PRESENTATIONS
101
Insights from
Stand Up
Comics

“A comic who has made a
dedicated commitment to his
or her act can make an audience
laugh just on the strength of
confidence alone.
Judy Carter
Comedian, Comedy Coach

“It’s the commitment of the
comic to their material that carries the
act. The commitment to communicate —
to get ideas across — will provide
all the fuel you need.”
Judy Carter
Comedian, Comedy Coach

FLOW

STORY

MATERIAL

PRESENCE

Developing
Your Act

Point-of-View
Developing
Your Act

One’s unique Point-of-View
is the most important element for a
memorable stand-up routine.
Developing
Point-of-View
Your Act

Comedians feel most alive
when their unique observations
cause people to laugh.
Developing
Point-of-View
Your Act

Steven Wright
Developing
Point-of-View
Your Act

“Your Point-of-View is
the voice you hear when
you talk to yourself.”
Franklyn Ajaye
Comedian, Comedy Coach
Developing
Point-of-View
Your Act

Genuineness
Developing
Your Act

Identify your honest feelings
and share interesting details you
know to be true.
Developing
Genuineness
Your Act

Don’t try to give a
smart opinion. Give your
opinion in a smart way.
Developing
Genuineness
Your Act

Ricky Gervais
Developing
Genuineness
Your Act

Delivery
Developing
Your Act

The delivery of a comedian
is the same as the windup of
a baseball pitcher.
Developing
Delivery
Your Act

A good delivery allows
the audience to follow your
thought process.
Developing
Delivery
Your Act

“Every setup leads to a punch. If
something is not a punch, then it has
to be part of the setup.”
Judy Carter
Comedian, Comedy Coach
Developing
Delivery
Your Act

Jerry Seinfeld
Developing
Delivery
Your Act

Give the illusion of the
presentation being a “dialogue”
through your delivery.
Developing
Delivery
Your Act

Timing
Developing
Your Act

Comedians use pauses to give
the audience time to digest
everything they have said.
Developing
Timing
Your Act

Young comedians will rush
into their next bit, which causes the
audience to stop laughing.
Developing
Timing
Your Act

Experienced comedians
will pause just before delivering
the punchline.
Developing
Timing
Your Act

Developing
Timing
Your Act

Slowing down and pausing
more often will improve your
presentation performance.
Developing
Timing
Your Act

Movement
Developing
Your Act

Walking across the stage gives
comedians the aura of spontaneity
and on-the-feet thinking.
Developing
Movement
Your Act

Moving around on-stage
makes the audience follow you with
their eyes, not just their ears.
Developing
Movement
Your Act

When telling a story, act out
the parts of the people you
are talking about.
Developing
Movement
Your Act

Make the Company
Something to Believe In

1999 - Automatic Espresso Machines

Billy Crystal
Developing
Movement
Your Act

Commitment
Developing
Your Act

“A comic who has made a
dedicated commitment to his
or her act can make an audience
laugh just on the strength of
confidence alone.
Judy Carter
Comedian, Comedy Coach

“It’s the commitment of the
comic to their material that carries the
act. The commitment to communicate —
to get ideas across — will provide
all the fuel you need.”
Judy Carter
Comedian, Comedy Coach

Total commitment means
putting your POV out there for
the audience to consider …
no matter the situation.
Developing
Commitment
Your Act

Steve Martin
Developing
Commitment
Your Act

The Encore

What you say is not as
important as how you say it.
Developing
Bit #1
Your Act

If you are not nervous, you
are not pushing yourself enough.
Developing
Bit #2
Your Act

Channel your nervous
into presentation energy.
Developing
Bit #3
Your Act

Passion always
supersedes polish.
Developing
Bit #4
Your Act

The best presentations take
take the audience on a journey
from WHAT to WHY to HOW.
Developing
Bit #5
Your Act

Questions

CLASS
DIMISSED

SOURCES:
COMIC INSIGHTS STAND-UP COMEDY: GIVE YORU SPEECH,
Franklyn Ajaye THE BOOK CHANGE THE WORLD
(2002) Judy Carter Nick Morgan
(1989) (2003, 2005)