Episodes

  • Today we wrap up the long-running (6 1/2 years) School of Laughs podcast!

    It started in July of 2014 and has run the course of over 255 episodes. If you have a question about stand-up comedy we have covered it on this podcast.

    So as we wrap, where do you go from here?

    Today we talk about clearing off your schedule for upcoming goals. You can't add something new unless you subtract something from your list of tasks. What will those things be for you?

    Lastly, what is your 5-10 year plan? Have you thought about how to get where you need to be to make those plans happen? We talk about a few things to consider when pursuing stand-up comedy as a career.

    It's been a fun run. Thanks for listening. I hope you continue to share past episodes with your friends. Revisit topics as they become relevant for you.

    (c)(p) 2022 School of Laughs Podcast

    www.SchoolOfLaughs.com

    www.RikRoberts.com

    1-888-895-8549

  • Today we focus on the year ahead. What are you trying to accomplish moving forward? Yes, it's the annual goals tracker worksheet episode! You can download the Goals Tracker Worksheet .pdf by clicking HERE.

    Thanks to the Patreon sponsor for this episode John Smith.

    We'll cover how to set attainable goals in bite-sized pieces. Specifically, we get into goals about:

    Writing comedy Writing with others Performing on stage Performing Virtual Creating Virtual Solutions Updating Websites E-mail Newsletter Lists Networking Ideas Cultivating your Social Media following

    and much, much, more!

    This goals tracker worksheet is one of my go-to for really understanding if I made any progress in the previous year or not. It also helps me pinpoint what I can do better and where I should spend my time. It will do the same for you.

    (C)(P) SCHOOL OF LAUGHS

    WWW.SCHOOLOFLAUGHS.COM

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  • Sharing marketing tips for comics is the one and wonderful Tracy DeGraff. After penning her first book, "Laugh Anyway Mom", Tracy took classes at The Second City in Chicago hoping to take her stories to the comedy stage.

    Today, she joins us to share insights on what has worked (along with a few things that didn't) on her way to creating her one woman show. She emphasizes the need to pave your own P.R. way in order to sell tickets, bring awareness, and earn money as a comedian or speaker.

    Thanks to our PATREON sponsor for this episode MAX WINFREY!

    MARKETING TIPS FOR COMICS SHOW NOTES

    Specifically, we talk about:

    Her journey from writer to stand-up comedian/speaker
    Testing her book title and getting insightful feedback
    The difference between stand-up and storytelling
    Trading off her expertise to learn stand-up
    Taking classes at The Second City
    Why she chose to self-publish
    The difficulty in finding her ideal audience to test comedy
    Why it took awhile for her to utilize her journalism and PR degree
    How to get featured in local newspapers
    Why newspapers need content
    Providing everything needed to publish your story
    3 Keys to getting published!
    How to "reverse-engineer" your shows for maximum return
    Producing her next video special
    How to determine an ad budget for your own show
    Capturing e-mail addresses and how to use them afterwards
    The benefits of using MAILCHIMP to create email campaigns
    Providing something to bookers so they remember you
    and much more.

    Visit her website: https://tracydegraaf.com

    (c)(p) School Of Laughs.com

    www.SchoolOfLaughs.com

  • I just wrapped up 17 shows in 27 days. I am still learning how to be a comedian, speaker, facilitator, and actor. On top of that, I have to book travel and get myself to and from the gigs. Today I am going to share with you a lesson learned from each of the events.

    During the run, my shows consisted of two of my speeches, my stand-up, personal appearances, and as audience warm-up. It requires a lot of versatility and resilience. Sometimes I think those qualities are more important than talent. Probably not, but they help! Nevertheless, this episode is chock full of comedy lessons learned during the 17 events performed.

    Thanks to our PATREON sponsor for this episode JOHN PETERS!

    COMEDY LESSONS LEARNED - SHOW NOTES

    Specifically, I'll talk about:

    What Barney Fife, Realtors, and a Mexican Restaurant have in common A unique soundproof booth for doing a zoom interview How an outreach event turned into a virtual solo show Why being overprepared comes in handy A lesson in generosity Standing your ground to protect your health and restfulness Working in new material How a former NFL player gave me a set-up for a new joke What to do when a health official coughs all over your microphone Being appreciative of your friends and family Remembering to loosen up and "add the flavor" Making a wish and top golf Rolling the dice on an Uber in Atlantic City The accent in Boston I wasn't expecting Establishing off-stage relationships with clients and CEO's How refreshing it is to work with other comics Knowing your crowd and when to slow down How gender jokes can still work

    and much more.

