Power of Opposites.

One of the most powerful tools in my comedy toolkit is the use of opposites. The concept of opposites plays a big role in comedy applying it to both writing and performance.

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” ~John Steinbeck

When writing a joke, I think of what is expected? What is the opposite of this? This is a perfect way of creating surprise. Surprise happens by creating expectation, then breaking it. I have gotten to the point where sometimes I can do it mid-sentence which leads to getting a laugh or I need to explain myself. Surprise is such an important element to joke writing and it can be achieved easily with an opposite.

Often it is this contrast that leads to comedy. Say something loud that should be a whisper. Whisper something that should be said loud. Lead right and go left. This is one of the fun things that I do in comedy. When I am looking for where I can take something I think: What is the opposite of this? It will usually bring me to so many fun places and so many surprises. I have always been someone who does this, I think if everyone is here,  I’ll go there?

Anyone who has been in comedy for any amount of time will know that there is no limit to the amount of unsolicited advice comics give one another. I am no exception, I am writing a weekly blog full of it.  When I first started I would always apply things I heard as a rule and this worked for me. But the longer I have been in it, the more I see exceptions to every rule. I think one should learn the rules in order to break them properly.

For example: I always heard that the host of any show should always be clean. But then I was booked on a show titled “Rise to   Offend.” It was at a locals bar in Las Vegas. It was a total ambush show in a sports bar. The hosts would go up and riff about the dirtiest things and try to be wildly offensive. In this specific environment it worked very well. It also was a great way to get the show going. It gave all the comics on the lineup the liberty to be offensive or dirty because it was frankly hard to be worse than what the hosts did. Now they are very talented experienced comics that were hosting. Also they were transparent about what was going to happen with the title of the show. The first time I went to the show I was shocked and like hey you're breaking the hosting rules! They made me realize there are no rules in standup across the board.

So now whenever I hear a “rule” of standup I think about how to make the opposite successful or where the exception to that rule is. It is a fun exercise for me, it helps me decide if I will be following this person's advice or not. I think that every rule can be broken — it’s just about figuring out how and when to do it. Like I personally change up my hosting style from when I host a showcase in a bar, host a showcase in a comedy club, and when I host an open mic. There are some things I keep the same, but it comes down to what is my purpose or goal with this.

Contrast and surprise create comedy. So with my writing or my performance I can add color with opposites. It's why the odd couple works to create comedy. The fish out of water. If every comedian before me is yelling their sets, I’m going to go quiet. It’s the use of opposites that mixes it up and creates brilliance. Comedy is about questioning what is accepted as the norm, that starts with the opposite. If nothing by thinking in opposites it expands my mind and adds some flair or spice to whatever I am doing. Comedy comes from the unexpected.

If you liked this article please subscribe to my weekly blog and please share it with someone who would appreciate it! 

Thank you for reading, You’re doing great. 

Bjorn RG.