Importance of Rehearsing before a stand-up show

Fakkah Fuzz  rehearsing his set list just before British Club show! 

So - Have you ever watched a Stand-up comedy routine done by a comic about 4 to 5 times? The same jokes? I have and so have all the open-micers in the Singapore stand-up scene. Relax audience! Its normal. Developing a killer 5 minute set can take up to more than 6 months sometimes. It's all about trial and error...and this trial and error needs an audience. The jokes need to be done umpteen times before the right punch line is found or better an extension to the joke. Sometimes we get bored doing our own jokes.. which is what pushes us to keep writing more material and then testing it out. No matter what and no matter how good you are ...you need to rehearse your jokes and 'story-line' quite a few times before you jump up on stage. Yes, the jokes are rehearsed...BUT a good stand-up comedian can make it look like its being done for the very first time..not only for the audiences but ourselves too. What is the difference between doing a stand-up comedy routine and performing a monologue? Big Difference. Stand-up comedians can change their line up on stage depending on what kind of genre of jokes the audiences are enjoying OR they can answer back a heckler with one of their strongest come backs depending on the heckle line! Another difference is that - the stand-up comedian can decide do some improvisation using the audience.


The picture you see above is Fakkah fuzz rehearsing his set-list before the British club show.. he might have done these jokes many times before but this is absolutely important to do. Creating a storyline and rehearsing the flow of the performance. Btw- Fakkah fuzz killed it in this International line-up show at the British Club. The first Singaporean to be introduced in this line-up by the fantastic Comedyclub Asia! I strongly believe that it's important to watch international acts again and again by any stand-up comedian to see how differently the same jokes are performed all 4 nights.

I believe that any production if done in collaboration with international and Singaporean acts not only gives opportunities to locals but also gives them a chance to taste how its like working in the global scene. Kudos to Comedyclubasia for doing that and the Singapore community of Stand-up comedians are very proud of you - Fakkah fuzz!

To know more about these international shows by Comedy club asia : http://www.thecomedyclub.asia/home/

Hope you're having a great Sunday!

love,

Sharul

Am writing a segment on Relationships...

Hey people!

I dont think you need to know but i think i need to tell you. Women need to wax/shave themselves every month. For some women, its twice a month and for some its once a month. If you're chinese..once in 6 months! Cos come on - you beautiful chinese ladies don't grow out hair at all.. smooth as silk! I swear if i don't wax my hands once a month..i could off pass off as wearing a black long sleeve top. 

                                                                        PLUS!

 

I am just in the midst of writing a segment on relationships for my comedy set. Yes! Done before by many stand-up comedians so trying to write a different take on it...men?women?gays? Elderly couple? Young? - so many aspects to it.. surely i will find something quirky about relationships cos relationships by nature ARE quirky! Any comments, thoughts ,feelings,suggestions.. feel free to enlighten me on the topic of Relationships!

                                                                        PLUS!

Went and performed for Comedy club Asia's monthly comedy show at blu jaz today! Its open-micers before the break and international acts after the break. Did a 6 min set and it went well! If you would like to watch some fantastic international acts in Singapore every month...go down for their shows! They have shows 6thDec to 9th December 2012! 

Quickly...find out about shows and tickets at : 

http://www.thecomedyclub.asia/home/

I had a great day!

Overnout,

Sharul

Comedy Quote of the day :

I think it's the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately. - George Carlin

With International comedian and friend - Vivek Mahbubani (Hong Kong)

    Hey guys! Always a pleasure to have friend and international comedian Vivek Mahbubani in Singapore! He headlined for comedy masala on the 4th December 2012! He is sucha laugh riot :) Check this guy out if you're ever in Hong Kong! :)

A Stand-up Comedian recently told me...

A stand-up comedian i worked with recently told me something that made so much sense! His name is Sudesh Lehri and he is one of India's best hindi speaking comedians. As i walked off stage and sat down on the sofa opposite him...

Me : "Being the first act is so difficult isn't it? They laughed but not really..they are warm but not completely."

Sudesh : " The audience will not be ready to laugh until you bring them to the level of where they should laugh..audiences are like little kids..they will believe everything you say and you have to bring them on a journey."

Me : " I understand that..but how does one do that..being the first one..are people really ready to laugh?"


Sudesh : " The mistake most comedians make is the moment they come onto stage..they start cracking jokes immediately..but if the audience doesn't know who you are..they won't form a relationship with you..for example : If you meet somebody for the first time..you tell them.."Nice meeting you!"..do you mean it?...- Mostly you don't! But you try to make someone happy to try to form a relationship in the future. Similarly, you need to make the audience happy...make them feel like you know them and you accept them!  Then  tell them a truth yourself..and then go straight into it."


That made sense to me! I don't know if other stand-up comedians feel the same but it's been stuck with me ever since i heard it. You know what's amazing.. he said all these things to me in hindi..i have translated it for you in english..cos infact.. Sudesh Lehri has never in his life held a pen to write anything -he told me his parents couldn't afford to send him to school..and then he smiled and then made up a sentence in english with all the words he knew in english- and it made no sense ..but made everybody in the room including myself burst into roaring laughter. And then he smiled again... and although he never said anything.. behind that smile was a lot of sorrow and insecurity..but this man used it to his advantage to make everybody around him laugh. A convincing stand-up comedian can hide his/her sorrow and make others laugh simultaneously.

love,

Sharul

Your Comedy Style : True to oneself or Being Sellable

Hello One and All!