    Folks mentioned in this episode include:

    Dan Swartout [Episode 092] Let Your Style Develop

    John Branyan [Episode 116] Three New Premises

    Andrew Rudick

    David Pendleton

    Chris Cohen

    ===

    NEVER MISS A PODCAST OR POST

    If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking.

    Better yet, subscribe to the monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free, useful, and fun.

    Just email: [email protected] and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam-free.

  • Today I am discussing comedy win-win opportunities with Chester Goad. I met Chester a few years ago at the BIG PODCAST conference with David Hooper. We've been in the loop ever since. During the past 18 months, we've spent many hours on coaching calls. Sometimes it is spent developing material, or creating a game plan. And always, trying to find win-win opportunities to develop his stage time and material.

    Chester is also a writer and actor. A podcast host (Film Fresh and Leader Byte).

    Learn more and contact Chester Goad at https://www.chesterg.com.

    COMEDY WIN-WIN OPPORTUNITIES WITH CHESTER GOAD SHOW NOTES

    Specifically, we talk about:

    cutting your teeth on shows where patrons don't expect to see a comedian providing value to a venue instead of asking for stage time writing about what you know connecting with the audience through local material networking in a real way with other comics the value of encouragement sometimes the payoff comes later than you expect Gutty's Comedy Club The Clean Comedy Challenge What Chester knows about BIGFOOT

    and much more.

    ===

    NEVER MISS A PODCAST OR POST

    If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking.

    Better yet, subscribe to the monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free, useful, and fun.

    Just email: [email protected] and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam-free.

  • Have you thought about CREATING A COMEDY CD? Brian Kohatsu joins us today to talk about a project that had been on his list for roughly 5 years. Coivd gave him time to finally knock it out and he knocked it out of the park!

    I'll play a few clips from his project "Secret Asian Man" and dig into the process for making the CD happen.

    CREATING A COMEDY CD SHOW NOTES

    Specifically, we talk about:

    making the project personal by including friends and family the need for a plan, schedule, and focus incorporating impressions into the album how he has a knack for impersonating the laughs of famous people using his personal skills and talent to save money and studio fees recording at home while the family is around

    and much more.

    Learn more about Brian and purchase his project at www.BrianKohatsu.com

    ===

    NEVER MISS A PODCAST OR POST

    If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking.

    Better yet, subscribe to the monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free, useful, and fun.

    Just email: [email protected] and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam-free.

  • Do you struggle with memorizing your jokes? Have you ever had problems with your voice during a show? What are the pros and cons of using props or musical instruments on stage?

    In this “after-school special” recorded with students from the writing class in Nashville, we discuss several techniques to help you tie your jokes together. We talk about how to save your failing voice. We go into detail about the many negatives of lugging extra things with you onstage. Also, we discuss some of the benefits of using those guitars and props.

    LISTEN NOW:

    Overall, this is a wide-ranging, fast-paced episode with great questions from these students.

    Listen and you’ll discover:

    How a friend of mine memorizes 90 minutes of material using his house. How you can connect my show together with tag lines. What my “hourglass” approach to comedy is. Why I was told to “lose the guitar” – and why I’m glad I didn’t! What happened when Carrot Top lost his props in a fire at the club. Why do some comedy club managers hate dealing with props of any kind onstage?

    and much more.

    ===

    NEVER MISS A PODCAST OR POST

    If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe in iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking.

    Better yet, subscribe to the monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free, useful, and fun.

    Just email: [email protected] and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam-free.

  • Chris Ruppe is our guest on this episode, and he is also our Patreon sponsor. I first met Chris at a Christian Comedy Association conference. Since then he has developed material and started to think about going full time into comedy. Along those lines, Chris had some specific questions about making that move. If you are considering making comedy a full-time job, this episode is a musty listen.

    CHRIS RUPPE SHOW NOTES Specifically, we talk about: How he got started promoting shows before being a comedian Jokes he’s working on now Tips on finding an “extra gear” to copse your show on Writing his closing bits A fun way to find out who you talk about in your show Paul Gilmartin’s “Sister Joan” poem Tips on when to go full time in comedy How do you navigate secular shows as a Christian comedian? Do you think it is okay to collaborate as a comedian? Tips on getting booked.

