Innovate Like Chris Rock
1. Test early and often, with multiple versions of your invention. In Rock’s case, long before he begins a world tour, he experiments with new material by doing 40+ 45-minute shows in a tiny club near his house. This helps him eliminate many duds, and refine the best lines.
2. Establish a process to refine your invention. For Rock, this simply means writing new jokes on a legal pad, and then writing up the audience reaction (good and bad) after he’s done… so he can note, learn from and incorporate the feedback.
3. Don’t overanalyze or overstress if some elements of your invention don’t work for others. Rock recognizes that the audience – not him – ultimately needs to be delighted, so he’ll revise or eliminate a joke he loves if it’s just not working well for others.
Photo by ChrisRock.com.
Jaclyn on February 12th, 2009 11:19 am
That is a very interesting approach. i never realized that even comedians take such steps to ensure that their stand up’s go over well. i guess i always’ figured that they came up with a joke, told it and if it made others laugh then they just kept using it. but it does make sense that they re-think certain approachs to their acts.
Big Slick Design on February 12th, 2009 11:48 am
Chris Rock is a business god.
cassy on February 12th, 2009 3:50 pm
i am a big fun of Chris Rock, for me he is really a cool and a good actor,he makes au laugh in all of his stands in his movie with jackie chan and other movies,
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