School Of Laughs

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Comedy
**School Of Laughs**

From the aspiring comedian to the part time pro this is the podcast you’ve been looking for! This podcast is full of honest insight and useful information on the journey from the open mic to the sweet paying corporate gig. Shows range in format from “comedy campfires” where we swap out the fire for a mic and get to the key questions from aspiring comics to in-depth interviews with professional comedians, booking agents, managers and club owners. Led by 23 yr comedy veteran Rik Roberts (www.RikRoberts.com) as part of his School of Laughs (www.SchoolofLaughs.com) workshop series.

Latest Episodes:

COMEDY QUESTIONS - AFTER SCHOOL SPECIAL [EP. 115] Aug 24, 2016

Show notes

Today I am joined by several recent writing students and answer their comedy questions. Specifically, we talk about:

What is a good way to know that you should continue pursuing stand-up comedy?
How many shows is a good barometer for getting your feet wet?
When should you quit!
The value in bombing (and recording it)
Is it okay to try different characters when you first start?
A bunch of things that can go wrong during your show
How to perform when you just don't feel funny
Performing when you are sick
Having a back-up comedian friend ready for some gigs
The value of listening to comedy when you are down
What Minnie Pearl said about audiences
When you are there for the audience (and when they are there for you)
The adrenaline surge you get when performing
The connections between comedy and speaking
How to structure a speech based on your comedy
Finding your HOOK for your message
When should you transition into movies from stand-up?
The benefits of character work in your comedy
Tips on incorporating voices and characters into stand-up
Should you try a bunch of characters when you first start at open mic?
The benefits of no one knowing who you are
What Garth Brooks did that you shouldn't do
Jim Gaffigan workshopping new material
How to workshop new material and where is best to try
Songwriter open mics versus comedy open mics
Following a great (or horrible) act on stage

and a whole lot more!

This episode is brought to you by Patreon Sponsor Allen Smith. To find our how you can support the podcast with a small monthly donation, visit www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs.

Do you have comedy questions? Send them in and I'll address them on the show. SchoolOfLaughs@gmail.com.

CLUB 52!

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level. Questions? Email me (Rik) at SchoolOfLaughs@gmail.com. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or. if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

SHOWCASE YOUR TALENTS [EP. 114] Aug 18, 2016

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Mike James. To find out how you can support the podcast with a small monthly donation visit www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs .

Brooklyn Dicent joins us to day to talk about her dual careers as a professional leadership trainer for T-Mobile and Comedienne. We cover a lot of ground and dig into social media this week again. Latin the interview we cover a topic that we've yet to dig into: VIDEO TESTIMONIALS. If nothing else, dig into this portion.

We also talk about:

Growing up as a preacher's kid
Getting a challenge from her father at 12 to speak in front of the church
Knowing at a young age that comedy was in her future
Being inspired by Les Brown, Zig Ziglar, and Tony Robbins
Walking into her first comedy club in 2004 in Portland, ME
Taking an 8 week stand-up class
Studying comics on Comedy Central
Getting the audience on your side
Improvising and weaving in stories to customize her performances
Keeping the focus "about the audience" instead of on ourselves
Being self-motivated to accomplish bucket list goals
Knowing the purpose for each social media outlet
Using Facebook Live to INTENTIONALLY connect with your followers
Show "backstage" type inside looks with social media
Telling stories that evolve into your brand message
Making sure to have a Call to Action in every post
Interjecting yourself into conversations to gain followers
Using all social to SHOWCASE YOUR TALENTS
The power of VIDEO TESTIMONIALS

You can find out more about Brooklyn at her WEBSITE, on her Facebook Page, or on INSTAGRAM.

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at SchoolOfLaughs@gmail.com. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or. if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

KATE DORE SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS PART 2 [EP. 113] Aug 11, 2016

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by Patreon Sponsor Paul Swann and the Clean Comedy Conference.

