Comedy behind the scenes is about the story. It’s about making your point. Figuring out what you’re trying to say and how you’re going to say it. It’s about connecting with whoever will listen to you. At the beginning, which can last anywhere from ten to a hundred years, or at least that’s what it feels like, at the beginning that is usually other comedians.

JokeStar at this point in its life as a comedy show, is about comedians connecting to comedians. Today I had about 13 sign ups.

I always rush my opening set. I feel like it’s my duty to present my material to the room but to go through it as if to say hey this is the material I am working on right now and I am developing these bits and ideas. I would never present a completely developed finished routine at JokeStar. That would set a tone as if to say this is polished show, you are my audience, we aren’t comedians working on this together figuring it out as we go. I always use my notes, my phone. It’s part of the ritual. This is writing as performance.

Jimmy Peoples always makes himself known in the room. His quips and grunts from the back of the room before his set actually shape the tone of the show. Notice I keep referring to it as a show even though it’s almost always one hundred percent comedians and civilians rarely ever show up. That doesn’t mean that everyone is not welcome. If you are a human being you can come.

Pasha Rubin always works hard at offending the other comedians but only on the stage in a smooth and thoughtful tone. I appreciate when Dane Rothenberg shows up and points out things that no one would ever notice, like light sources should not cast shadows. He yells for no reason when approaching the stage.

Maddy Smith always kills even if there’s only three people left in the room. I haven’t figured out her secret yet but I think it’s talk loudly into the microphone and insult random people quickly with a smile and then move on to your next joke before they can think of a reply. I’m just happy to have a female comedian come out on the regular. Her rhythm is amazing.

If you make it to the end I always announce the joke of the day based on what surprised me or made me laugh the most. I try to give comedians an extra minute or two based on how much time we have available.

Come out, tell a joke, be a star. Hell tell 5 minutes of jokes see if I care. I do. It’s a show. And everyone who shows up is the audience. Especially me. I’m the designated laugher in case no one else does.

Fridays at The Lantern NYC at 4pm. Hell show up at 5, I’ll probably get you on.

Aaron Jokemaster

10/7/2016