I'm keeping in shape, you know, gotta look good for the ladies - and certain guys. Hey, I can't control who's looking. I just gotta bring the heat. Ted Alexandro More Quotes by Ted Alexandro More Quotes From Ted Alexandro Comedians can articulate some important and profound ideas that address a lot of the hypocrisy we're inundated with (in the media). Ted Alexandro media hypocrisy ideas A crowd is the only way to know if something works. Telling a friend or two doesn't matter. A crowd is what tells you what works or doesn't, so I'd rather go in front of them cold and see. Ted Alexandro crowds matter two After twenty plus years of performing hundreds of shows a year, I prefer to try things out on stage rather than for friends. I don't see the benefit in that, really. Ted Alexandro twenties trying years Comedians have varying levels of training. It can range from classically trained actors (like Robin Williams) to people who took comedy classes to folks who just started doing it. That's the beauty of comedy: it's close to a pure meritocracy. Ted Alexandro training class people If you're funny, you can find a stage to get on. If you're good, you'll start to get work and eventually get paid. Ted Alexandro paid stage ifs Comedians are thinkers. The best ones are akin to philosophers, in my opinion. Ted Alexandro philosopher comedian opinion Not that that's the goal, but sometimes these funny insights can also be deeply profound. Ted Alexandro goal sometimes profound I think the more you hone your voice, take risks and talk about things that matter, the better chance you have of getting into the realm of the philosophers of stand up. But you have to be funny. Ted Alexandro risk voice thinking People don't come to a comedy club simply to hear someone's thoughts, no matter how profound. Ted Alexandro clubs profound people I don't know that I have a single comedy philosophy. But talking about things that matter to you is a good place to start. Listening is a big part of it, too. Ted Alexandro listening talking philosophy Listening to your own sets and listening to the audience as you perform. It's a conversation of sorts. There is an exchange. Ted Alexandro audience listening conversation The more you perform, the more adept you get at the nuances of navigating that communal conversation. Ted Alexandro adept nuance conversation I don't do the mirror thing; maybe once or twice when I first started out. Ted Alexandro mirrors firsts It's a constant process of bouncing ideas off of one another and intuitively arriving at the right decision in the moment. Ted Alexandro arriving decision ideas With a project like 'Teachers Lounge,' you're wearing a lot of hats, so it demands hard work and focus if you want to do it right. Ted Alexandro focus hard-work teacher I don't think comics necessarily think in literary terms. There is an element of developing your stage persona and your comedic voice, but I don't think comics see it like a character in a novel. Ted Alexandro voice character thinking I'll sit down for an hour or two a few days a week in a quiet place and brainstorm. The earlier in the day, the better, before the parade of distractions starts. Ted Alexandro distraction quiet two I also do a certain amount of talking through material on stage, to see what happens and allow interesting ideas to manifest. Ted Alexandro talking ideas interesting That heightened dynamic can produce interesting, funny ideas that are phrased in ways that surprise even you, as the performer. Ted Alexandro way ideas interesting Like once we picked Jim Norton as the head of security, the writing flows pretty easily. Ted Alexandro security flow writing
