Generating ideas for stand-up comedy is difficult at the best of times. Just about any topic is open game, but that freedom doesn’t make joke writing easier. If anything, the brain needs constraint to help flex the creative muscle. Here’s four constraints that we use at the School of Hard Knock Knocks to help our students generate ideas for stand-up …
Starting out in stand-up comedy in Australia is tough. Open mic gigs are in the evenings, often on a weekday, and the audience is usually comprised of other comedians with zero interest in your gags. It’s therefore important to learn the ropes, and the mistakes, as soon as possible so you can move up the ranks quickly, and start getting …
Since January 2021, stand-up comedy students at the School of Hard Knock Knocks will each receive a photography package as part of the standard comedy course. Photographer and former graduate of the School of Hard Knock Knocks, Adam Sparnon, has been shooting headshots and body shot photos at each course which are vital for comedy posters, particularly with the comedy …
“YES, AND…” is the rule-of-thumb response in improv comedy. It’s also a great way to lead. The ‘yes’ immediately encourages the acceptance of the contributions added by others, rather than shutting down the views of others, and the ‘and’ opens the contribution for further positive refinement. The words ‘no’ and ‘but’ are the polar opposites. Listening to others is a valuable leadership skill. Comedy can …
(Updated 19 September, 2022) Practice is essential to a stand-up comedy career. Sure, the Hard Knock Knocks stand-up comedy course will allow you to hit the ground running, but even we acknowledge that it’s still no substitute for getting up on stage, trialling your material, and bombing – often. Here’s a regularly updated list of open mic comedy rooms in …
The Covid Crisis is over for South Australia, but sadly not all the open mic comedy rooms in Adelaide have reopened. Here’s the latest updated Adelaide open mic comedy nights as of October 30, 2020. If you know of other open mic comedy rooms in Adelaide, or can recommend an update, please contact us. MONDAYS Nothing TUESDAYS Cranker Comedy, Crown …
Can you teach someone how to be funny? Theoretically, yes. The funny bone is not a womb. It’s not present in some people, but not in others. However, there is a definite pre-existing condition that gives a clear indication, like height for a jockey or basketballer, that a career in comedy is more likely. So what is that condition that …
A comedian could kill on one night, but bomb on another, with the only difference being the audience. Conducting an AUDIENCE analysis, ahead of your gig, is one way you can increase the chance that you will kill in stand-up comedy. Here’s the eight letters of the acronym explained: Attentiveness Comedians are not always the centre of attention. Sometimes it’s …
How many Indians does it take to change a light bulb? Hey listen, we have one point three billion, take as many as you want. Alright alright, not a great joke, but then again, I never was funny. I was never the funny kid; I was the shy kid, the kid who sat in the corner and laughed at funny …