    And much, much more.

    (c)(p) 2021 Rik Roberts School of Laughs

    www.SchoolOfLaughs.com

  • [This encore presentation of my interview with Jeanne Robertson is in honor of the late Speaker & Huomrists passing. Prayers and condolences for all those who were close to her. ]

    An interview with a rock star - Jeanne Robertson!

    In July of 2017, I had a great time talking with Jeanne. We discuss a career that started in the late ’60s and has carried her into the 2020s. You don’t last that 58 years in show business unless you are jaw-dropping funny. Jeanne Robertson absolutely is!

    Jeanne arrived on my radar in 2015 when I heard her routines on Laugh USA (SiriusXM Satellite radio). I had never crossed paths with her at a comedy club and kept wondering “Where did this hilarious lady come from?” It turns out she comes from North Carolina and entered comedy through the speaking circuit. She’s quick to tell you she is a humorist – not a stand-up comedian. But don’t let that fool you. Her stories are full of laughs all the way to the huge surprise payoff.

    With over 344,000 YouTube Subscribers and over 100 MILLION views, Jeanne grew more popular than ever.

    After getting to know her for years through her routines, I finally got the chance to meet up with Jeanne at a session on humor at the National Speaker’s Association conference in Orlando, FL.

    Jeanne Robertson Show Notes

    Specifically, we talk about:

    Connecting through the National Speakers Association
    Her upcoming show at the Ryman Auditorium
    Watching Carol Burnett live and getting to meet her
    Weaving a little audience participation into her shows
    Going from the Miss North Carolina Pageant to the speaking circuit
    Working in a message for her corporate audiences
    Embracing the internet and catapulting her career
    Getting help from Al McCree to go digital on iTunes
    The difference between being a speaker and a concert entertainer
    What to expect at a comedy club vs hearing a humorist
    Updating and improving material that continues to grow
    The origin of “Left Brain” stories based on her husband Jerry
    Giving the audience permission to laugh
    The process and steps she uses to develop stories
    The Genie Journal and how it helps accumulate stories
    How not talking about yourself can generate material

    And a whole lot more!

    Want to learn more about Jeanne Robertson

    Jeanne’s official website http://www.jeannerobertson.com

    “Don’t Send A Man To The Grocery Store” on YOUTUBE

  • In today's episode, Jonnie W. & Brian Bates join me. We discuss how the comedy scene is bouncing back, the latest Bo Burnham special, and how changing one line in a joke can take it to newer and sometimes better places.

    This episode is sponsored by Patreon supporter Jeremy Lee. If you would like to support the podcast please visit www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon.

    Specifically, we talk about:

    Are the audiences masked, stressed, or back to normal The vaccinated and the unvaccinated are all attending How the Delta Variant is causing disruption Venues and artists requiring audience members to be vaccinated to attend Bo Burnham's comedy special and how revealing it is (underwear alert) Our favorite parts of the special How technology has changed our cultural norm Why keeping new jokes conversational can lead to moments of discovery How a horrible audience can reveal your best material Are the first few minutes of your show super important or completely disposable? How Foxworthy and Leno treat their audiences

    WWW.SCHOOLOFLAUGHS.COM

  • Join me for an encore presentation of Episode #2 of the School of Laughs podcast. This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Josh Liston. Find out how you can help us stay on the air at www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon.

    Producer Gavin Miller gathered questions from a club full of aspiring comics just like yourself. When the dust settled we came up with a bunch of really specific tips to help you understand and grow your comedy career.

    LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE

    Below is a brief list of the topics developed just for you. Enjoy!

    The question behind everything you write. How to “float your jokes” when you aren’t on stage. How to use other characters to set up or deliver punch lines in your material. Shortcuts to finding your voice. Why putting yourself in the joke can open up more opportunities. Picking material when performing in a competition. Six keys to making your material connect with your audience. Show me the money! What are the average paychecks for club comics? Offstage moves that help you get behind the mic. The dangers of overstepping boundaries with bookers. The two kinds of club headliners. Why you shouldn’t let other people’s goals define YOUR success.

