Hello, and welcome . . .
This collection of blogs is for anyone trying to learn the tricky craft of standup comedy.
You know, those of us who dream of getting paid to make drunk strangers laugh.
Have great sets!
Ten Ways to Upgrade Your Crowd Work
By Michael Halcomb and Mike Lukas It used to be that when a comedian worked the crowd at a show, it was to stall or
10 Respectable Standup Comedy Moves Every Pro Comic Masters
When you first start out in standup, the mission is simple: say as many funny things in a row as possible before someone in the
How to Win Over a Tiny Crowd (Without Crying or Quitting Comedy)
Last night, I “crushed” in front of seven people. Not seventy.Not seventeen.Seven. Humans. In chairs. Facing me. They weren’t even sitting together. One table was
What Great Comedy MCs Actually Do (Besides Just Not Sucking)
Let’s be real: most emcee spots are handed to the new comic who’s just stoked to be on the bill. It’s the comedy equivalent of
How to Strengthen Your Corporate Communication Using the Funny Muscle Method
Let’s face it: most corporate communication has the emotional range of a spreadsheet. It’s jargon-laced, over-edited, and about as memorable as the fifth bullet point
Inside the Joke-Teller’s Brain: 10 Things a Comic Is Doing at Once
“I’m so skinny, I need to issue a formal apology to my skeleton for making it do all the work.” That’s one joke. One line.
The 10 Worst Things a Standup Comic Can Do (That Aren’t Bombing)
Let’s get something straight: bombing isn’t the worst thing a standup can do. In fact, bombing is like falling off a bike—if you’re not doing
Coffee, Jokes & My Robot Co-Writer
Here’s a fun one I’m taking to open mic tonight.It started with a simple, true premise: “I hate that I need coffee every morning.” I
How I Used My AI Comedy Intern to Help Self-Publish My Book Without Letting Him Touch the Content
When I tell people I self published a book with the help of AI, they immediately picture some robotic ghostwriter named Carl pounding out my
10 Ways to Absolutely Wreck a Joke (Please Stop Doing These)
Let’s be honest: writing a great joke is hard.Delivering it onstage? Harder.Delivering it well to a room full of half-buzzed strangers with trust issues and
Stand-Up Techniques for Public Speaking: For Professors, Policy Nerds, and People Who Sweat in Blazers
I’m there to speak to union members about Medicaid. Between the podium and the audience is ten yards of open space. Like a first down
Want to Be Funnier? Stop Guessing and Start Training
Some people think you’re either born funny… or you grow up to be an accountant who tells jokes like, “I’m not bossy, I just have
How to Write Better Jokes Using the Humor Blueprint (Without Blowing the Setup)
Here’s a mistake I see new comics make all the time: They tell me a “joke,” and the setup’s already trying to be funny. It’s
10 Advanced Standup Comedy Moves (That Separate the Pros from the Tourists)
Making strangers laugh is hard enough.Doing it well enough to become undeniable? That’s next-level. If you want to level up past the open mic trenches,
5 Things to Appreciate About Comedy Open Mics
“Next to the stage, please welcome Mike Lukas.” As I make my way to the unattended microphone, a smattering of applause breaks out in the
F-Muscle Pod Epi-40: CAIN
In this episode of the Funny Muscle Pod, we sit down with rising Dallas comic CAIN (@funnycain_) to talk comedy, persistence, and the art of refining
Hour a Day Joke Writing Advice: 12 Pro Comics
We asked each of our last 12 comedy pro guests what they’d tell new comedians to do if they had an hour a day to
BOOK 3 FLEXING YOUR FUNNY MUSCLE Introduction
Read the introduction to book 3 of the Funny Muscle comedy writing book series.
Guest Post: 10 Things I Learned in my 1st Year Doing Comedy
Guest article written by Chris Stiffler, a professor of economics, author, and comedy open-mic-er.
Contrast: Create indirect comparisons
Comics can use contrast to get big laughs. Here is a quick break down of that Humor Heightening Device.
Get your FREE copy of The Business of Comedy!
Includes:
- How Comedians are 5-Tool Players
- How to Attract a Following
- How to Get Bookings
- How to Create Multiple Income Streams
- Manager vs Agent
- And More!