• It's Me, Paul
    • Book Paul
  • Shows
  • YouTube
  • Buy My Shirt
  • Why Are You Awake?
  • Blog
  • Mixtape Podcast
  • Clips & Press
  Paul Farahvar Comedy

All From Paul

STORYTELLING 101

8/23/2022

 
When I started comedy, most of my stand up set was storytelling. I would tell stories, mostly true, about something that happened to me and make it funny somehow. For my "Tight 5" minute set (your best five), some comedians would have dozens of "set up, punchline, laugh" style jokes within that time, while my story would be the whole five minutes, after maybe a quick 20 second bit. Now that I do 45min- hour long sets regularly, I would say 50% of my set is story tellings but most all of my material started in story form.
My favorite comedians were (and are) storytellers and I had the pleasure of touring with two of them, Jen Kirkman and Gary Gulman and watching as they developed their stories over shows. I learned how to be a wordsmith and take out the unnecessary beats or information, if and when they did not get a laugh.

For me, the beats of the story are important and getting a laugh or at least a strong reaction every 20 seconds was vital. And of course ending with a huge pop. Truth is vital as well. There is something to be said about a true story hitting harder. I sometimes combine 2-3 stories or details to make one story better, but that is still based in truth.

When I have a new story I want to work on, I outline what really happened and then find a "safe space" where I can try it out, usually an open mic or a "new material night". I then whittle it down to the absolute minimum necessary. By the time I am done, a five minute story is now 90 seconds and a new part of my set.

The best story of all time is John Mulaney's "Salt & Pepper Diner". Check it out if you haven't already.

#storytelling #standup #formerlawyer #jokes

Comments are closed.

    Author

    Paul Farahvar is a comedian hailing from Chicago, Ill.

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

SUbscribe TO WHy ARE YOU AWAKE on YOUTUBE!


Buy My Merch

SHOWS

clips & Press

WHY ARE YOU AWAKE?

MIXTAPE PODCAST

  • It's Me, Paul
    • Book Paul
  • Shows
  • YouTube
  • Buy My Shirt
  • Why Are You Awake?
  • Blog
  • Mixtape Podcast
  • Clips & Press