    If you enjoy this PODCAST please subscribe to iTunes or STITCHER and leave a comment and ranking.

    Better yet, subscribe to the monthly School of Laughs “Insider Tips” monthly email and get exclusive information delivered right to your inbox. It’s fast, free, useful, and fun. Email: [email protected] and put “insider tip sheet” in the subject header. I’ll make sure you get the official tip sheet and I promise to keep your email anonymous and spam-free.

    Thanks!

    Rik

  • oday we are joined by Thor Ramsey. Thor is the force behind the movie Church People. The film takes us inside a megachurch whose pastor is caught up in gimmicks more than the gospel. Thor’s character, Guy Sides, is a rising youth pastor who is trying to get things back to being focused on the gospel. But, his agent and his pastor are going the other direction.

    The film features a great cast. Erin Cahill does a great job as the pastor's apprehensive daughter and potential love interest for Guy. Michael Monks as Skip Finney embodies the aloof, self-consumed pastor we’ve all come to be too familiar with these days. And great supporting actors abound in the likes of Joey Fatone as Tino, the worship leader who never met a phrase he didn’t want to sing. Stephen Baldwin as Chad Case, a quirky, ever-present voice of reason. And Donald Faison as Jonathan, an agent who is always chewing the money.

    Also appearing are William Baldwin, Chyna Phillips, and My Pillow’s Mike Lindell.

    SEPTEMBER 3rd Available on DIGITAL and DVD

    Learn more at: https://churchpeoplefilm.com

    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3717822/fullcredits/

    Thor’s Website: www.ThorRamsey.com

    Thor’s Books:

    A Comedian's Guide to Theology

    Broke

    The Most Encouraging Book on Hell Ever

    (C) (P) 2021 School of Laughs Podcast

    www.SchoolofLaughs.com

  • CRISP AND CLEAN COMEDY COMPETITION

    Welcome to the competition results episode. This showcase of clean comedy was open to all comedians. The clips ranged from stand-up, musical comedy to comedy without an audience delivered straight to the microphone. All clips submitted, as long as they were clean and clearly understandable, made it into the episode.

    The 3 overall favorite submissions are included in this episode. And, the top 3 will receive:

    A one-hour roundtable coaching call with Rik and the other winners,

    A free SILVER Edition Comedy Writing Course,

    And a free one-year subscription to Club 52. Club 52 features a weekly email with comedy challenges as well as a quarterly Zoom hangout

    Thanks to all of these fine folks for their submissions:

    “Chicken Hormones” Sheila Day | Nashville, TN
    “Fat Baby” Dustin Crider | Atlanta, GA
    “Billy Bod” Patrick Miller | Oakland, California
    “Instagram” Damien Challen | Newcastle Australia
    “Losing My Mind” Theodore Schmelke | Mineola NY
    “Divorces vs Widows” Shell from Fort | Worth TX
    “Begging for Attention” J.B. Bowman | Nashville, TN
    “Random Thoughts with Gary Busey” Brian Kohatsu | Glendale, AZ
    “More than A Hobby” Mark Johns | Austin, Texas
    “Not Hip or Cool” Dan Bublitz Jr | St. Paul, MN
    “String Theory II” Rick Reichman | Nashville, TN
    “Messy House” Suzanne Linfante | Laurence Harbor, NJ
    “This Guy’s Roof” Dave Pileggi | Atlanta, GA
    “Leave Early Dad” Trent Babb | Fresno, California
    “Teddy Bear” Matthew Clark Wyatt
    “The Holy Cow” Bryan Nye | Lebanon, TN
    “Unemployed Husband” Carmiya | Washington, D.C.
    “Personal Training is Bullying” Uncle Nath | Newcastle Australia
    “Solitary Swing Dancing” Wes Sholtes | Washington, DC
    “Looking for the Wrong Women” Patrick Andonie | New Orleans, LA
    “Zoom Calls” Tim Ketchersid | Dallas, TX
    “The Tornado” Craig Slezak | Altamonte Springs, FL
    “Tiger King” Sean Hughes | Nashville, TN

    (C)(P) 2021 School of Laughs Podcast
    www.SchoolOfLAughs.com

  • Welcome to the competition episode. This showcase of clean comedy was open to all comedians. Whether you are brand new, full-time, or fooling yourself. The clips range from stand-up, musical comedy to comedy without an audience delivered straight to the microphone. All clips submitted, as long as they were clean and clearly understandable, made it into the episode.