Social Media ninja Kate Dore joins us today for PART TWO of our "Social Media Pro Tips" conversation. We talk about the digital tools available to independent artists. Kate is a social media consultant, and she also blogs at http://cashvilleskyline.com where she talks about becoming financially independent.

Here is just a snapshot of the Social Media Pro Tips in this episode:

Using Mailchimp for free to get your email list started
Facebook audiences (and look-a-alike audiences)
Utilizing your email list to sell merchandise
Tracking interest and clicks to gauge engagement
Using social media to build relationships
Two things she would NEVER do
building trust with your audience
What your sharing tactics may have in common with a flock of geese
How frequently she shares and posts on four different platforms
Using tools like Buffer and Tailwind to help schedule posts
Twitter lists and how to use them
Narrowing down your incoming posts
Why patience is key but monitoring interest is more valuable
Where she would advise spending money
What to make sure of BEFORE you spend money :)
Facebook ads and boosts
Where you can hire a social media assistant
Knowing your hour worth and subbing out tasks to save money
Snapchat!
Facebook groups and pages

and honestly too much more to list!

Kate Dore's Favorite Social Media Resources How great is Kate Dore??? She also provided us with valuable resources to some useful articles and tools you can explore and use in your social media strategy. Resources:

How To Land Freelance Jobs with Social Media http://cashvilleskyline.com/2016/01/27/social-media-freelance-jobs/

How and Why to Collect Emails Using Your Website https://raventools.com/blog/collect-emails-on-your-website/

Everything You Need to Know about Snapchat https://blog.bufferapp.com/snapchat

Gary Vaynerchuk on Why Snapchat Matters

http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/podcasts/gary-vaynerchuk-snapchat-matters/

Kate's Resources Page: http://cashvilleskyline.com/resources/

Social Media tools Kate Dore likes ...

Buffer - Twitter scheduling

Mention - Brand Monitoring

Tailwind - Pinterest scheduling

Social Warfare - Social media sharing plugin

To find out more about Kate Dore visit any of her links below!

Website - Twitter - Facebook - LinkedIn - Google+ - Pinterest

Kate Dore

Owner & Editor Cashville Skyline

This episode is brought to you by the Clean Comedy Conference which takes place in San Diego, California October 13th through the 15th, 2016. Visit www.CLeanComedyConference.com

SOCIAL MEDIA PRO TIPS WITH KATE DORE [EP. 112] Aug 04, 2016

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by Patreon Sponsor John Peters and the Clean Comedy Conference.

Social Media ninja Kate Dore joins us today to talk about the digital tools available to independent artists. Kate works for Raven Tools which is a software company that is a platform for marketers. She is a social media consultant, and she also blogs at http://cashvilleskyline.com where she talks about becoming financially independent.

Here is just a snapshot of the Social Media Pro Tips in this episode:

Blogging tips including frequency and relevancy
Her strategy for posting and promoting
How many social media channels are "do-able"
Posting where your audience is
Forum reader comments - "on" or "off'
Using negative comments as a topic for a future post
Scheduling posts with Buffer
Engaging on the day of releasing new material
Using LinkedIN like Twitter
First steps for getting involved on LinkedIN
When to start sharing content on LinkedIN
How to be more searchable on LInkedIN
My trick for putting a Facebook ad in front of LinkedIN friends
Manipulating your results in Google Search
Using Alt tags for images you share to increase SEO
Hacking Facebook organic reach with Facebook Live
Sharing your Instagram posts to Facebook
The incredible value of collecting fans email addresses
Using SumoMe (a free tool) to help get email addresses
Experimenting with Mailchimp, Constant Contact, Convert Kit
Ditching vanity metrics and focusing on engagement
Getting 60% of her blog referrals from ... Pinterest!
Using Google Analytics to understand your fan engagement

and honestly too much more to list!

