Skill In Comedy

Comedy Techniques for Variety Artists Excerpt

In my juggling act, I would hold a spinning plate in my right hand at the height of my waist.  I extended my left arm straight up over my head.  Then I flipped the plate up and caught it in my left hand.  Then I would pick up a stick, place it under the plate, and start the plate spinning.  If I missed the plate the first time that I flipped it, I could try it again.

I decided to turn it into a comedy bit.  I did a few tricks with the plate first.  Then I bent my left elbow and held my arm so that it was parallel to the floor.  I placed my plate on the crook of my elbow.  I would tip my hat.  Then I tipped my left arm down so my elbow was pointed towards the floor   The plate slid off my arm.  I would straighten out my left arm and bend forward at the waist catch the falling plate just before it hit the floor.  I put my hat back on my head.  I would then repeat the trick with my right arm.  As I bent down to catch the plate, I lifted my left arm high above my head. 

When I straightened up after catching the plate, I kept my left arm straight up in the air.  I raised my right hand holding the plate up to the level of my waist.  I looked towards somebody in the audience.  Then without looking at the plate, I flipped it up to my left hand. 

Slide Show Flipping Plate Without Looking

(Photos by Roger Grant)

When I looked back at my right hand, I was surprised that the plate was gone. 

I looked around for it on the ground.  When the kids began shouting instructions for where the plate was, I misunderstood what they were telling me.  Eventually, I discovered where the plate was.  I tried to grab it with my right hand, but I couldn’t reach it.  Inspired by Mike Course, I would jump into the air trying to reach it.  So, then I got the stick to be able to reach the plate.  I put the stick under the plate and then started it spinning.

Turning that juggling trick into a comedy bit required more skill.  When it was a juggling trick, I watched the flight of the plate.  If I didn’t throw the plate high enough, I could lower my hand a little to catch it.  If I threw it a little too hard, I could wait for it to descend to the proper height and then catch it. 

Doing the trick without looking meant that I could not adjust the catch if my throw was off.  I had to flip the plate so it hit the palm of my hand properly rotated.  When I felt the plate, I would close my hand to hold it.  I had to develop the muscle memory to consistently throw the plate the same way every time.  If I hesitate because I am nervous, the plate goes too low.  If I am excited, the adrenaline makes the plate fly too high.  I have to be able to do the trick without thinking about it.  So, in preparing for a show, I practice performing the flip until I succeed fifty times in a row with my eyes closed.

If I didn’t catch the flip, I could not do it over again and pretend that I did not know where the plate was going.  If the audience knows I purposely flipped the plate up to my hand, they won’t believe that I don’t know its location.  So, when I miss, I have to forget about the comedy and just perform it as a juggling trick.