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 should
• The moment Vince discovered his ranting style
• Dobie’s reflections on Dry Bar and why editing drives comics crazy
• How set lists, callbacks, and show order affect performance
• Why preparation matters—but can never replace live experience