Let's Talk About Sets! Episode 052 PRESENCE – Bret Raybould: “Don’t give a fuck if this goes well”
Jun 29, 2019
Bret Raybould, stand-up comic and sketch creator known for fearless stage work, talks stage presence, being present, flow state, pacing, silence, and resetting a room. He shares touring stories like following Leslie Jones and how knowing your act frees you to riff. Conversation highlights using universal road bits, eye contact, and when leaving the script can win a crowd.
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Authenticity Drives Stage Presence
- Stage presence combines body language, tone, and appearance to create an immediate persona the audience buys into.
- Authenticity and vulnerability make that persona feel genuine and magnetic.
Controlled Excess Feels Like Leadership
- Controlled excess (high energy that's deliberate) reads as leadership, not mania, and attracts audience buy-in.
- The contrast between intensity and seriousness can heighten comedy.
Flow Is Action-Awareness Merging
- Flow state in comedy is when action and awareness merge and delivery feels effortless.
- In flow you lose self-consciousness and your timing, rhythm, and audience connection elevate the material.