Starting Standup in Maine with David Walton

In this episode, I share my incredible week camping out at the Comedy Cellar in New York City - the absolute mecca of stand-up comedy right now. I got to watch legends like Colin Quinn work on new material and witnessed masterful crowd work from comics like Dave Atell. The biggest lesson? There are no shortcuts in comedy - everyone pays their dues with 3-7 years of nightly performances.I also open up about getting back on the open mic horse myself, fighting through some serious resistance bef...

In Episode 5, we explore the gap between greatness and growing pains through two contrasting performances. First, David attempts to channel Louis CK by performing one of his most controversial bits word-for-word, examining how master comedians tackle difficult subjects. Then, we dive into David's second-ever open mic performance, complete with brutal self-analysis, important lessons learned, and the painful realization that making up stories isn't as funny as telling the truth. It's a raw, ho...

Is it possible to be both a spiritual guru and a bully? A loving parent and an accidental trauma-dealer? On this episode of Starting Stand-Up, David Walton explores his competing personalities while teaching us how real comedy gets made. From his dad's ill-fated suit fitting to the gentrification of recreational drugs, watch as random thoughts become structured bits in this raw, unfiltered peek behind the comedy curtain. Bonus: meet Sid, David's id, who really wants to try being on the r...

Losing my standup virginity. Painful but fun.Instagram @davidwalton and @startingstandupX @davidwaltonJoin Starting Standup community here:https://forms.gle/ozBetVvxHp8PTzNZ9https://www.instagram.com/startingstanduphttps://www.instagram.com/davidwaltonhttps://x.com/davidwaltonEmail List https://forms.gle/Xyd7Y2sLkbr5dey16

David begins preparation for his first terrible open mic. David shares the first piece of wisdom from the book, "Comic Insights" by Franklin Ajaye, that the key to comedy is identifying your true thoughts and feelings. He then does a strange exercise tapping into the Voice in His Head and discovers that he's a simple minded idiot. Join Starting Standup community here:https://forms.gle/ozBetVvxHp8PTzNZ9https://www.instagram.com/startingstanduphttps://www.instagram.com/davidwalto...

Confusion is a bitch. Get crystal clear on what this podcast is and where it's headed with this strange FAQ.Join Starting Standup mailing list for special updates and giveaways!!!Click here:https://forms.gle/ozBetVvxHp8PTzNZ9or email:startingstandup.pod@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/startingstanduphttps://www.instagram.com/davidwaltonhttps://x.com/davidwaltonEmail List https://forms.gle/Xyd7Y2sLkbr5dey16

The quest for standup glory begins NOW. Please join me on this exciting and humiliating ride. https://www.instagram.com/startingstanduphttps://www.instagram.com/davidwaltonhttps://x.com/davidwaltonEmail List https://forms.gle/Xyd7Y2sLkbr5dey16

Welcome to Starting Standup, the podcast where I document my quest to become a professional standup in the great state of Maine. You can think of this podcast as an educational comedy course as well as a private audio journal of a mid life crisis. What’s unique about this podcast is that I have never done a single open mic and I don’t know how to write jokes. So you are getting in on the ground floor of a scary and humiliating creative process.It's going to be a wild ride and I’d lo...