comedic timing featured image
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Get the Last Laugh: Secrets to Perfecting Comedic Timing

Timing is more than just an existential experience; it's based on many factors. Let's make something clear: It is totally learnable, especially if you understand the mechanics that underlie it. There are a lot of nuances related to comedic timing. To convey this information thoroughly, this may take several different blog posts on this subject, each relating to a different aspect of comedic timing. But for now, let's start with...
by Jerry Corley
5 Principles of Success in Comedy (Success Compass) 1200x629 Featured Image
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5 Principles of a Professional Comedy Writer That Simplify Your Career and Get you Paid

Comedy by it's nature implies frivolity. But achieving a successful career in comedy, either as a writer or performer, requires an abundance of work. Sometimes that work can seem tedious. But when you start hitting those moments of success, the thrill of the show makes all the work worth it. On the way to the goal here are 5 principles of a professional comedy writer or performer that can help guide you to your ultimate goal. A couple of things off the bat. One of the best pieces of advice I received in comedy is "Treat yourself like a professional now, otherwise nobody else will." This is my driving truth and underlying that truth are these five principles.
by Jerry Corley
don't listen to the schmucks
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Don’t Listen to the Schmucks!

There's a condition out there that some people have called the "I-know-everything" condition and it's terminal.

If there's one thing in your journey to success that will stop you cold in your tracks, it's being the guy who thinks they know everything.

That's what today's video is about.

I call it "Don't Listen to the Schmucks!" :-)

by Jerry Corley
plan your success
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Why Wait? Plan your Own Success!

I believe that if you think an idea is funny, but it's not getting laughs, then most likely it's funny, but it's just missing an element that is needed to trigger the laugh.

In my classes, part of what we study is WHY people laugh. What triggers that?

When you understand that at its most intrinsic level you can begin to make changes to a joke to take it from a semi-chuckle (because it's a funny idea) to a triggered laugh because it a funny joke.

Here's an example:

by Jerry Corley
Funny around friends, but
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I’m Funny around my Friends, but…

It's amazing to watch someone who's developing their skill at writing. They could crack a great joke right in front of you. And the moment you ask them to write it down, they fall back on their learning of writing in school, trying to use correct punctuation, grammar, etc., and they over write the joke.

That can kill the joke.

This is what you can do to fix it...

by Jerry Corley
byron-valino-flappers
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Performing the Same Jokes Doesn’t Make it Boring

When you're starting out, I cannot emphasize the importance of building that core act. You should do it constantly, revise, refine and polish. Add act-outs, tags and toppers. Until it crushes. Worrying about your friends hearing the same jokes is counter-productive to you really developing and polishing your act. Not to mention that it can have a cascading negative impact on your development.
by Jerry Corley