How To Land Freelance Jobs with Social Media http://cashvilleskyline.com/2016/01/27/social-media-freelance-jobs/

How and Why to Collect Emails Using Your Website https://raventools.com/blog/collect-emails-on-your-website/

Everything You Need to Know about Snapchat https://blog.bufferapp.com/snapchat

Gary Vaynerchuk on Why Snapchat Matters

http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/podcasts/gary-vaynerchuk-snapchat-matters/

My Resources Page: http://cashvilleskyline.com/resources/

Social Media tools Kate Dore likes ...

Buffer - Twitter scheduling

Mention - Brand Monitoring

Tailwind - Pinterest scheduling

Social Warfare - Social media sharing plugin

To find out more about Kate Dore visit any of her links below!

Website - Twitter - Facebook - LinkedIn - Google+ - Pinterest

Kate Dore / Owner & Editor of Cashville Skyline

This episode is brought to you by the Clean Comedy Conference which takes place in San Diego, California October 13th through the 15th, 2016.

There's an old adage in comedy: Clean is green.Through the Conference you'll learn from professional comedians and bookers such as Eddie Brill, Jimmy Brogan, Charlene Mae, Amy Pittle, Tony Calabrese, and Scott Wood, who will address the pitfalls and show you how to navigate the challenges of making money as a clean comedian. In addition to working at clean comedy venues, many of these speakers and panelists have written for television and have booked for clubs, colleges, churches, cruise ships, and late-night TV such as Letterman.

The theme for this year's conference is "Clean isn't a dirty word." Come and see why for yourself.

Early bird registration ends August 15th so sign up today at cleancomedyconference.com.

As a thank you to School of Laughs listeners, use promo code "schooloflaughs" for a special $10 discount.

Go to cleancomedyconference.com today!

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at SchoolOfLaughs@gmail.com. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or. if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

IN STITCHES WITH TAYLOR MASON [EP. 111] Jul 25, 2016

Show notes

This is episode is brought to you by Patreon Sponsor Colin Street and the Clean Comedy Conference.

Taylor Mason is a juggernaut of comedic activity. His shows are accessible to EVERYONE. He connects in a sly and subtle way with his audiences that have them coming back time and time again. I first worked with Taylor at Zanies in Vernon Hills, IL and most recently shared the stage with him on the Stand Up For Families special hosted by Chonda Pierce on the DOVE CHANNEL.

We cover a lot of ground in this episode. Specifically Taylor Mason and I talk about ...

Moonlighting as a student at Northwestern University's Medill School of Advertising
Slogging it out as a Piano man for tips
The influence professor Don Schultz had on his writing
Becoming the musical director at Second City
Opening for (and getting scolded by) Warren Zevon
Getting started at Zanies on Wells Street, Chicago
Doing a thesis paper on comedy clubs for school
How he survived a gig for the Coal industry
His flashy performance at De Ja Vu Comedy Club in Columbia, MO
His process and how he writes comedy

and a whole lot more!

If you want to learn more about Taylor simply go to TaylorMason.com or follow him on TWITTER .

This episode is brought to you by the Clean Comedy Conference which takes place in San Diego, California October 13th through the 15th, 2016.

There's an old adage in comedy: Clean is green.

Through the Conference you'll learn from professional comedians and bookers such as Eddie Brill, Jimmy Brogan, Charlene Mae, Amy Pittle, Tony Calabrese, and Scott Wood, who will address the pitfalls and show you how to navigate the challenges of making money as a clean comedian. In addition to working at clean comedy venues, many of these speakers and panelists have written for television and have booked for clubs, colleges, churches, cruise ships, and late-night TV such as Letterman.

The theme for this year's conference is "Clean isn't a dirty word." Come and see why for yourself.

Early bird registration ends August 15th so sign up today at cleancomedyconference.com.

As a thank you to School of Laughs listeners, use promo code "schooloflaughs" for a special $10 discount.

Go to cleancomedyconference.com today!

DON'T WEAR SHORTS ON STAGE [EP. 110] Jul 21, 2016

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by Patreon sponsor Brina Morgan and the Clean Comedy Conference.

