Interview · moment 19 of 23
Trusting the Bit: Building Jokes Live on Stage
from White Marble with Paul Virzi | The Tim Dillon Show #314 · #314
3 min
Guest
Paul explains his current approach to writing new material by just talking about real observations on stage (like a young-looking airline pilot) and trusting himself to find the punchlines, referencing the origin of his Nocturnal Admissions closer about his son.
- Tim explains how he's learned to approach his hourly specials by going on stage and trusting his instincts, building jokes from raw observations rather than pre-planned material.
- A young pilot in Grand Rapids with a baby face and wrinkled shirt looked so inexperienced that Tim couldn't believe he was actually going to fly the aircraft.
- His closer in Nocturnal Emissions features a story about playing basketball with his son, who curses at him and gets in his face during the game.
- Louis C.K. did something amazing by making his own movie and releasing it independently, which Tim says they're looking to do as well.
- Tim theorizes that talented people like Louis C.K. succeed because they have the mental capacity to absorb a lot of information and apply it to recognize emerging opportunities and technology.
- By seeing what Louis C.K. did with self-distribution and new platforms, comics like Tim benefit from having a blueprint already laid out.