Shows that make you a better comedian

...by forcing you to write new material

One of the main reasons for a stand-up plateauing is failing to write new material. And I get it, it’s scary to go out with new jokes - especially if you have a set that “kills”. Even at a crappy open-mic you may feel the need to present a strong set. Perhaps you’re playing in front of people that could book you for more important gigs, or you might just not want to fall on your arse in front of any crowd. This fear can cause people to go out night after night, year after year, with the same set. And after a while it’s going to get stale for you, and the audience can tell.

“On the way here I saw the crazist thing! (6 years ago)” - Photo by Marty O’Neill on Unsplash

Improvised stand-up and new material nights are essential nights to perform at. If your scene doesn’t have one, then bloody start one up! The audience knows it’s going to be a bumpy ride, and low expectations usually leads to an unpredictable night of good vibes.

Improvised stand-up / “Setlist” shows

The “Setlist” format was invented by Troy Conrad in 2010. In this format, comedians are given never before seen topics, usually displayed on a projector, and they are tasked with improvising stand-up comedy around that topic. Each comedian will get a certain amount of topics in a certain time and they act like these are the headings of their own set-list.

Comedians take it in turns to stand up and "rift" comedy based on complex themes flashed up on a screen behind them. They have no idea what unusual topic is coming up next. - imdb

Complex topics such as:

Emma Aldridge at The Improvised Stand-Up Show @ Comedy Cafe Berlin

The original show doesn’t seem to exist any more but there are plenty of links around like this playlist - YouTube.

If Robin Williams seems a bit far removed - I have this video I made from our Berlin version of the show in 2013.

I still run this show with different branding “The Improvised Stand-Up Show” I just haven’t bothered to make a new video in 11 years.

In the original version of the show, the producers write the topics, but in our Berlin version, we ask the comedians to send in topics and we randomly draw them. It saves a lot of work. I even made a bit of software that sorts all the topics out and makes sure nobody gets their own back. When I figure out how to make it public, I shall release it.

These shows can be a lot of fun, but the more important than that, they force you to write in a way that sitting at home with an empty notepad does not.

If you find yourself doing a show like this, here is the advice I give to performers:

1. This is your tight 5
   The pretence of this show is that the topics projected behind you are items from your killer set-list, and only you can see them. So perform as if you’ve done this set 100 times before (and it always kills!)

2. There is no planning for this show
   Planning for specific topics or scenarios will throw you off - enter the game with a clear head, everything’s going to be fine 😅.

3. Do not do pre-written material
   People can tell, and you’ll look like a dick.

4. Ignore the topic
   The object of the game isn’t to be the closest to a topic - it’s just to be hilarious! So use the topic, don’t - or vaguely let it inspire you - just entertain.

5. Use emotions, keep it simple
   I advise summing up the topic in to one easy to digest word. 

   • Say the topic is “Side effects of listening to Radiohead” - which is just the kind of shitty topic you’ll get. I would summarise that as the word “depression”.

   • Now you have your word, use it to evoke a personal and emotional memory, then riff off of that. Improvisers know this as “flashing”.

   • At the end you can try and tie it into Radiohead - or not. But my advice is to follow emotions and be relatable rather than clever and esoteric.

6. Be professional
   Like any comedy show, don’t shit on the show / topics / format etc on-stage. This usually happens when you are doing badly, and everyone knows it’s because of that.

7. Have fun !!!!!!

New material nights

New material nights are terrific, as long as people stick to the brief. People who show up to these kinds of shows and perform tried and tested material look like tools. One of my favourite of these kinds of shows in Berlin is called “No Joke” where you’re encouraged to do absolutely new material. It’s an extremely fun show to play, and a far cry from the usual bottom-feeding open-mics that encourage people to trot out their ancient “tight 5s”.

No Joke hosts - Lisa Frischemeier and Matthew Liam Healey

NO JOKE is a stand-up comedy show where the performers are forbidden from using all but a single minute of their so-called “tried & tested” material. That means everything they say for the rest of their set has to be either fresh from their notebooks or, even better, straight off the top of their heads.

---

Shows like this in Berlin

• No Joke - Every 3rd Friday @ 11pm - Comedy Cafe Berlin

• The Improvised Stand-Up Show - Every 3rd Wednesday @ 8pm - Comedy Cafe Berlin

• Pimp My Jokes - Every Monday @ 8pm - Suess war gestern - Link

My Show Plugs Berlin

• Friday 07.06.24 @ 8pm I’ll be performing improv in House Show - Link
  At 11pm I’ll be performing improv in Forms Night - Link

• Saturday 08.06.24 @ 8pm I’ll be performing stand-up at Witch Hunt - Link
  At 9:30pm I’ll be performing improv with LBTQIA+CCB - Link

Teaching Plugs Berlin

• I do 1 on 1 classes and coaching sessions for stand-up comedians - Email

• My Spring In-person Stand-up classes are sold out but join a waiting list here - Link

World Wide Web Plugs

• Berlin Stand-Up School - berlinstandupschool.com

• Linktree - carolineclifford.com