09/9/2024 Book Reflection

Book Name:

李诞脱口秀工作手册Li Dan stand-up comedy workbook

I've recently become obsessed with a Chinese stand-up comedy show. I felt so connected when I heard a Chinese girl, who recently married a white guy, talk about the interesting things that happened between her and her husband due to their cultural differences. It made me realise that sometimes, when I get furious with my boyfriend's behaviour, it's similar to what she experienced. She mentioned that now, when she argues with her husband, she often turns those situations into material for her comedy show. This triggered a shift in my perspective, and around the same time, I finished reading a book that resonated with me.

In the show, it's not just the Chinese comedian I admire. There's also a 70-year-old man who joined this year. He talks about his adult son, who still depends on him for a living, which is a sad situation. Yet, through his words, the audience can laugh, and I found myself thinking differently, like the old man. I realised that the common thread among all these performers, which was also highlighted in the book, is their bravery. They openly share the tragedies and weaknesses of their lives with the audience. They are unafraid to speak out, and through this honesty, not only do they make people laugh, but they also find relief for themselves.

Inspired by this, I’ve started writing some of my own stories in a humorous way. It's quite challenging to craft a story that's genuinely funny enough to make listeners laugh. It's not just about the story itself; the way you tell it—its pace and rhythm—matters a lot. The book pointed out that rhythm comes from how deeply you explore an event. The deeper you go, the better the rhythm becomes.

I also really liked the concept of "pitching" in the book. The writer enjoys creating stories based on other people's experiences and turning them into comedy, while encouraging the person to tell their own story. He usually conducts a pre-interview with the person, where he develops the idea of how to shape the story based on real-life events. I think this process is quite difficult. You need to quickly grasp the right moments during the conversation and react fast to bring out the best topics. It's also essential to do enough research beforehand—watching the person's shows, checking out their social media, and gathering any information that will help you guide the conversation in the right direction. Since my friend and I are currently working on a podcast channel and have started pre-interviewing candidates, I think this method can also apply to my case.

I came back to the office today after a long two-week holiday, and I quickly realised how much I should appreciate the Spanish weather. I was freezing in the office, and my hands could hardly move. With the weather only getting worse, I'm glad I made the most of my summer before it gets too cold.