freshbleats-blog

[freshbleats-blog]

How to do Fresh Bleats

Hey Booked Comics, 

Here are a few things to keep in mind for the show.

1. Perform 5 minutes of brand new material.

-This show is for generating new material that has never been performed before so take advantage of it.

2. Participate in the “tag in” after a comic performs their new 5.

-Kate is on the overhead mic and will ask the seated comics if anyone wants to tag in and will gently nudge someone to go up first. Only one person on stage at a time so the first comic sits and the tagged in comic gets up. The tag in part lasts for 2 minutes total but you don’t have to fill up the entire time by yourself. if you tag in and run out of things to say after 30 seconds, ask someone else to tag in to take your place. Most shows people keep tagging in to fill the time.

Here is an example of the Show Structure:

Intro

Devohn/Kate 5-10 minutes

Comic 5 minutes

tag in 2 minutes

Comic 5 minutes

tag in 2 minutes

etc.

Devon announce winner(s)/close show 5 minutes

That’s it! That’s the gist of the show and everything else is gravy. Feel free to read further if you want or need to waste time while trying to write a new 5.

What is Tagging In?

You know when you are sitting at an open mic and you watch someone who you enjoy and you start to think about other jokes or tags that would work well in their new bit? And then when you go over to tell them it sounds stupid or they cut you off with a “Don’t tell me what to do!” in a Jan Brady voice? The tag in lets you go up and perform what you think “would be funny if they said this here like this”. The best tags literally reference the 1st comic’s set and are written or performed FOR the first comic. If it helps to try and sound and act like the first comic, do what you have to do.

Don’t avoid letting people tag in after you perform your 5 minutes because there is no reason to be on this show for points.

Result

During the show, the comics are sitting in the show room with the audience. The MCs and comics are usually bantering with each other between sets and are very supportive of each other because it can be kind of nerve wracking to just blurt out an untested 5 minutes. During the tags, comics build on a set to make it funnier or more complex. While it seems chaotic to us, the audience sees comics “writing sets live” and helping each other.  (HINT: The less comics care about points and want to write for each other, the more points are awarded to more people (not that it matters)).

FAQs

Q. Whoa, whoa, whoa. What’s all this shit about scoring points?

A. Oh yeah, we keep score so that everyone stays alert and invested and so we can make fun of you for not following our rules. Don’t worry about it, dummy, but here’s a breakout of points:

Finish your 5 minutes = 1 point

Comic(s) tag in on your set and successfully perform 2 minutes = 5 points

Participating in a tag in = 5 points

Tagging in with material not related to 1st comic’s set = -5 points

Q. What happens if I do not finish my 5 minutes?

A. The hosts will make fun of you kind of. If you finish under 5 minutes, the time is added on to the tag in portion and more time is given to comics who want to jump and perform until the full 7 minutes are completed.

Q. Wait, points though?

A. We keep track of them on a wall in a cave somewhere in the Badlands. You can also get points from audience members who tweet at @fbleats. We use the tracker when promoting the show and it gives us something to talk about on stage throughout the show.

Q. So, I could lose points if someone tags in and they suck?

A. *sigh*…no.

Q. What if I go over my time (either my fine minutes or go over the 2 minutes during a tag in)?

A. There will be a light or sound effect thing if the clock doesn’t work.

Q. What if an audience member wants to tag in?

A. Not allowed and the hosts will tell them that.

Q. Can a comic who is not booked on the show tag in?

A. Generally, no. We can take this on a case by case if we are short a performer but it has not worked well in the past.

Q. Is one of those social justice warrior cry baby safe space shows?

A. Yes. That’s who seems to like and support our show so don’t fuck it up.

Q. But how do I lose points?

A. The most common way to lose points is if you tag in and do not do material based on the first comic’s set. Another is to do old material. Sometimes comics get nervous and a little mouthy which is understandable but points will be deducted if you are a douche or turn into a one-man-bachelorette-party.

Q. Can I write about more than one thing for my 5 minutes? What are the restrictions?

A. Your 5 minutes are your 5 minutes so don’t feel restricted to one topic. No restrictions on format if they can be accommodated (like music cues, lighting etc. - just let us know in advance.)

Q. What if my new stuff sucks?

A. Do what you would do at any show and get through it. The good news is that the other comics will help turn the ship around with their tags.

Q. What if the same stage hog keeps jumping up to tag in/ What if I am the only person tagging in?

A. Devohn and Kate (especially Kate) are freakishly empathic and adept at directing energy flow in closed socially engineered environments. It will be fine.