“I believe in making jokes 1% better.”- Brian Regan
It’s so refreshing listening to podcasts about comedians because they are incredibly clear about what their mission is. They only have one goal. Be funny.
Musicians are so confused about their mission. If they have one at all, it seems to change from song to song, album to album, month to month, show to show. But comedians, they have one purpose and they dissect it until they perfect it.
You should hear guys like Brian Regan or Jerry Seinfeld, or other really truly funny guys talk about the smallest, tiniest little subtleties that make will make a joke more funny. They understand that literally every single aspect makes a difference when you’re trying to make someone laugh.
Comedians are the most aware people in the entertainment business.
They have to be. They can’t get away with anything. There’s no smoke. There can’t be. Either they’re funny or they’re not.
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it is the worst rule to live by.
You’ll never pay attention enough to make it better unless you break it. And constantly view it as a little bit broken.
So Brian Regan has a joke he knows is going to get the crowd rolling, tried and true, one of his hits. But he’ll flip words around, use a different street name, walk down stage as he tells it, crinkle his nose on a certain word, survey where he’s standing vs the stage lights, which hand is holding the mic…trying to make it 1% better.
And he’s not just doing these things for the sake of doing them. He’s not absent-mindedly doing things different or switching it up. He’s paying attention. What makes a difference? What am I doing? What’s the best way to sell and deliver this moment?
Be bold enough to improve upon something that already works.