The topic i just want to talk about today is comedy style...stand-up comedy is far beyond just going up on stage and cracking jokes. It's the art of story-telling. Most importantly people take years to find out their true voice on stage. Essentially, its you - the person who is telling a joke on stage...so it boils down to - how well do you know yourself? Are the topics you're discussing on stage..not you? Are you trying to be someone else cos you're watching too much of Seinfeld or Chris Rock or perhaps your old favorite Indian Comedian? These are not questions that can be answered immediately. These are questions that each comedian needs to find answers to as they go through the journey of stand-up and I didn't realize the question at all until i had a "over-drinks session with Johnathan Atherton ( Singapore's own laugh guru) ". I realized i was talking about certain experiences i actually never had. That brought about a change..i started looking out for my experiences first...and now a change of direction in comedy for me.
Some things i always hear promoters saying though :

1. Dont swear on stage - cos it doesn't make you sellable for tv/corporate shows

True. But then if swearing is a part of you..your daily life and it makes your set more comfortable..do you change it?..Become sellable or stay true to your journey.

Many struggle and"I am going clean.."...

Is 'going clean' ( not swearing, no sex stories..no vagina mentioning..that's my fav word btw- Vagina) for myself going to be better for my comedy.

I will let you know. :)


Have a great Monday!

love,
Sharul

Stand-up comedian and Being a Comedian - Not the same.

Hello One and all,

Some people confuse stand-up comedians to be comedic actors. The two are not the same. A stand-up comedian writes her/his own material and has to go through the trial and error process of finding the perfect 5 mins and then 10/15/30 and finally one hour sets. On the other hand, a comedic actor is given a script - he/she has comic timing and knows how to use the script to his/her advantage. A comedic actor works with other actors in a scene most of the time so he/she has someone to play off with. Both difficult but different! A stand-up comedian not necessarily makes a good comedic actor and vice versa. Having said that, if you are a stand-up comedian...it helps if you are a strong writer. 

Hope you're having a great Saturday!

love,

Sharul :)

A big NO! or A big YES!

Many of you either during chat sessions, personal encounters or fb msgs have asked me the following questions! I think its time i answer them with a NO or YES ! Let's do this! :)


1. Do you get your material from online?
     Ans : NO! We have to write our own material. You can be inspired by an idea but not copy a joke. That's theft.


2. Do you take jokes from each other ?
   Ans : NO! and YES!  If someone has helped us complete a joke and he/she says : " It is your joke!"...It is your joke. Stand-up comedians help each other at some point during comedic discussions.


3. Has it ever occurred that the crowd has been entirely silent during your comedy set?
Ans : YES! Sometimes it happens when you don't connect with the audience and they don't find you funny..on days like these.. just got to learn and move forward!

4.  Can anybody do stand-up Comedy?
Ans : YES and NO. If you're meant for it...it will happen. Prepare 3 mins worth of material and come forward..after the first time if you are still inspired to do it.. its for you!

5. Have you ever been heckled?
Ans : YES! Once or twice by some drunk guys but you have to get those tricks ready to answer back! The truth is you have a louder voice! You have a mic - they don't. A smart comeback and you win the audience over even stronger.


Keep your questions coming folks and I will try to answer them... and if i cant...i will get some professionals to answer them for you!

love,
Sharul

Doing it for the first time! - Yes, I mean Stand-up!

How was my first time? A question many ask me.
Well, the truth is..it was terrifying to say the least. Rishi Budhrani - a fellow comedian gave me a thumbs up just before i went on to stage for my debut at Comedy Masala. I looked up at Umar Rana ,the owner of Comedy masala, for some encouragement and he looked down at me from the Dj console  with a big smile on his face..as if sending a goat for a sacrificial practice. My first sentence on stage as i looked down at white men looking up at me was : " It makes me feel uncomfortable that i have white men looking right up at my vagina" and it got a huge laugh. From that moment, i knew i had to do this. Liberating as heaven. Women have many things to say...imagine being given 3 mins on stage to say whatever you like..and having an audience of 150 laugh at you. OMG. I felt like i was the queen of this world. Couldn't sleep that night. Those 3 mins played in my mind sending me tossing and turning the whole night... the feeling where you had just came back from your first date and the blood rush. My first time. 

Who am i?

Dear All,

First of all, a warm welcome to my blog- where i would like to share with you my journey as a female stand-up comedian in Singapore's growing scene of Stand-up Comedy. Its been two years and its been fantastic so far with some ups and some downs but i think its very important to share with people the journey you go through. Maybe to help those who want to start? Maybe to lighten my heart on difficult days? Or simply maybe cos i want to remember this process when i look down from the top? I don't know? Hope you enjoy reading this blog.


Its very important to establish a few things!

Who am i : Sharul Channa
Profession : Emcee/ Actor / Stand-up Comedian / Entrepreneur 
Location : Singapore

Open-mic Rooms in Singapore you can find me in :

1. Comedy Masala
    Home Club (20 Upper Circular Road)
    Every Tuesday 9.30pm 
    Run by : Mr. Umar Rana

2. Talk Cock Comedy
    Blu Jaz Cafe ( 12 Bali Lane )
    Every Wednesday 8.30pm
    Run by : The Comedy Club Asia
http://www.thecomedyclub.asia/home/     

3. Fight Comic
    Blu Jaz Cafe 
    Every Thursday 9.00pm
    Run by : Thecomedypimp ( Mr. Quill Porter)

* If any of you are interested in watching or performing - come on down to these rooms to laugh or explore your options in a possible career!


Any thoughts/ queries / bookings? - feel free to drop me a line : Thesharulc@gmail.com


Warmest Regards,

Sharul Channa