I was watching Tom Papa’s latest Netflix stand up comedy special and he uses a technique called a “call back” a couple of times. If you don’t know what a callback is, it’s where you reference something that was said or happened earlier in the show.
There really are two kinds of call backs, planned ones that are scripted, and unplanned ones, that are spontaneous. Both are great, but the unplanned ones are the best. They are an “inside joke” that exists only with that audience.
For example at a comedy club a couple of months ago, a lady was clapping by tapping two chicken wings together. I mentioned it and it became something that I referenced a couple of times in the show that got a big laugh. Those tell people that they’re seeing a show that’s unique and that’s really one of the draws as to why people come out to a live show, to hopefully something that will never happen again!
Look for those moments in your show and use them!
-Louie
Tag: tom papa
The Secret to Likability…
The easiest step to being likable onstage is smiling. That’s it. If you can do that you’re soo much closer to the audience liking you.
Smiling makes you look like you want to be there and you are having fun. Yes, there are times you don’t want to smile, and those times should be well thought out. Your default should be a smile.
Many years ago I heard an interview with comedian Neal Brennan on Tom Papa’s podcast Come to Papa. He mentioned that he thought he was smiling onstage, but realized he wasn’t. Onstage you need to smile bigger than you think you need to for it to play to the audience. Hearing that interview really helped my show!
-Louie