Dan Trommater - Newsletter Archive - The Sheer Force of Will

Thinking Like a Magician

"The Sheer Force of Will" - March 2008

One of my favorite comedians is Steve Martin. I grew up listening to his records. Looking back, I'm sure they had a huge influence on my sense of humor. His blend of the absurd and the ridiculous fascinates me to this day.
I just finished reading his new book, "Born Standing Up", and I highly recommend it. It's an honest and engaging account of his early life and the years he spent doing stand-up comedy. What struck me the most in the book was his commitment to his character. He created a character that was convinced that everything he did and said was hilarious. Contrary to the style of comedy at the time, he didn't tell any jokes. He decided that he would create an entire stand-up comedy act with NO PUNCHLINES and let the audience decide what to laugh at. In the book, Martin says "Another rule was to make the audience believe that I thought I was fantastic, that my confidence could not be shattered. They had to believe that I didn't care if they laughed at all, and that this act was going on with or without them." At first, critics widely panned his act, accusing him of having no punchlines (which was precisely his intention), but he persisted. "My goal was to make the audience laugh but leave them unable to describe what it was that had made them laugh," he says. He knew that he was on to something unique, so he pushed on and on for a period of years.
Eventually, word started to spread about this strange act and clubs were filling up to see the show. He started booking college shows and larger theaters, all the while refining his act and adding new pieces of original comedy. This landed him on many television talk shows including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, as well as in Rolling Stone magazine. But his biggest break was when he was invited to host the then new tv sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. Just before being introduced on live television, he was struck with a powerful case of butterflies. "But it is possible to will confidence," he writes. Hundreds of shows and thousands of hours of preparation allowed him to go out and be incredibly funny. In fact, to this day he is still one of the most popular hosts SNL has ever had.
Steve Martin, through commitment and the sheer force of will, revolutionized comedy and created a phenomenally successful act that made him a star.

Trick of the Month - The Sheer Force of Will

Please be patient as the video loads - it may take up to 60 seconds. Once it loads, click the little triangle at the left to play. If you can't see the video, try clicking here for the Windows Media Version. Music: Kevin McLeod

"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.."
- Calvin Coolidge

If you haven't already signed up for Dan's monthly newsletter "Thinking Like a Magician", please do so here. And please forward this to all your friends and associates who might enjoy it. You can see the archive of past issues of Thinking Like A Magician here www.trommater.com/totmarchive



		Thinking Like a Magician "The Sheer Force of Will" - March 2008 One of my favorite comedians is Steve Martin. I grew up listening to his records. Looking back, I'm sure they had a huge influence on my sense of humor. His blend of the absurd and the ridiculous fascinates me to this day. I just finished reading his new book, "Born Standing Up", and I highly recommend it. It's an honest and engaging account of his early life and the years he spent doing stand-up comedy. What struck me the most in the book was his commitment to his character. He created a character that was convinced that everything he did and said was hilarious. Contrary to the style of comedy at the time, he didn't tell any jokes. He decided that he would create an entire stand-up comedy act with NO PUNCHLINES and let the audience decide what to laugh at. In the book, Martin says "Another rule was to make the audience believe that I thought I was fantastic, that my confidence could not be shattered. They had to believe that I didn't care if they laughed at all, and that this act was going on with or without them." At first, critics widely panned his act, accusing him of having no punchlines (which was precisely his intention), but he persisted. "My goal was to make the audience laugh but leave them unable to describe what it was that had made them laugh," he says. He knew that he was on to something unique, so he pushed on and on for a period of years. Eventually, word started to spread about this strange act and clubs were filling up to see the show. He started booking college shows and larger theaters, all the while refining his act and adding new pieces of original comedy. This landed him on many television talk shows including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, as well as in Rolling Stone magazine. But his biggest break was when he was invited to host the then new tv sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. Just before being introduced on live television, he was struck with a powerful case of butterflies. "But it is possible to will confidence," he writes. Hundreds of shows and thousands of hours of preparation allowed him to go out and be incredibly funny. In fact, to this day he is still one of the most popular hosts SNL has ever had. Steve Martin, through commitment and the sheer force of will, revolutionized comedy and created a phenomenally successful act that made him a star. Trick of the Month - The Sheer Force of Will Please be patient as the video loads - it may take up to 60 seconds. Once it loads, click the little triangle at the left to play. If you can't see the video, try clicking here for the Windows Media Version. Music: Kevin McLeod "Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.." - Calvin Coolidge If you haven't already signed up for Dan's monthly newsletter "Thinking Like a Magician", please do so here. And please forward this to all your friends and associates who might enjoy it. You can see the archive of past issues of Thinking Like A Magician here www.trommater.com/totmarchive