Inside Jokes Introduction

I asked a wise person for a piece of advice on this, my very first blog. They told me “Don’t do it” and when I ignored that, they said, “At least, don’t start with a cliché.” Priding myself on consistency, I decided to ignore that as well. So, here’s a bad start…

“Just be yourself.”

These are the three most common and cliche words of advice from veteran performers to the newbies. This usually comes whether the newbie is seeking advice, or not. And it comes with no instructions – no follow-ups or ideas how to accomplish this simple goal. Probably because very few veterans have actually managed to just be themselves, and the ones who have accomplished it, have done so with much practice and hard work.

Stand-up comics have one task. Be funny. That’s it. Nothing more. Sounds simple? Well, not really. It’s actually tougher than it sounds. That said, we’re probably the most unhindered artists in the world, limited only by our use of whatever language we speak in. Swahili is my personal favorite. Any topic goes – the only limitation on our comedy is imagination. Try filling that box with your job description.

So where do we get our material? Personal experience.  (And undiscovered Bob Hope files.)  What we talk about tells you a bit about us. It’s a variation on the age-old “write what you know” thing. Our comedy tells you what’s happening in our lives. Sometimes we talk about marriage. A year later we’re probably working the divorce angle.  A few weeks later, awkward online dating. Humor knows no bounds.

That said, we do conform a bit. Before stepping on the stage, most comedians create a “set list.” This is a list of keywords that remind us what we want to talk about on stage. It doubles as a mini-autobiography of the comedian. A string of random words that reveal that comic’s character.  A real-time snapshot of their life.  And how their mind works.

And that’s what this book is all about. Looking at what makes us tick. Why we do this. And how we think. Frightening and amusing at the same time.

Welcome to Inside Jokes. Get ready to learn – to laugh – and to love.

Okay, just kidding on the love thing.

Donovan Deschner
Calgary, Canada
July 2008