Bill Hicks’ Principles of Comedy

"If you can’t be funny, be interesting." "The act is something you fall back on." And more...

Bill Hicks’ Principles of Comedy (below) were posted on the wall of Atlanta’s Laughing Skull comedy club:

BILL HICKS’ PRINCIPLES OF COMEDY

1. If you can be yourself on stage nobody else can be you and you have the law of supply and demand covered.

2. The act is something you fall back on if you can’t think of anything else to say.

3. Only do what you think is funny, never just what you think they will like, even though it’s not that funny to you.

4. Never ask them is this funny – you tell them this is funny.

5. You are not married to any of this shit – if something happens, taking you off on a tangent, NEVER go back and finish a bit, just move on.

6. NEVER ask the audience “How You Doing?” People who do that can’t think of an opening line. They came to see you to tell them how they’re doing, asking that stupid question up front just digs a hole. This is The Most Common Mistake made by performers. I want to leave as soon as they say that.

7. Write what entertains you. If you can’t be funny, be interesting. You haven’t lost the crowd. Have something to say and then do it in a funny way.

8. I close my eyes and walk out there and that’s where I start, Honest.

9. Listen to what you are saying, ask yourself, “Why am I saying it and is it Necessary?” (This will filter all your material and cut the unnecessary words, economy of words)

10. Play to the top of the intelligence of the room. There aren’t any bad crowds, just wrong choices.

11. Remember this is the hardest thing there is to do. If you can do this you can do anything.

12. I love my cracker roots. Get to know your family, be friends with them.

FYI, my fave Hicks joke discusses how Jesus would feel about people who wear crosses:

You know, kinda like going up to Jackie Onassis with a rifle pendant on, you know. "Thinkin' of John, Jackie. We love him. Just tryin' to keep that memory alive, baby."

I posted this list years ago over at Sandpaper Suit (my now defunct comedy blog) and Mike Lawrence left this insightful comment re: #6:

I think there's a large level of insecurity in asking "how are you guys doing". It's like when you're on a first date and you're extremely nervous and worried. "Is this restaurant okay? You do like tacos, don't you? Are you sure you don't want to go somewhere else? This is a good date so far....isn't it?"

Asking that question shows that the host/comic doesn't have the rapport they want with the crowd and shows how desperate they are to be liked. Obviously you can need to be liked, but you don't want to show it too much on stage.

Not asking the question shows you have confidence and trust yourself and trust the crowd. Like when you're on a great date and you know exactly how things are going.