The Closer

I hate compelling tv shows. The ones where every episode ends on a curcial plot point and you can't wait to hear the rest. I'm literally addicted to Breaking Bad for the past few days. Every episode ends and resolves just enough, but creates a whole new series of questions. It got me thinking.

In the same way as you do comedy. What if every joke was a "closer"? People say things like "Make your closer your opener so you can get rid of it sooner." Why would you get rid of it? As long as it's respectable, original among other things.

How about make them all closers? I know it's a ways away, but something to work for. I want to make every joke something worth ending on. You never know, right? How many shows have gone according to plan? The guy says "Go do 30" then you start doing crowd work and it goes over really well, and one thing leads to another, you get the light and you've done no material. Is that a memorable experience? Sure the audience may have enjoyed themselves, but is your crowd work what makes your career? Does comedy central want a 30 minute special of you calling some guy a fag or whatever it is you do?

I didn't start this blog idea as an ANTI crowd work campaign, but it feels like it's shaping up that way. I'm not really against it. I have built in crowd work. I'm sort of paranoid about talking to the audience. I'm paranoid about the unknown. Sort of.

In 7th grade I asked a girl out over the phone. I had the plan masterminded in my head. I wrote out what I would say, and several options of what I thought she would say. Then I wrote my responses to each of those. and her responses to those and so on. Of course absolutely 1% went according to plan. lol. I don't know why I never prepared for "I just want to be friends."

Yet. This journey (*Cue smoke machines, and best pothead voice) This JOURNEY, MAN. - Is so unpredictable. I have filled June. Some of July. I have some things in September. but I have NO idea whats going to happen along the way. I have some faith that I'll be able to pull it off without unemployment. but I really have no idea.

Anyway. I think the memorable part of someones show is the jokes. That you can have an inside joke with your friends with and re tell to people. but I understand the positive side of crowd work. Making them feel authentically in the moment. So my rationale between both sides is to do both. I have built in crowd work. I have one particular joke that's in a way - designed to fail. So I can call the crowd out and make them feel like I'm giving them shit for not laughing at it. It appears genuine all the way up to and sometimes through the ending line.