THE ECONOMY OF WORDS WITH MITCH HEDBERG

Kunal Kamra kicks off the first day of his workshop with a quick Mitch Hedberg clip to explain the basics of standup; premises and punchlines. Hedberg was one of the best comics in the game because of how efficiently he got from set up to (absurdly funny) delivery. Take for example, this 7 word classic; “A dog is always in pushup position.”

RELATABLE PREMISES AND COMPELLING PUNCHLINES WITH LOUIS C.K.

According to Kamra, a relatable premise can carry an audience through a set. To illustrate this point, he pulls up a clip of Louis C.K. joking about how broke he is. Does that feel like a personal attack? If it does (it did to me), then C.K. has done his job. Well, nearly. To stick the landing, you’ve to hit the crowd with a compelling punchline. And punchlines are best served with a dash of personality. Show us your unique perspective. That’s where the value is at!

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PRIVILEGE WITH DAVE CHAPPELLE (lol)

In Episode 2, titled ‘Perception And Self’, Kamra’s clips of Ronny Chieng and vintage Dave Chappelle showcase how the two masterfully use stage time to share who they are. Those in attendance then asked if one’s privilege needs to be constantly addressed. Not as long as you check it, says Kamra. In fact the comic goes on to say that in case you struggle with privilege and guilt, it is your unique understanding of it that should be shared. Not a bad idea at all!

BOMBING 101 AND THE BILL BURR ROUTE

Kamra’s philosophy on tanking on stage is simple. Bomb gracefully. The comic tells aspiring comics that sometimes it’s better to take it on the chin and turn the night into a learning experience rather than go all-in trying to win the audience over. Of course, you could also take the Bill-Burr-In-Philadelphia route and drop a thesaurus’ worth of insults on the crowd. Disclaimer: The contents of this slide—particularly the Bill Burr route—are strictly for educational purposes. Please consult a doctor and lawyer before practical application.

TOEING THE LINE WITH BILL BURR (AGAIN)

This one is fairly straightforward. If you’re going to punch a woman, it’s all about context, context, context. If you can outline a precise set of circumstances that (really) justify the punch, then go for the c-c-c-combo breaker for all we care. (PREFERABLY DON’T) Episode 4 is all about the fine line we walk when cracking jokes, and how in India that line is even finer.

UNPOPULAR OPINIONS FEAT. BENGAL TIGERS

In Episode 4, workshop attendees were asked to write unpopular opinions. Kamra then went on to hear them and tell each attendee how they could make the joke work. Here’s one that Kamra deemed a 10/10. The trick is having a creative, offbeat justification for your unpopular opinion. Once you’ve got that figured out, everyone’s in danger. Footnotes to the session: be empathetic and playful with your justification. Make sure it’s something unique to your perspective.

STRONG OPENERS WITH SHAZIA MIRZA

Kamra says opening jokes are fundamental to a good set. He picks Shazia Mirza to illustrate his point and we can see why. Mirza immediately pulls you into her world, and although you may not be a Muslim woman from the UK, you can immediately identify with her ideas and experiences. Then for six straight minutes, you feel almost as badass as Mirza herself. When you definitely aren’t. That’s what makes it click.

ALT-OPENER BITS WITH THE BRITS

As crucial as it is to make your audience feel like they’re in on your opening joke, never underestimate the impact of a solid opener that gets you your first laugh, ASAP. According to Kamra, British comics are particularly great at scoring that all-important first laugh—something we should all be considering too!

CLOSERS TO END THEM ALL WITH BILL HICKS AND DOUG STANHOPE

In the final episode, Kamra is visibly star-struck as he takes us through what he deems are closers that no one can top. EVER. Our takeaway from Kamra’s commentary is that the right closing joke will leave you buzzing with thoughts and priceless post-show convos. Summed up, leave an impression.