Ok, here's the good news… finally! Turns out learning your lines is really not so hard after all! I started writing and performing one woman shows in the last six years, and all you have to do to learn your lines is put the time in. That’s really it. My Read more…
Lists that come in 3's are almost always funny. Normal thing, normal thing, suprise thing! Ha! "When I was younger and I was dating in my 20's, guys always say things to me to put me off… 'Let's just be friends', 'I'm not ready for a relationship right now.' 'You Read more…
I've been coaching people in comedy and in particular, "spiritual comedy". Both I and my clients who have a background in spirituality, whether it's in teaching it or practicing it, tend to have this kind of airy-fairy way of moving through our day, focusing on the positive, and trying to Read more…
"I used to get high on life… but I built up a tolerance." -Arj Barker Of course I wrote the title to get your attention. And no, I don't mean take drugs to get high. What I mean is that when we "get high", we let go, and letting Read more…
I was not the class clown. I was not the kid who made all the other kids laugh. But sometimes I would make my teachers laugh. Even after ten years of doing standup comedy, I still had tons of insecurity about "being funny enough." A few things finally helped with Read more…
There is a lot of bad comedy out there. And what I mean is that I am very opinionated. I have several scales for funniness when I'm watching comedy. Was it a well-written joke? Was it delivered with great timing? Was it relatable? Did I agree with the view point Read more…
Want to be funnier? You gotta listen to more comedy… A great way to listen to comedy these days is on Pandora. It's like going to a club without having to deal with the two-drink minimum or the heckler at the table next to you. Of course, most of this Read more…
You may have seen fastcompany.com's 2011 output of the 100 Most Creative People in Business back in May. That ridiculous photo of the many Conan's sure caught my attention. Though Conan O'Brien came in 8th place, the focus on his creative process is worth reiterating. Plus, he wrote a guide Read more…
There are lots of ways to study comedy. How you do it is up to you, but that you do it shouldn't be a question. The most embarrasing thing you could do would be to plagarize a joke (or think you were the first to come up with it) at Read more…
Continuing again from the last two posts on audience and culture, I have been discussing performing my show about traveling in India in other countries and for other audiences than my target demographic. Those who have not traveled, or who have no interest in spirituality/spiritual seeking find the shadow to Read more…