Episode 49: How to Prepare to Be Funny

In this early episode of Put Your Funny Where Your Mouth Is, Vince Carone and Dobie Maxwell tackle one of the biggest questions comedians face: “How do you prepare to be funny?” The answer is a lot more complicated, and a lot more interesting, than most audiences realize.Vince shares how he started out as a meticulous word-for-word writer, memorizing every beat like lyrics to a song, before a chance rant about Jared from Subway unlocked his true style. Dobie opens up about his own journey, from early open mics to his Dry Bar special, and why he can’t stand watching himself even after decades in the game. Together, they explore how preparation evolves over years, why style matters, and how comics walk the line between structure and spontaneity.Key Points Discussed:The difference between being “page funny” and “stage funny”Why early comics over-prepare—and why they shouldThe moment Vince discovered his ranting styleDobie’s reflections on Dry Bar and why editing drives comics crazyHow set lists, callbacks, and show order affect performanceWhy preparation matters—but can never replace live experience