4 Questions Comedians Get Asked A LOT
Questions comedian get asked all the time make it easy for us to LOOK like we’re joking off the cuff, when we’re really just answering your question that we’ve been asked 10000 times in the past.
The last post I made, (click here) I mentioned questions NOT to ask a comedian. But there are some questions we’re asked all the time, and we love it, because we have ready-made answers.
IN OUR . . .
Baby Boomer Comedy Show that I do with another comedian, we do a Question and Answer session at the end, and we ALWAYS get asked how did we meet. And I ALWAYS pop off with “Match.com,” It’s funny because I’m single and my partner in the show, Kent Rader, is happily married – he even talks about his wife in his act.
It gets a HUGE laugh and looks to be off the cuff, when in fact we get asked this question at almost every show. Below are some Questions I get asked all the time, and some funny answers. If you want to find comedy, make a list of the questions you’ve been asked a lot. . .and come up with some stock answers. Then, at the next cocktail party when someone asks one, you’ll pop off with a hilarious answer and look BRILLIANT!!
4 Questions Comedians Get Asked ALL THE TIME. The infograph below actually answers these questions honestly.
- Where do you get your material? Answer: From porn sites. . . that’s funny because my act is clean
- Who is your favorite comedian? Me. Hey, if I don’t think I’m the funniest, then no one else will either.
- Why did you get into comedy? To piss off my parents. Okay, not really, but I’m sure it didn’t make them happy in the beginning.
- What’s your worst show? The one I just did for you. That’s funny as long as the one I just did was great. Otherwise, it’s kinda honest.
Enjoy your questions, and check out my other websites when you get a chance.
Take care,
Jan
5 Things Not to Say to a Comedian
People think they can say ANYTHING to a comedian and why not? They’re a comedian, they can take a joke. Right? Well, sure, but there are still things that you should NOT say to a comedian.
Why? Because number one, these things are rude and number two we hear them all the time so they aren’t original. So I came up with this list of 5 things you shouldn’t say to a comedian.
For your next comedy writing exercise,
think of 5 things that you get asked ALL THE TIME. And then come up with some funny answers. Here’s my five, and my funny answers.
Have a great weekend,
Jan
And check out my website for comedy keynotes. Click Here.
Check out my keynotes – Click Here.
Here’s the 5 Things Not to Say to a Comedian
- “I’m really funny, I should be a comedian.” Comedy is HARD. The easier it looks, the harder we’ve worked. You wouldn’t say that to a trained surgeon – “I’m really good at cutting things, I could do your job!” So don’t say it to us.
2. “Here’s a joke you can use.” No, we can’t. We write our own material, and we write from our experience. Telling us a joke is fine . . . but saying we should use it is not. That’s like saying, oh, you’re a realtor? Well here’s some tips on selling a house. And no, I’ve never actually sold one, but still . . .
3. “Tough crowd.” Yes, we know. Trying to commensurate with us that it was a bad show only makes us feel worse. Instead, point out something you liked and be positive. Next time you screw up in a meeting, do you really want your boss to say “well, that was awful!”
4. “I’ve never heard of you/Why aren’t you famous?” There’s a LOT that goes into being famous besides talent. Connections, a “look,” or simply being in the right place at the right time all factor into fame. My come back line . . . you work for XYZ company, why aren’t you the boss? Being famous is like being the boss at your company. . . and if you are the boss. Then I guess you get to say that one! LOL.
5. “How much do you make?” Yes some people think comedy is not a “real” job, so it’s okay to ask what I get for a gig. But you wouldn’t ask your non-comic friends that question, so don’t ask us. I usually answer with “I’ll tell you what I make if you tell me your salary.”
Comedy Gold: The questions are you asked
Questions that you are asked a lot are a quick way to find humor. You can also reverse it by saying what questions should you not ask or why do people always ask me these questions. Here’s a quick list I came up with of questions things you shouldn’t say to a comedian . . .because people ALWAYS say these things to comedians.
Don’t get annoyed,
but rather start writing down questions that people have about your job, your hobbies, your kids. This is the stuff that OTHERS will want to know about, and it’s the basis for your comedy. Then start listing your answers. Get outrageous. Get smart-ass. How can you respond to the person asking the question? I mention that when people ask me what I make, I ask them to tell me first what THEIR salary is. Of course then it gets a little awkward, but luckily I know how to handle awkward.
I worked with Jon Stewart
at the Punchline comedy club in Atlanta years ago when he had just taken over The Daily Show. News sources reported that he was making a million dollars! That’s not much now, but almost 20 years ago it was a, well, fortune. He did the radio that morning, and the DJ brought up his new income. No one else would get that questions, but the DJ felt fine asking Jon if it was true. Jon came right back with, “yes, but it’s in Russian Rubles.” Brilliant.
He made us laugh, AND let the DJ know what an inappropriate question that was. It was such a memorable teaching moment for me, so I know how to handle it the next time someone asks me about my millions!
Have a great weekend and don’t ask the wrong questions! Have a great weekend!
Click here for another post in my blog
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