Matt Ruby

2 days ago | funnyhow.substack.com | Matt Ruby

Great ep of We Might Be Drunk with Jim Gaffigan. Some pearls from Gaffigan…On going personal: “The beginning (of your set) has to be a little autobiographical. I believe that you have to give some intimacy. Because of reality shows, there is a certain price of entry.

1 week ago | mattruby.substack.com | Matt Ruby

As a comedian, I occasionally get asked about the impact all these comedy podcasters are having on the culture nowadays. My reply: Honestly, I can’t believe y’all are taking them seriously. People obsessed with getting a laugh aren’t who you should turn to for legit commentary or insight. We’re just trying to get over. Consider how much comedians clock clickbait. In effect, the setup to every joke is a plea for engagement. The audience 'clicks' by paying attention.

1 week ago | workingmethods.substack.com | Matt Ruby

Advice from music producer Rick Rubin:1. As soon as you have an idea, take steps to make it happen. “If you have an idea you’re excited about and you don’t bring it to life, it’s not uncommon for the idea to find its voice through another maker.”2. Act like a child. Create with innocence. “As artists, we seek to restore our childlike perception: a more innocent state of wonder and appreciation not tethered to utility or survival.”3. You have to face the fear to obtain the outcome you want.

1 week ago | funnyhow.substack.com | Matt Ruby

Punchlines get all the shine. They are wild, silly, and when you land the plane. But often, the true comedy “gold” lies in the setup (aka the premise). That’s when you get to present your idea to the world. The “hmm, I hadn’t thought about that before” part. The part where you get to provide your distinctive pov and how you see the world. In fact, joke premises could be considered the original clickbait. People “click” by paying attention.

2 weeks ago | funnyhow.substack.com | Matt Ruby

Pryor or Carlin? : “Trying to recite every word perfectly might be getting in the way of you being the natural that you are, or it might be exactly right for you.”Carlin is said to have written every word meticulously and rehearsed his act with a director as a stage actor doing Shakespeare might. This method worked for him. Pryor on the other hand often didn’t know what was going to come out of his mouth when he got onstage.