The Art of Making People Laugh: with Luke Thompson from Luke's English Podcast
Oct 19, 2023
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Luke Thompson, creator of Luke's English Podcast, discusses the art of making people laugh. Topics include getting into stand-up comedy, coming up with funny ideas, testing material, dealing with a non-laughing audience, the boundaries of jokes, remembering what to say on stage, improvised vs scripted content, and recycling jokes. They also touch on performing comedy in France vs the UK and the role of opposites in understanding serious subjects.
Stand-up comedy involves a combination of rehearsed material and improvisation, with comedians practicing and refining their jokes to create a successful performance.
Humor differs between British and French cultures, with the French engaging in more mocking humor while the British use self-deprecating humor and irony.
Deep dives
The Art of Stand-Up Comedy
Stand-up comedy is a craft that involves a combination of rehearsed material and improvised moments. Comedians spend time writing and refining their jokes, structuring their sets, and rehearsing their delivery. They also rely on experience and stage time to develop their timing and stage presence. Comedians often practice their sets by walking around and performing them out loud, striving to make the material sound spontaneous and natural. They also make decisions about which material to include in their set, balancing between tried and tested jokes and newer material. The opening and closing of a set are crucial, as they set the tone and leave a lasting impression on the audience. The process of developing and refining material involves paying attention to audience reactions, identifying what works and what doesn't, and making adjustments accordingly. While each comedian has their own unique approach to the craft, stand-up comedy requires a combination of writing, rehearsing, and performing to create a successful and entertaining performance.
The Differences Between British and French Humor
The podcast episode explores the distinctions between British and French humor. The speaker explains that humor differs from comedy and defines humor as the use of humor in social situations. The French are said to poke fun at each other more, while the British engage in self-deprecating humor and irony. The episode also discusses the development of stand-up comedy in the UK and France, noting that stand-up has a longer history in the UK. French audiences are said to be less familiar with the cultural codes of stand-up shows, which affects their response to humor.
The Importance of Tragedy in Comedy
The podcast episode emphasizes the role of tragedy in comedy. The speaker reflects on the idea that humor is often rooted in sorrow. Tragic experiences, pain, and hardship can be converted into comedy, allowing people to find laughter in difficult situations. The episode mentions comedians such as Richard Pryor and George Carlin, who incorporated elements of tragedy into their routines, making audiences laugh by presenting relatable and honest perspectives on human experiences.
The Journey of a Stand-up Comedian
The podcast episode explores the journey and ambitions of a stand-up comedian. The discussion revolves around the career choices and aspirations of a comedian named Paul Taylor. He decided to quit his job and focus solely on stand-up comedy, which led to significant success. In contrast, the speaker, Luke Thompson, chose to prioritize other aspects of his life, such as his podcast and family, and sees stand-up comedy as a creative outlet and an opportunity for personal growth. The episode delves into the challenges and rewards of being a comedian and discusses the importance of constantly evolving and creating new material.
In this episode you'll hear a conversation with Luke Thompson about the art of going on stage and making people laugh.
Luke is from the UK but he's based in Paris, France. He's the creator and host of Luke's English Podcast, a successful show for learners of English with a loyal audience in countries all around the world and over 1 million downloads a month. He knows how to make people laugh. And I think that's one of the reasons why people love listening to him.
Some of the questions we discussed in this episode include:
How and why did you get into stand-up comedy?
How do you come up with funny ideas, anecdotes, jokes and stories? Do you have a system?
How do you know if your material is funny or not? Do you test your stuff?
The audience doesn't laugh. What do you do?
Ricky Gervais says there's nothing you can't joke about. Do you agree with that?
How do you remember what to say on stage?
How much is improvised and how much is scripted?
How do you feel about recycling jokes?
What are your ambitions as a stand-up comedian?
I hope you'll enjoy this conversation as much as Luke and I did.