Delivery, Stand Up Comedy and Aristotle

“A lot of times it’s not what you say, but it’s just the way you say it.”

What is delivery?  I could write about this for days just thinking of some of my favorite comics and how they each have their own delivery that is perfect for their character.  Just briefly think about, or watch on Youtube, how a show by Stephen Wright can be so different from Brian Reegan, and yet they can still be just as hilarious.  Mitch Fatel and Kyle Cease, Dov Davidoff and Todd Glass, Jerry Seinfeld and Dane Cook, Rodney Dangerfield, Mitch Hedberg and Nick Swardson.  All of these comics have their own unique style.  So what is delivery?

To me, delivery is anything in the performance itself that is not the written material.  Take this joke for example.  “I poured spot remover on my dog.  He disappeared.”  On paper, this is a funny joke, but think about how many different ways you can perform it. 

Think about the pitch, inflection, volume, tone, rhythm, sentence fluidity, pauses, body movement and pacing/timing.  Taking just one of these elements of delivery can make the joke read in many different ways.  Consider each of these elements with every joke you tell.  If you experiment with the way you tell your jokes, you may increase your LPM (laughs per minute) ten-fold!

I decided to write this blog after I read a little bit about what Aristotle had to say about style or delivery.  (By the way, to any stand up comedians out there, it was really beneficial for me to take a rhetoric class.  Trust me, this will make you think about your act and the idea behind public speaking in a new way, and overall, benefit you as a performer.)  I think Aristotle’s ideas are still relevant today.  Check out the picture I included.  Notice how Aristotle was concerned heavily with choice of words and sentence movement as well as pitch, volume and rhythm.

“A lot of times it’s not what you say, but it’s just the way you say it.”

As a comic, it is important for me to watch other comics in order to learn more about delivery. If you watch stand up comedy to learn instead of be entertained, you will immediately notice a comic’s style of delivery.  In order to get better it is important to watch others.

I think that if you write material that you are confident about and that you believe has truth in it, the delivery, (your voice) will come naturally. When you practice your comedy, practice a joke you have delivering it in a few different ways.  You might just think of a new tag, or find your own artistic voice!

Thank you for reading this blog.  If you could do me a favor real quick and “Like” Revolver Comedy on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/revolvercomedy and follow us on twitter here: www.twitter.com/revolvercomedy  I would really appreciate it!

Thank You,

Joel Jolly

And feel free to leave any comments you may have!  

The Comedy Community

Hello Everyone!  Sorry we are so lax on updating this blog.  This year, we here at Revolver Comedy strive to bring you lots of love, laughs and laughter, which includes updating this blog a little more.

What some people don’t realize, is that Comedy is a Community.  No one comic is going to make it by himself (or herself) it’s all about establishing connections with one another.  The very idea behind Revolver Comedy is to get comics stage time, and allow rookies their first shot at stand up.

A Few Years ago, I performed shows with Comedian Dan McGowan.  You need to look this guy up he is hilarious.  Anyway, when I would do shows with Dan, I would always have the pleasure of meeting lots of comics.  I have had the pleasure of performing in shows with Kyle Cease, Dan McGowan, Sam Adams, Rollie Williams, Bobby Bird, Bob Meddles, AJ Fowler, Kevin Ladd, Matt Baca, Dan Wiley, Pam VanNostern, Dick Black and many many more!  Each comedian has taught me something different about the value of individual style, variance in routine delivery, and tips for industry success.

So here is a little “you scratch our dick, we’ll scratch yours” kind of deal.  If you are a comedian, improv or sketch group, comedic blogger or just a funny person, Revolver Comedy would love to promote some of your stuff!  All that you have to do is send us some content you want promoted, “Like” our Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/revolvercomedy ) and maybe tell your other friends about Revolver Comedy.  This way, you get the exposure you need, and we get some exposure as well.  

Comedy is a Community.  Let’s work together to become rich and famous.  If one of us makes it, that’s great, but if we all make it, it’s even better!

Thank You for reading, and feel free to leave some comments!

-Joel Jolly

A Rollie Jolly Christmas! Presented by Revolver Comedy!

Christmas only comes once a year, so why not celebrate and bring good cheer?

On the 20^th of December that’s the date.  Stand up night at the Impulse, won’t that be great?

Bring your family, bring your friends, with Revolver Comedy the laughter never ends.

$5 a ticket, get them at the door, and arrive prior to 7:30 for shore.

There will be, Haley Driscoll, Bobby Bird, Corey Garretson, Ty Rickers, Max Schwartz Rollie Williams, Joel Jolly.  It’s a Christmas Party so don’t forget the Holly!

Our passion is greater than Muhammed Ali: Join us for A Rollie Jolly Christmas: presented by Revolver Comedy!

The Value of Saying, “Thank You”

My dad has given me one of the best pieces of advice that I have ever gotten. I remember when I was in 9th grade, one of our assignments was to shadow someone for career day. Of course, I wanted to be a stand up comedian, so I contacted Comedy Works and was able to see Aries Spears perform. Because Comedy Works is a restricted ages establishment, I had to go with my dad. After the show, he reminded me, “Be sure to say thank you to the club manager.”

I look up to my father more than anyone else. Not only is he an amazing performer who has been in show business longer than I have been alive, but because he has integrity as well. My dad knows that a simple “thank you” can have enormous affects. Let me give you another example.