    The clips are sixty seconds or less. After listening to the episode, you can participate in the voting!

    VOTING:

    Voting happens in three phases:

    The Crisp and Clean Comedy Competition episode will be posted on the School of Laughs YouTube channel and you can encourage your friends to listen and leave a comment on your behalf. Every comment stating your name or bit name will go towards your overall tally. This will account for 1/3 of your total vote. Each clip will be judged on a scale of 1-10 by at least three judges. Their vote will weigh 1/3 as well. And the final 1/3 of the score will be done by the other listeners of the show. I’ll encourage our listeners to vote for their favorite clip from the episode by choosing an entry from the list below and emailing the name of the joke or the performer in the subject line to [email protected] .

    The 3 overall favorite submissions will get a replay on an upcoming episode. If possible, a brief interview with the comic behind the joke will be part of the show.

    VOTING ENDS July 1st. Results to appear on the July 15th episode of the podcast.

    PRIZES:

    Also, the top 3 will receive:

    A one-hour roundtable coaching call with Rik and the other winners, A free SILVER Edition Comedy Writing Course, And a free one-year subscription to Club 52. Club 52 features a weekly email with comedy challenges as well as a quarterly Zoom hangout

    All of these details are on the SchoofLlaughs.com show notes page for this episode.

    Submissions:

    “Chicken Hormones” Sheila Day | Nashville, TN “Fat Baby” Dustin Crider | Atlanta, GA “Billy Bod” Patrick Miller | Oakland, California “Instagram” Damien Challen | Newcastle Australia “Losing My Mind” Theodore Schmelke | Mineola NY “Divorces vs Widows” Shell from Fort | Worth TX “Begging for Attention” J.B. Bowman | Nashville, TN “Random Thoughts with Gary Busey” Brian Kohatsu | Glendale, Arizona “More than A Hobby” Mark Johns | Austin, Texas “Not Hip or Cool” Dan Bublitz Jr | St. Paul, MN “String Theory II” Rick Reichman | Nashville, TN “Messy House” Suzanne Linfante | Laurence Harbor, NJ “This Guy’s Roof” Dave Pileggi | Atlanta, GA “Leave Early Dad” Trent Babb | Fresno, California “Teddy Bear” Matthew Clark Wyatt “The Holy Cow” Bryan Nye | Lebanon, TN “Unemployed Husband” Carmiya | Washington, D.C. “Personal Training is Bullying” Uncle Nath | Newcastle Australia “Solitary Swing Dancing” Wes Sholtes | Washington, DC “Looking for the Wrong Women” Patrick Andonie | New Orleans, LA "Zoom Calls" Tim Ketchersid | Dallas, TX "The Tornado" Craig Slezak | Altamonte Springs, FL "Tiger King" Sean Hughes | Nashville, TN

    Vote for your favorite clip from the episode by choosing an entry from the list above! E-mail the name of the joke or the performer in the subject line to [email protected] .

    (c)(p) www.SchoolOfLaughs.com 2021
  • In this episode, I will discuss the re-emergence of stand-up comedy. Battling shuttered clubs, empty showrooms, dry-docked cruise ships, and other venues it has been a tough year for comedians. I discuss a variety of things, including:

    Vaccination rates in the USA and how that affects audiences How some states are using Lotteries to entice vaccinations Which states are still seeing an increase in COIVD cases The effect on cruise ship comedians How corporate events have "sort of" bounced back My experiences with church events during the pandemic What is what like attending a live comedy show at a club Things I noticed flying to a show in New Orleans after 63 weeks away from the airport The situation with Rental Car companies and why you should be ready to pay more Why it may take a while to get an UBER or LYFT Trends in bookings, reschedulings, and cancellations

    and a little bit more : )

    Again, I would LOVE to hear how things are where you live. Send an email to [email protected] and let me know your situation and perspective.

    (c)(p) www.SchoolOfLaughs.com

  • “Cancel Culture” is a term that has become more prevalent. In the world of comedy, it’s one step further down the path of political correctness. Today we talk about what it is, how it affects comedy, and what comedians can do to neutralize its invasion of our art form.

    Webster defines cancel culture as “a way of behaving in society or group, especially on social media, in which it is common to completely reject and stop supporting someone because they have said or done something that offends you.”

