invaluable comedy tips. They… https://t.co/89jA5LPyrW— Kelsey Cook (@Kelsey Cook) 1548018514.0
My pal @GaryGulman has been giving out great stand up comedy advice since the beginning of the year. If you are an… https://t.co/RzjzkK3Wzh— Jimmy Pardo (@Jimmy Pardo) 1547841652.0
I sat down to write my 1st joke ever after seeing @GaryGulman. It was terrible, & I stopped. It took me a decade to… https://t.co/GgwVslnXgk— MehGyver (@MehGyver) 1547867002.0
The amount of people religiously reading @GaryGulman ‘s tweets but not liking them is outrageous— Lili Michelle (@Lili Michelle) 1547513387.0
Get on that, comics. You'll thank yourselves later.