Okay, *one* positive story. · 9:17pm Aug 5th, 2019
I also attended the humor panel.
This concerned the art and often subtle science of trying to be funny in prose, and it certainly started well enough, because the first panelist was Pen Stroke. Who wished us to know he wrote My Little Dashie. But then it got better, because the second panelist? Was also Pen Stroke, who happened to have written My Little Dashie. And so on down the line of five, until every bit of Game Show Network viewing in my lifetime had me fighting the urge to yell 'Will the real Pen Stroke please stand up?' Which would have been difficult, as none of them were it. The actual Pen Stroke stormed out from behind the curtain a few seconds later, and was none too happy to have been accused of writing My Little Dashie.
(I'm told it's a meme.)
The actual panel, BTW: RobCakeran53, GaPJaxie, Skywriter, Horizon, and I think it'll be funnier if I pretend that I can't remember who #5 was and watch them scramble. But not Pen Stroke, who presumably had better things to do.
Well... the first thing I wondered in watching them was to wonder how much scripting and rehearsal had been involved. (Seriously: do y'all get there a day early and run through different takes?) But after a while, I began to wonder about something else.
About what I would do as a panelist.
For introductions, everyone had given their name and the funniest stories they were associated with. I preferred to steal mine. "Hi, I'm Estee. There will now be a brief pause while everyone says 'Who cares?'" And that's it.
And then, towards the end, I very briefly imagined a Q&A session. (Very briefly. Don't worry, panelists: I was paying attention. To four of you. Clearly the fifth didn't make much of an impression.) The inevitable question for just about any writer: where do you get your ideas?
I saw myself behind that long table, being asked that question. I thought about how the most recent story had come about.
And in the theater of the mind, that phantom self stood up.
"Where do I get my ideas?"
Move to right, leaving TABLE.
"I'll demonstrate."
Posture develops a forward lean. Begin walking perimeter of panel room with legs in a partial crouch. See any Groucho Marx film for references. (Phantom CIGAR is optional.) As walking proceeds, gesture frantically towards objects while speaking at an increasing pace.
"Light switch! ...no, no, not a light switch, that's not going to -- ceiling tile! There's a ceiling tile and somepony -- that's just stupid, no one's going to care about -- DOOR! ...already did a door. Come on, come on, what's in the room -- air! ...air. Air. It's all over. I am going to die --"
Stop. Exaggerated visual focus. Point.
"FIRE EXTINGUISHER!"
Begin returning to TABLE in triumph. Recite next line in not-so-low mutter.
"So there's a fire extinguisher. That means somepony's worried about a fire -- Spike, it's Spike, this has to be a Spike story, it's Spike and fire and..."
Sit down. Manifest most fake @#$%-eating grin available.
"So where do you get your ideas?"
...so the next one-shot comedy story will be Spike Vs. The Equestrian Fire Code.
Because fanfic humor panel.
Oh, and there was a fire extinguisher in the room.
Sounds good.
Your Fired.
So, in imagining an answer to a panel question on inspiration, you developed a story idea?
That you’re actually going to write?
You’re good…
5100163
-out of a cannon.
(i stole that from a funny story on this site)
I would point out that Spike is a fire breathing Dragon who lives in a (flammable, wood) treebrary, SURROUNDED by books (i.e. tinder).
If I was a fire marshal, *I’d* be agin it, too
To answer, Estee: Gary wrote up a detailed outline and then we just spent a long time extemporaneously deviating from it whenever we felt we had something to say.
Gary also told us the opening joke plan about five minutes before go-time. So no, no rehearsal. I'm glad it came across as polished.
I'm glad we inspired a story.
Glad you had fun
I was there too
Brilliant. I love the punchline, heh.
Here's to hoping that you include the use of Spike as a flame thrower in Canterlot during the movie. Just sayin'.
I heard about that Pen Stroke thing. XD
The meme I saw from the other end was pointing to people in Admiral Biscuit shirts and declaring, "Is that ROBCakeran53, author of Past Sins and Fallout: Equestria?"
I don't know why that was funny. XD
Spontaneous abiogenesis from lots of sitting and staring at walls while self flagellating about my lack of ideas.
I'm so excited to read about Spike and the Equestrian Fire Code now.
Honestly, your Spike stories are some of my favorite works from you. Looking forward to it
I'm glad you enjoyed that gag. It was last minute, and honestly I winged that panel.
Sounds great, sorry now I missed it. :(
That said, happy to have got at least a bit secondhand, and that it inspired you. Does seem like a good concept, too!
5100163
and this is why we referred to early termination of ones contract as 'being set on fire' out at the ol' Boy Scout Camp.
As in "if you're found recumbent in bed with another staff member to who you are not wed you will be set on fire."
or, "if you, for a second time, threaten to shank an eight-year-old for waking you in the middle of the night, you will be set on fire."
Or, "if you set a THIRD staff member on fire, you will be set on fire."
only one of those is made up. Take a guess.
I couldn't NOT read your "demonstration" without using the same vocalization as John Cleese used in this bit:
Hah, well, glad that part worked out. :D
I'm glad you enjoyed my gag. I've wanted to do that for a few years, and I was able to wrangle Pen Stroke into doing it with us at the last second. As Skywriter said, whenever I run a panel, I always make a bullet point outline, then have everyone else on the panel contribute to it (fun fact: Horizon was a last-second replacement for Shakespearicles, who couldn't be on the panel due to being triple-booked on Thursday).