    But here’s here is the thing. Stand-up comedy specifically is your opinion, your thought, and your attempt to make somebody laugh. That’s what standup comedy is. It’s your opinion, your thought, your attempt to make somebody laugh. And that is important. It should be about trying to get people to laugh.

    Standup comedy is an art form with its primary focus on generating laughs, but it has evolved over time into an art form that can also be used to address social issues, advance one’s agenda, or potentially lead others to change their thought or alter their beliefs.

    And then evolution is the tricky part because that’s what is rubbing up against the edges of cancer culture because now you’re taking your belief system and challenging someone else’s or challenging someone else’s with yours, and you start taking a stance against things. That tension can lead to some friction, some push back.

    We tackle this evolutionary overlap in today’s episode.

    COUNTERING CANCEL CULTURE

    Specifically, we talk about:

    The definition of comedy and cancel culture What causes people to be offended How comedians leave themselves vulnerable to it What comics can do to prevent attacks The reason you need to know your target in a joke Different types of targets “The Planet is Fine” routine by George Carlin How to back up your opinions like George Carlin What I think about Ruth’s Chris Steak House Why you should work on your craft What Jon Stewart thinks about Thanksgiving How assumption and cancel culture go hand in hand

    And a whole lot more!

    (c)(p) 2021 The Rik Roberts School of Laughs

    www.SchoolOfLaughs.com

  • Crisp and Clean Comedy Competition Guidelines

    This showcase of clean comedy is open to all comedians. Whether you are brand new, full-time, or fooling yourself.

    Here’s how it will work.

    The clip can be stand-up, sketch, musical comedy - as long as it is clean and clearly understandable.

    Send your TV CLEAN audio clip, 60 seconds or less to [email protected] before May 21st.

    In your email make sure you put:

    Your name, The name of the joke, Where you are based, How long you have performed comedy.

    I’ll do a quick listen for clarity and audio quality.

    All clean clips, with good laughs and quality audio, will appear together in an upcoming episode of the podcast. So, it's important I have your name and joke name to introduce the comedy clip.

    Voting happens in three phases.

    The Crisp and Clean Comedy Competition episode will be posted on the School of Laughs YouTube channel and you can encourage your friends to listen and leave a comment on your behalf. Every comment will go towards your overall tally. This will account for 1/3 of your total vote. Each clip will be judged on a scale of 1-10 by at least three judges. Their vote will weigh 1/3 as well. And the final 1/3 of the score will be done by the other listeners of the show. I’ll encourage our listeners to vote for their favorite clip from the episode by visiting the School Of Laughs website and clicking their vote in a form.

    The 3 overall favorite submissions will get a replay on an upcoming episode as well as a brief interview with the comic behind the joke.

    Also, the top 3 will receive:

    A one-hour roundtable coaching call with Rik and the other winners, A free Silver Edition Comedy Writing Course, And a free one-year subscription to Club 52. Club 52 features a weekly email with comedy challenges as well as a quarterly Zoom hangout.

    So, when you have your Crisp and Clean Comedy Competition clip ready:

    send it to [email protected] . In the subject line put “Crisp and Clean Comedy Clip”. Make sure the clip is under 60 seconds And in a wave or mp3 file. (I cannot rip audio from your YouTube clip or do the editing for you.)

    All entrants will be notified prior to the initial episode that they have made the “cut”. I guarantee I will listen to all the clips but cannot guarantee that they will all make the cut. So, do your best to make it funny, clean, and under a minute.

    All of these details are on the SchooOflaughs.com show notes page for this episode.

    Good luck and I can’t wait to hear from you.

  • Have you ever wondered what it takes to produce a movie, write a jingle, or land Bob Dylan's manager? Well, today you are in luck! I have a pod-swap interview with Rick Altizer.

    Not only is Rick an incredibly good friend, but we also share an office! Over the years I've learned a lot about his character, his dedication to his work, and his incredible focus. I thought you would find his story interesting and inspirational.

    Join me as I sit down and talk with Rick Altizer about what he has learned from his years in show business. Specifically, we talk about his run as a film director of such movies as Russ Taff - I Still Believe, and three projects with Chonda Pierce - "Enough", "Laughing In The Dark" and "Unashamed".

