Let's Talk About Sets! Episode 051 COMEDIC STORYTELLING YES AGAIN – Jeff Simmermon: “Building a gobstopper from the inside out”
May 14, 2019
Gastor Almonte, Brooklyn-born stand-up known for his Comedy Central “Brooklyn Batman” tale. Jeff Simmerman, award-winning NYC comic and storytelling teacher who maps a five-point comedic formula. They explore building stories from need to return, using surprise twists, vivid sensory detail, vulnerability over one-liners, structuring long tales, and practical editing and rehearsal techniques.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Use Flavor Jokes Sparingly
- Keep jokes that add texture even if they don't structurally move the plot; they spice the narrative.
- But know which lines are 'condiments' you can cut without breaking the story.
Dad Was Batman All Along
- Gastor reveals years later his cousins were scaring him because his dad asked them to keep him away from them.
- The twist culminates with Gastor realizing his dad was the secret 'Batman' doing the protecting.
Replace Tags With Act-Outs
- Never use verbs other than 'said' for dialogue tags; instead act out the line on stage.
- Act-outs show the speaker and keep the performance conversational and immediate.
