When Michael Pollock asked me to tackle the subject of common mistakes to avoid in musical improv, hundreds popped up, so I waited four months or so. Once I’d paid off my Christmas mistakes and had gotten used to the world’s cutest puppy, I finally had some time to just sit with the laptop. So I posted a bunch of high school pictures on Facebook. After that, I dawdled, did some shows and ate a pizza. Finally, I got off my ass and focused on good sir Michael’s request and came up with this:
Around the city of Los
Continue reading Five Conceptual Mistakes
Some students are natural poets or experienced songwriters, which is a great boon to our cause. Others are completely inexperienced, but learn fast and end up contributing effectively. Second City conservatory students are sharp cookies, naturally.
Continue reading Collaborative Comedy Songwriting: "Craigslist Rocks"
Is there a God? No one can prove it, but the experience I’m about to describe suggests that there might be, and that He/She likes me.
I always enjoy teaching in Las Vegas because the students are of a different stripe. I call them “glitzy carnies” with no disrespect intended – on the contrary, I think they’re uniquely cool. The showbiz they’re in is a certain world of its own, and this is reflected in their humor and approach to performing. Each is what some would call “a piece of work.”
On this last day of class we all were eager for the culminating
Continue reading The Musical Improv Show That Providence Made Possible
Corporate shows scare me for multiple reasons, though the cash and the non-show working conditions are so often sublime (I love to travel and stay at high-end hotels and resorts).
Challenge number one: The client usually wants the show to include improvised hilarity “customized” to the company, the president of the company, the product, and so on. This kind of thing is of course a big selling point for some comedy troupes, but in my experience the customizations fail a lot. Not always, but often. The performers may do the best anyone could, but the audience members
Continue reading “Cabaretto” in Miami – A Client Request I Should Have Declined
This performance is perfect. Jenny applies every trick in the book to improvise a funny song, and takes complete possession of the audience. She begins with “Won’t you be my koala ?” and here comes the romantic power ballad.
- The song structure is solid as can be: verse/verse/bridge/verse. No meandering whatsoever.
- “Won’t You Be My Koala?” (the thematic line) is placed at the top of each verse and left out of the bridge. This procedure is present in one of the games I teach students to play as they learn song structures.
- This thematic line is explored and heightened throughout the song, never veered away from or abandoned.
- Overall, the lyrics contain constant “relevant vocabulary” to the thematic line, which the audience finds Continue reading \”Simple Song Structure Hits Jackpot in Las Vegas\” »
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How to Write Funny Lyrics: The Comedy Songwriting Manual
From concept to finished product, this unique guide shows the way to create lyrics that make audiences laugh. Clear, friendly style of instruction is entertaining and easy to understand.
It was written expressly for comedy writers who need to know how to build solidly-crafted lyrics that any composer can readily set to music. It also explains exactly how to proceed if you’re not already a comedy expert.
This is a cool gift for any aspiring or professional songwriter, and an unusual addition to any lyricist’s library.
Below is the table of contents and an excerpt of the book
Chapter
Continue reading How to Write Funny Lyrics: The Comedy Songwriting Manual
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