    Currently, Rick is working on a movie for the Kendrick Brothers (War Room, Courageous, Fire Proof) titled "Show Me the Father". In the discussion, we talk about the gravity of story in films that can also be applied to your stand-up. We also dig into the nuts and bolts of organizing hours of material into a tangible product. Film Maker Rick Altizer Show Notes: Rick's early years as a rock-n-roller How Bob Dylan's manager took him on Why he didn't get a deal with Sony The healthy lesson of finding your identity Finding a business partner to complement his creativity His work with Chonda Pierce How a plan for a 5-minute demo turned into a documentary Learning how to edit a movie The burden of expectation Looking at disappointments objectively

    And a whole lot more!

    THANKS TO OUR PATREON SPONSOR:

    Thanks to John Smith for being our Patreon sponsor for this episode. You can learn more about supporting the podcast by visiting THIS LINK.

    More with Rick Altizer:

    And if you like this episode, you may want to check out Rick's previous visit to the podcast on Episode 119 Stand-Up Comedy Examined.

    Visit his website: http://www.rickaltizer.com

    (c)(p) The Rik Roberts School of Laughs

    www.SchoolOfLaughs.com

  • Have you ever wondered what goes through a comedian’s mind when they tell a joke that doesn’t work? Whether you’re an aspiring comedian or a hardcore comedy nerd, The Art of Bombing Podcast has something for everyone. From useful comedy insight to entertaining stories of bombing and failure told by the comedians that lived through them.

    Join Rik Roberts as he sits down and talks with comedian Dan Bublitz Jr about what he has learned from his interviews. After talking with comedians of all levels from across the country he has some great insights.

    Show Notes: Different comedy communities from South Dakota to St. Paul, MN What it's like being new to a comedy scene even though you aren't new to comedy Moving to the Midwest to be closer to road work Rick Bronson's House of Comedy https://moa.houseofcomedy.net Acme Comedy Company http://www.acmecomedycompany.com The Joke Joint Working out material at other rooms before the comedy club open mic Approaching political comedy topics as a neutral POV Christopher Titus

    And a whole lot more!

    THANKS TO OUR PATREON SPONSOR:

    Thanks to Josh Liston for being our Patreon sponsor for this episode. You can learn more about supporting the podcast by visiting THIS LINK.

    More about Dan Bublitz:

    And if you like this episode, you may want to check out Dan's "The Art of Bombing Podcast" which takes an in-depth look at bombing on stages around the world to turn failure into success, perhaps, with a laugh or two along the way.

    Check out this episode with Alonzo Boden: https://theartofbombing.libsyn.com/size/5/?search=alonzo+

    Or this one with Andrew Deans: https://theartofbombing.libsyn.com/the-art-of-bombing-episode-50-andrew-deans

    Maybe listen to my first episode with Dan: https://theartofbombing.libsyn.com/the-art-of-bombing-episode-59-rik-roberts

    The Art of Bombing Podcast was created in 2017 by Dan Bublitz Jr. after he bombed so badly at a private gig that he almost quit comedy. Instead of quitting he decided to talk about failure with other performers to see how they use their failure to succeed.

    (C)(P) 2021 Rik Roberts School of Laughs

  • This is the follow-up podcast to episode 235 where I shared my process of preparing for my last recording. You can listen to that podcast HERE.

    In this episode, I review the live recording. Offering up insights into my thinking for choosing certain jokes, we talk about what went well and what could have been different. We start off by listening to the set.

    If you prefer, you can watch the set to see the facial expressions, etc., at this link: https://vimeo.com/518305058

    We cover a lot in this episode, including:

    Leading up to show My "purpose" for the set The jokes I chose to set up my P.O.V. (Point of View) Having to abandon a call back because of a change in a set order Using the process of conditional logic to create material Using a technique that enables me to "pick on" someone Examples of rhymes, alliteration, and visual images Being extremely current Experimenting the day of the recording

    And much more.

    You may have a different process for getting ready. Feel free to comment below and help others. This is the first of two parts of the podcast. Episode 236 will include the recording of the set and my reactions to it. You can listen to it by clicking here.

    Thanks to Kevin Hardy for being our Patreon sponsor for this episode. You can learn more about supporting the podcast by visiting THIS LINK.

    (C) (P) 2021 Rik Roberts School of Laughs

    www.RikRoberts.com