1. My Set For Today Brief Career Overview (5 min) Joke Formulas (10 min)
My Writing Process (5 min)
Exercise (20 min)
Stand Up Comedy as an Art (5 min)
Questions (10 min)

2. Question
Why don’t people laugh just as hard after hearing the same joke twice?

3. Answer Expectation People laugh when something unexpected happens.
Every joke needs to have an unexpected ending for their to be a chance of laughter.

4. Brief Career Overview First Show at Gunn’s Open Mic- freshman year
Produced shows at Gunn- junior, senior year
Produced shows at UCSC- junior, senior year
Currently performs all over the Bay Area
Shared the stage with comics who’ve performed on HBO and Comedy Central.

5. The Biggest Formula of Stand Up
Every joke has a set up and a punchline
Setup: “This guy at the gym was so buff,”
Punchline: “That his shoulders were tickling his earlobes.”
The Key: The shorter the set up, the better. In other words, cut the fat and just get to the meat of the joke (punchline)

6. 7 Other Formulas Sarcasm Comparisons Similes Everyday Observations
Mimicking
List Making
Wording

7. Sarcasm
This guy at the gym was so buff, I mean really buff. His shoulders were tickling his ear lobes.
He was using the treadmill. He wasn’t running on it. He was curling it.

8. Comparison
Never work out with someone that is a lot stronger than you. After he was done with the bench he was like “Your turn.” I don’t know what’s more demoralizing; taking each plate of from the bar one by one, or realizing that I need a spotter just to put the equipment away.

9. Similes
I’m just as lost using those weight machines as my grandma is when she tries to call me on Skype.

10. Observations
On the weight machines they have pictures of how to do the exercise, and it’s always a picture of a strong person. Why is that? I’m pretty sure those people already know how to do the exercise.

11. Mimicking
These guys at the gym are super strong saying stuff like, “Can you spot me bro.” (strong voice is the mimic)

12. List Making
The most satisfying thing after a work out is feeling refreshed, knowing you’re getting stronger, and taking home a free towel by accident.

13. Wording
This guy at the bench press was like “Hey man, can you spot me?” I didn’t know what he’s talking about. I just pulled out my wallet and said “Yeah, how much do you need?”

14. The Performance Timing, timing, timing
Pace
Pauses
Laughing breaks
You don’t choose your style, your style chooses you.
Don’t try to be funny, talk about what’s honestly important to you.

15. The Writing Process For Me
Always carry a small notebook, and jot things down on the spot.
Go on my computer and write as much as I can about the topic.
Cut all the fat and perfect the jokes.
Outline the jokes.
Test it at a show.
Go back and revise it, perform, revise, perform..

16. Exercise
Two Options:
Pick anything that either you find annoying or strange. Or
Pick anything about yourself that you can make fun of.
Write as much as you can about the topic for 10 minutes without stopping (Free write). Then take 3 minutes to cut the fat, then take 3 minutes to share.
Try to implement comedic formulas.

17. Stand Up Comedy as an Art
In my opinion: 75% gifted, 25% skill
BUT the 25% SUPER IMPORTANT- ALL WRITING
A joke is never perfect and can always be perfected

18. Questions?
Also if you want to get into stand up check out the book: Stand-Up Comedy The Book by Judy Carter
However, the only way to improve is stage time, stage time, stage time.
nathanhabib.com