Folks usually come as much as me after an hour lengthy present and ask how I memorize a lot materials for my act. I all the time inform them that I do not memorize my act, I do know my act. There’s a large distinction between memorizing and figuring out, and that distinction may also imply the distinction for you between a boring presentation and a very good one.
Remembering your presentation will not be actually as arduous as you assume. I hesitate calling it memorizing as a result of that suggests that every one you must do is maintain repeating the phrases and phrases till you’ll be able to recite them by rote. I choose the time period figuring out. To know one’s presentation is to know the phrases and phrases since you are linked to them. And the important thing to this to have a viewpoint concerning the matter you’re presenting on.
So, what’s viewpoint? For the needs of get up comedy, it may be outlined as the way you view the world. Your emotional response and opinions to no matter matter you select to speak about. The bottom line is to get an viewers curious about your viewpoint even when they do not essentially agree with it. The stronger you’re feeling a couple of matter usually the higher it’s for potential comedy. The stronger your viewpoint about any matter, the extra fascinating your presentation can be.
Comedians sometimes do not use notes on stage. Some do, however achieve this very discretely. In the event you insist on utilizing notes on your presentation, restrict them. I am suggesting one 3 by 5 card with key phrases or phrases solely. Positively keep away from the enormous stack of three by 5 playing cards in your hand along with your complete presentation written out on them. Each time I see somebody with these they inevitably use them greater than they need to, or most likely even have to. The three by 5 playing cards develop into a crutch and so they find yourself studying their presentation as an alternative of performing it. I additionally screams novice after I see. As does studying verbatim off of PowerPoint slides.
What’s the distinction between memorizing and figuring out?
Fast check – discuss to me for 2 minutes about my first job? Stumped? How about my favourite sports activities group? My childhood pet? What are you aware about these items? Nothing. You haven’t any expertise with any of these items, as a result of you do not know me. So, you don’t have any opinions and subsequently no viewpoint on any of those matters.
Now, discuss to me for 2 minutes about your first job, your favourite sports activities group or your childhood pet. Totally different proper? As a result of you’ve got direct expertise with these items, you’ve got a viewpoint. You have got feelings, opinions and experiences associated to every of these items. And, I guess you did not have to memorize something about these tales proper? As a result of you already know them.
After all you’ll not going know your presentation in addition to you already know your opinion on one thing like your favourite childhood pet, as a result of that’s one thing that has been imprinted in your mind for years. Nevertheless, your presentation should be extra on the figuring out stage than on the memorization stage.
In case your presentation is only a assortment of phrases and phrases slapped collectively that you don’t have any connection to, your viewers will not both. And since you aren’t linked to it, you should have a a lot more durable time remembering your presentation. When you’re linked to the presentation, when you’ve got a viewpoint, you naturally know what you wish to say, even if you happen to overlook the precise phrases. That is how comedians do it. That’s the key. Begin with viewpoint and all the pieces flows.
