I don't think that comedians have a tradition of trashing the next generation. Franklyn Ajaye More Quotes by Franklyn Ajaye More Quotes From Franklyn Ajaye I have no desire to be hip to the latest black slang and do the stereotypical black thing. I was a Richard Pryor fan, and I have used profanity in my act. But when it becomes a whole thing that defines blacks, we're limiting ourselves. The enemy is us. Franklyn Ajaye blackdesireenemy Taping yourself and making yourself listen to the tape of each performance no matter how bad is really important. There's always a nugget line or a direction pointed out to you in even the worst show. Franklyn Ajaye nuggetstapeimportant Originality is never embraced as quickly as the commonplace. Franklyn Ajaye originalitycommonplace Moving to Australia was not a career move, but a quality of life issue. It has no guns, no God, and no gangster rap. As an Ethiopian cab driver said to me the other day when I was returning from a gig in Sydney, Australia is a peaceful, democratic place. I like the relatively stress free lifestyle. It's worth the drop in income. Franklyn Ajaye rapstressmoving Very few blacks will take up golf until the requirement for plaid pants is dropped. Franklyn Ajaye requirementsgolfsports Being black and speaking properly are not mutually exclusive. My father was an African, and he spoke beautifully at home. Nelson Mandela speaks beautifully. Should Mandela put his hat on backwards and say, 'Yo, homey, this is Nelson. Yo, Winnie, yo, this is def'? Franklyn Ajaye blackhomefather You must not be afraid of small bits of silence. To use it well is the height of confidence and skill for a comedian. It increases the tension in a good way and adds contrast like a curveball complements the fastball of a good pitcher. Franklyn Ajaye confidencesilenceskills Walking back and forth also helps by creating the illusion that you are thinking of the routines on the spot, giving your performance a more spontaneous feeling. Franklyn Ajaye creatinggivingthinking Ideally, you want to be in a fifty-fifty power-sharing arrangement with the audience - both of you are there for a mutually enjoyable experience. Franklyn Ajaye experiencefiftywant Obviously the audience has veto power signified by whether they laugh or not, but you-not them-retain the ultimate power to decide what they're going to get the opportunity to laugh at. Franklyn Ajaye vetoopportunitylaughing Bombing teaches you how badly you want to become a comedian. Because unless it's a burning desire, you'll quit when the consistent bombing becomes too much to take. Franklyn Ajaye burningcomediandesire Evaluate every performance on: stage presence, concentration, delivery, material and lessons learned. Franklyn Ajaye lesson-learnedstagelessons This whole urban rap thing needs to be pulled back some. The ghetto is being glorified, and there's nothing good about the ghetto except getting out of one. Franklyn Ajaye ghettorapneeds Be prepared to cut your little extra lines that come after a big punchline and move on to the next joke or routine to give your set more punch and crispness. You can keep them in your set, but if the audience applauds your big line, don't do your tag when it dies down, just move on. Franklyn Ajaye cuttinggivingmoving It's better to play to the host as though in a real conversation and let the audience listen in- which they are. Franklyn Ajaye hostrealplay I don't like the fact that most black people or black comedians have to present themselves in a flamboyant way. It's good if you can do that, but I don't like to think that's the way all black comedians are. I'm not that type. Franklyn Ajaye blackpeoplethinking Black people drink lots of beer. However, you won't see us skiing down a mountain for one, or see us diving for Frisbees on concrete for one. Franklyn Ajaye alcoholbeerpeople In addition to listening to the audience's laugh, you want to listen to their silence. Is it bored or interested silence? The silence is quieter and filled with energy when they're interested. You can hear a pin drop. When they're bored, you can always hear it. Franklyn Ajaye boredsilencelaughing I advise treating the studio audience like a nightclub audience because that's the reason you're doing television - to get them to come see you in a nightclub. Franklyn Ajaye advisereasontelevision Being a professional comedian is doing it right and good, when you don't feel like it. Franklyn Ajaye comedianfeels