Rob Durham, author of "Don't Wear Shorts On Stage" joins us to day to discuss what to expect as you explore your first open mic nights and road gigs. I first met Rob when I lived in Columbus, OH. He has since moved on to St. Louis where he is a full time high school English teacher and part time comedian.

We cover a lot of ground in this episode including:

Opening for Pauly Shore
The St. Louis Comedy scene
Doing a gig just for teachers
Teaching Stand-Up Comedy week at school
The skills an emcee needs
The real difference between emcee and feature work
Why comics think they can headline before they really can
and of course, what NOT to where on stage.

If you enjoyed Rob's advice please head on over to https://dontwearshortsonstage.com to learn more. You can find his book there, and also at AMAZON or even EBAY .

This episode is brought to you by the Clean Comedy Conference which takes place in San Diego, California October 13th through the 15th, 2016.

There's an old adage in comedy: Clean is green.

The theme for this year's conference is "Clean isn't a dirty word." Come and see why for yourself.

Early bird registration ends August 15th so sign up today at cleancomedyconference.com.

As a thank you to School of Laughs listeners, use promo code "schooloflaughs" for a special $10 discount.

Go to cleancomedyconference.com today!

Take Your Comedy To The Next Level with CLUB 52!

SUBMITTING TO COMEDY FESTIVALS [EP. 109] Jul 14, 2016

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by Patreon Sponsor Greg Adams and the Clean Comedy Conference (CleanComedyConference.com).

Have you ever wondered about submitting to comedy festivals? Curious as to what your video should look like? How long it should be? What kind of website you should have to support the festival bookers search for more information?

Matt Ward, stand up comedian and festival planner, joins us to day to discuss all things comedy festival! Matt knows a lot about how committees choose comedians, because he's done it. Matt Ward is involved with both the Cape Fear Comedy Festival and the Scruffy City Comedy Festival.

In this rapid paced half hour we cover a lot of ground, including:

How Matt first discovered comedy
His first performance (which took place at a birthday party)
Insight into the Knoxville, TN comedy scene
Video length for submitting to comedy festivals
The best video platform to host your submission videos
Why high quality video hosting may be a bad thing
The simplicity involved in shooting video
Several mistakes comics make with their videos
How to save time and make it easier for those watching your clips
Why you shouldn't monetize a festival submission video
Why you might not get selected even though you deserve to be picked
The evolution of head shots and some key things to consider

And much, much more!

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:

This episode is brought to you by the Clean Comedy Conference which takes place in San Diego, California October 13th through the 15th, 2016.

There's an old adage in comedy: Clean is green.

The theme for this year's conference is "Clean isn't a dirty word." Come and see why for yourself.

Early bird registration ends August 15th so sign up today at cleancomedyconference.com.

As a thank you to School of Laughs listeners, use promo code "schooloflaughs" for a special $10 discount.

Go to cleancomedyconference.com today!

CLUB 52

STARTING COMEDY LATE IN LIFE [EP. 108] Jul 07, 2016

Show notes

Today's episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Susan Sussman.

Leaving a job as lawyer for State Farm Insurance would be unthinkable. For most people anyway. Fortunately for us, Rex Havens side-hustled as a comedian on weekends and nights for seven years until he was ready to make the jump. He started comedy late in life (mid-thirties). That jump was over two decades ago and he is still going strong.

I first met Rex when we worked at "Coo's Coo's Lounge" at a Bowling Alley in Cartersville, IL. Yes, we had arrived! Wow, looking back neither of us should have been there. The show was good and I learned that you could really work clean in ANY environment.

Today I catch up with Rex to see what he is up to, what he has learned, and where he is headed in his comedy career.

Specifically, we talk about:

The value in working a little extra hard on your act
Graduating with a law degree and an M.B.A.
His years as a college professor
The State Farm years (12 of them)
Hanging around the corporate job long enough to get his kids in college
Making marriage last while traveling
"Birthing" a new CD
Developing a one man theatre show
3 things that happen when you laugh

To learn more about Rex Havens just visit www.RexHavens.com or www.LearnedFromMyWife.com.

"Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take as serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more. The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level. Questions? Email me (Rik) at SchoolOfLaughs@gmail.com. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or. if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

LISTENER EMAIL QUESTIONS [EP. 107] Jun 30, 2016

Show notes

This week's episode features answers to recently submitted listener email questions. And this episode is brought to you by Patreon sponsor Brent Allen.

Among the listener email questions we tackle are:

HOW CAN I BEST MANAGE AN EMAIL LIST?

I hate to bother ya. But do you remember what episode you talked about email lists? I'm starting to get enough names on my email list where I should really switch over to a better way of keeping track.

WHAT IS A GOOD FLOW FOR A FUNDRAISER FEATURING COMEDY? I am helping a mental health nonprofit agency plan a comedy fundraiser. Any suggestions on how to format the evening? The Executive Director was thinking anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hours. Maybe have some improv and a stand-up headliner. We are just getting started with this, but we might look at holding the event at the comedy club in town. SHOULD YOU DO CONTESTS WHEN YOU ARE JUST STARTING OUT?

I am a new comic, only been performing for 4 months, I started by taking a stand-up comedy class and listening to your podcast. At the end of the class I came out with about 10 minutes of alright material. I have been writing and hitting open mike's when I can. I have now tightened up the material so I feel I have a solid 6 minutes. I have entered two comedy competitions in the last month to try and get some extra stage time. Both competitions I did not come out on top but I did walk away with some great lessons and tips from the other comedians. I wanna know though, am I trying to run before I can walk? I am doing these competitions for stage time, but if I were to actually do well and move onto a round 2, I wouldn't have enough material to perform a different set of equally solid material. I wanna get your opinion on whether I should keep open miking for a few more months until I have more solid material, or is entering competitions and shows at this point going to hurt my rep when/if people find out I don't have much material yet?

HOW CAN I GET OVER MY FEAR OF HECKLERS AND BOMBING?

I ran across your YouTube video about "Am I to old to do comedy?" I want to do comedy bad. I've had this dream for over 20years but honestly didn't have the guts. My number one fall back is being heckled and failing. I'm turning 42 this year and figured I have nothing to lose. I was wondering if you could give me advice on these 2 fears.

WHAT IS CLUB 52?

I hear you mention CLUB 52 on the podcast on occasion but I can't find it listen on your SchoolOfLaughs.com web site. Where can I find out more and sign up for this?

If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a ranking and review on iTunes or STITCHER.

To learn more about supporting the show: PATREON

For info on the: online courses.

To find out more about my: Zanies show on June 30th

COMEDY CHALLENGE RESULTS [EP. 106] Jun 23, 2016

Show notes

In episode 105, NEW BIT COMEDY CHALLENGE John Branyan and I were both headed to the same conference (Christian Comedy Association). We were both slated to perform at the same showcase.

So I challenged us both to try new material. At first, I thought we would just hold each other accountable to do the bits. Then, I upped the ante and told him we would record the show and play back the bits on the podcast. The new bit comedy challenge was on!

Today we break down the audience response to his political humor. Would they go along with it? Could he stay interested in a topic he hates?

On my end, I work through taking a family vacation. Initially, how we raised money for the trip. And then I joke about surviving the HooRoo Run at AQUATICA SEAWORLD.

How Did It Go???

Both sets had some hiccups (mine more than his I thought). Yet, the crowd gave us the info we needed to tweak and continue to develop the material from here.

Let me know if you like this episode. If so, the new bit comedy challenge may become a regular feature.

If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting us through a monthly pledge. Below are a variety of levels and bonuses for keeping the show going.

If your stand up isn't getting the results you think that it should, the online comedy writing course may be a great option for you. Check out the ONLINE CLASSES link to find out more. Use the coupon code "COLDCASH20" to get 20% off the online SILVER course at www.SchoolOfLaughs.com

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