Obvious and true

In The Cult of Originality, cartoonist Nina Paley writes, "We can’t know what’s original. We can only know what’s honest."

In my case, if something seems obvious and true, but I don’t see it reflected outside myself, then I try to manifest it. If I find myself arguing a lot, getting angry and angering others while simply telling the obvious truth, then I suspect whatever idea I’m speaking for would be better expressed in art. My most successful, “original” artworks were all ideas I’d discussed with others ad nauseum (the other parties’ nauseum, since they couldn’t see what I saw and rejected the concepts in conversation). Yet no matter how much others insisted said ideas were stupid, or crazy, or not worth thinking about, the ideas continued to press themselves on me as true. I wouldn’t need to give them a voice if I could hear them outside myself.

Seems like a good basis for what to talk about onstage. If you're constantly arguing for something that seems obvious to you but not to others, bring it to the stage.

Advice on getting a tape

Good advice on getting a tape that I heard from another comic: Never just launch into the material that you're trying to get on tape. Riff on the room or do a couple other jokes or something else just to loosen up and get a few laughs. Then take a pause and dive into the set you're wanting to capture as if you're just starting it. No one who watches the tape is gonna care (or even know) once you edit out the other stuff. And now you're starting with some momentum instead of starting from scratch.

You can now watch Vooza videos on your TV via AOL On

In related news, I'm now considering getting Botox.

Post by Vooza.

They never forget how you make them feel

In "Think Like A Fan," Twitter's Head Of Music talks about how Drake, Jimmy Fallon, and Kid Rock have gotten traction by using that mindset. And he even quotes Maya Angelou.

Maya Angelou said this “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel.” They never forget how you make them feel.

Seems like good advice for a standup set too. Laughs per minute might not be as important as the feeling you leave 'em with.

This is how I feel pretty

"Negatively commenting on the appearance of famous people is the only way I feel pretty." -The internet

— Matt Ruby (@mattruby) October 21, 2014

Be worth talking about

1,000 True Fans - Still Relevant? drops some Seth Godin wisdom:

Be Remarkable

The word is confusing and mis-interpreted by many to be something far beyond what it really means.. Seth Godin’s best-selling book “Purple Cow” explains it nicely.

“When I say remarkable, I mean just that… It’s worth talking about.“

That’s it.. Worth talking about. That’s remarkable.

You, me and everyone else reading this blog can be remarkable – because we all can do things worth talking about. In fact, we already do it every day!

There’s a nice quote that comes to mind…

“Advertising is the tax you pay for NOT being remarkable.”

Good podcast interview with Godin and Brian Koppelman.

Adam McKay on working with Del Close and finding your third thought

Enjoying Poking a Dead Frog: Conversations with Today's Top Comedy Writers by Mike Sacks. Some good excerpts from the Adam McKay interview. He talks quite a bit about working with Del Close...

Brené Brown: "What makes you vulnerable, makes you beautiful"

Brené Brown on the power of vulnerability.



It occurred to me the other day that academics and businessmen are the opposite of standup comics in a way. They're always puffing themselves up. Dropping fancy job titles, where they got degrees from, trying to sound smart/impressive, etc. Meanwhile, standups lead with what's wrong with them. How they're fat, bald, lazy, depressed, neurotic, etc. They do it that way because they know these things build empathy and connection. They get the audience on your side. Once you do that, you can go wherever you want with them.

Jerry Seinfeld: Comedians aren't supposed to like awards

Re: Jerry Seinfeld's great Clio speech...



...he's given a similar acceptance speech before. See: "All Awards Are Stupid."