📆 Your joke writing challenge topic for today is Tech Troubles.
Jen Spira’s Comedy Wisdom: The Resume Breakdown for Aspiring Comedians
Hello fellow comedians! If you’re looking to dive deep into the world of comedy writing, we’ve got some gems for you today. Straight from the world of late-night comedy, Jen Spira, a renowned comedy writer from “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”, has dished out a ton about her journey. And yes, for those who are looking to craft their resumes for a stand-up comedy class, you’re in luck!
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Key Learning Points:
- The Resume Humor: While humor is our business, when it comes to resumes, it’s always a good idea to keep it straightforward and professional. Being normal won’t backfire, but trying to be funny might!
- Objective Matters: Clearly state your goals. Whether you want to infuse humor with a satirical touch or a goofy style, it’s essential to have clarity.
- Headshots: Your headshot should reflect your current look and feel. For comedy writers, it might not need to be “actor-y”, but it should capture your essence.
- Social Media: Being present on platforms like Twitter, especially for comedians, is vital. It offers a direct channel to share your work, build a following, and get noticed.
- Work Experience: Showcase your significant contributions, collaborations, and the dynamics of where you’ve worked. For Jen, working on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” since 2015 involved writing monologues, sketches, and collaborating in pairs for scripts.
- Joke Writing: It’s an art of observation and distillation. Understanding the essence of any piece of news or event and turning it into a joke requires keen observation and understanding the nuances of humor.
- Understanding the Host: To write for a particular show or host, it’s essential to understand their sensibilities, likes, dislikes, and references.
- Voiceover: It’s a skill! And it requires a unique way of delivering lines – shorter, crisper, and with impact.
- Past Experiences: Each job, be it related to comedy or not, teaches something valuable. For instance, Jen’s stint at The Onion helped her hone her satirical skills, while her various odd jobs in Chicago shaped her hustle and passion for comedy.
- Personal Writing: Always have a side project. Whether it’s writing humor pieces for publications or maintaining a doc of ideas, it helps in honing your craft.
- Training: Institutions like IO in Chicago can provide invaluable improv training. Such training can teach collaboration, risk-taking, and spontaneous creativity.
- Education: While formal education, like an MFA or BA, might not be essential for every comedian, the discipline of regular reading and writing can be beneficial.
- References: Always have someone who can vouch for your work ethic, skills, and adaptability.
- Awards & Special Skills: They matter! Whether it’s speaking another language or having a unique talent, make sure to highlight these.
Jen’s Golden Tip: For anyone keen to succeed in comedy, it’s essential to constantly absorb knowledge. Read, watch, and learn from those you admire. Moreover, don’t be shy to put your work out there.
So, if you’re aiming to shine in a stand-up comedy class or make a mark in the world of comedy writing, take these insights from Jen Spira to heart. Laugh on and write on!
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After watching the video, take this quiz to check your knowledge.
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First up, what should we call you?
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What was one major piece of advice Jen Spira gave about attempting humor on resumes?
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- Avoid trying to be funny; it can backfire.
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Add RecommendationAdd TagsView All Assigned TagsBeing funny on your resume will always be a success.
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Add RecommendationAdd TagsView All Assigned TagsAlways add a joke to show your sense of humor.
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Add RecommendationAdd TagsView All Assigned TagsOnly use humor if you have comedy experience.
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Why did Jen Spira emphasize the importance of Twitter for comedians?
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Only real comedians are allowed on Twitter.
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Add RecommendationAdd TagsView All Assigned TagsBecause Twitter pays comedians for every joke.
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Add RecommendationAdd TagsView All Assigned TagsIt's a platform where you don't need anyone's approval to post.
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Add RecommendationAdd TagsView All Assigned TagsTwitter is mainly designed for comedians.
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What was one way Jen described the process of writing jokes for 'The Late Show'?
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Writers only focus on their own comedic style, not Stephen Colbert's.
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Add RecommendationAdd TagsView All Assigned TagsThey always write jokes alone.
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Add RecommendationAdd TagsView All Assigned TagsThey rarely write about current events or news.
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Add RecommendationAdd TagsView All Assigned TagsDollar sign symbols are used to mark jokes needing improvement.
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%%FIRST_NAME%% Way to go 🎉! Keep going! 💪🏆
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YOUR TOTAL POINTS
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LEADERBOARD
Did you earn yourself a spot on the leaderboard?
Look at the chart below to find out!
Rank | Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alan Salzbank | 30/30 |
| 2 | Alexa Speaks | 30/30 |
| 3 | Tom Padovano | 30/30 |
| 4 | Zygy | 30/30 |
| 5 | Laurie Milbourn | 30/30 |
| 6 | Carla Ulbrich | 30/30 |
| 7 | Jane Joan Costagliola | 30/30 |
| 8 | Richard Parisi | 20/30 |
| 9 | Alyson Chadwick | 20/30 |
| 10 | Tracey | 20/30 |
What a great article!