When I took Kyle Cease’s Stand Up Boot Camp, it really helped me with my confidence. If you look at a clip of me before and after, you can really see how I have improved. Just for the heck of it, I got on the Facebook and messaged Kyle Cease. I told him, “Thank you so much for your stand up boot camp.” A sentence as simple as that propelled me into the next phase of my comedy career. Not an hour later, Kyle Cease responded, “It is so interesting that you say that, I have been looking for people to coach and be in my documentary.”

BOOM. Did you feel that? A nationally touring comedian wanted to personally coach me, not necessarily because I am better than any of the other comedians that were at the boot camp (even though I am), but because I personally thanked him at a time when he was looking for people to help him out with his new project. Call it a coincidence, call it lucky, call it whatever you want, but “Thank You” changed my life.

A simple “thank you” not only shows your true appreciation, but it can gain you valuable connections in your professional career. This is not only for those who can influence your career directly such as club managers and experienced comedians, but for the fans as well.

Because you are reading this right now, I would like to say “thank you.” To anyone who has ever attended one of my shows or laughed at one of my jokes, “thank you.” I truly do appreciate any interaction with people who admire what I do. Thank You.

V.I.P. PARTY BOYEEEE! JULY 26TH, 8 PM, THE IMPULSE THEATER

That’s Right! Revolver Comedy is hitting the stage again for its bi-annual stand up show at the Impulse Theater!

The Show Features James Clark, Chris Woolf, Kimberly Kutt, AJ Fowler, Corey Garretson, Joel Jolly and Rollie Williams!

Tickets are $5 at the door, feel free to bring any friends you like!

As mentioned in the title the show is Tuesday, July 26th at 8 PM at the Impulse Theater in Denver, CO.

Still not convinced? Check out this vlog:

Still not Convinced? Check out the event:

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=225467200820074

STILL NOT CONVINCED?!?!?!?!! Check out the poster:

TIMBA

Tweet: Revolver Comedy announces: “TIMBA” a DVD by Joel Jolly
Let me tell you all why I want to be a stand-up comedian. I want to change the world. At first glance you may say, “Well then why don’t you join the Peace Corps or start a foundation to change the world?” and I would reply that stand-up comedy is the perfect channel for me to change the world.
On one hand, laughter is one of the best medicines. I want people to come to my shows and leave happy. Through the use of my talents, I can spread happiness to all who listen to me.
On the other hand, I want to raise money for worthy causes. To date, I have raised nearly $3,000 to various causes including The Timmy Foundation, The Kiva Foundation, Amnesty International and The Second Wind Fund.
When my close friend Tim took his own life in the beginning of 2010, I felt completely uninspired. It was the first time that I had ever experienced the death of a friend. I felt depression, anger, confusion and regret. I did not know what to do with myself. The two weeks after Tim had taken his own life, I did nothing but lay in my bed, and occasionally look at my computer screen. I was lost.
I knew that something had to be done. I knew that I never wanted anyone to feel this way ever again. So I thought to myself, how could I use my comedy talents to also benefit the world? I could put on fundraising shows; I could make a product and sell it, giving proceeds to worthy foundations. I could perform more comedy so maybe the world would be a happier place.
Not long after that, and old friend named Kate Jankouski called me up. She said: I was wondering if you would like to do a show for The Timmy Foundation: a group that delivers medical supplies to people in Ecuador! Absolutely! I said. I knew that something big was coming from this show.
I got my friends in the journalism school to film me during this show, and after a long process, I made TIMBA a DVD dedicated to Tim, and a DVD that would be used for a good cause. Half of all the money raised from the TIMBA DVD goes toward the Second Wind Fund, which is dedicated to preventing teen suicide.
As a performer, I am always interested in doing a show for a good cause. I am here to change the world.

Sincerely,
Joel Jolly
Stand-Up Comedian: Revolver Comedy

Comedy Lingo

Tweet: Stand-up comedy has a language all its own! Learn these words so you can sound like a real comic!
If you want to be a stand-up comedian, there are some terms that you should become familiar with. That way, if you get offstage and another comic tells you, “Man you just killed! Your bit about the English muffins had a great callback, but it was pretty blue,” you can intelligently respond to him or her. Enjoy this glossary of stand-up comedy terms.
Act: Your persona onstage. The type of comedian that you present yourself to be.
Bit: A routine, or a topic in your set.
Blue: This term refers to how clean the subject matter of your material is. Comics who are blue curse continually and talk about adult themes. Rated R.
To Bomb: You did badly. No one laughed.
Callback: When the comic recites a line that refers to an earlier joke in the set.
Clean: The opposite of blue. This would be rated G: for the whole family.
Closer: The last joke in your set. Always leave the audience wanting more.
Feature: A comic who performs anywhere from 20-30 minutes after the opener but before the headliner.
Headliner: The last comic to perform. A headliner generally performs 45-60 minutes of comedy.
To Kill: You did a great job. The audience is in stitches.
MC aka Opener aka Host: Master of ceremonies: the person who is first onstage, opens with 5-10 minutes of material and introduces the acts.
One Liner: A joke within a single sentence or phrase.
Punch line: The surprise line at the end of the joke that completes the joke and makes the audience laugh.
Room: This is the venue.
Set: The set consists of all the jokes you told during your time onstage.
Set up: The first part of the joke in which the premise and attitude is established.
Tag: An extra line at the end of a punch line that pertains to the topic. An extra joke.
Learning these terms will not only help you communicate with those around you, but will also help you understand the theory behind stand-up comedy.

Good Luck,
Joel Jolly
Stand-Up Comedian: Revolver Comedy