These tables of terms for tools that we toil with... are admittedly incomplete. The lexicon of comedy is an evolving thing, as is this appendium. Please enjoy, and if you see something is missing, please email Erik@Comedyconclave.com with the missing word/phrase and it's definition for addition.

Dictionary of terms

Overview

conclave glossary
Joke table

Sheet 1: conclave glossary

table of terms	Term	Def 1	Def 2	synonyms	Example;
	accordion	a joke subject that can be expanded or cut short dependent on the audience's reaction
	Act; the	The product of a comedian; a polished collection of that performers best bits	parts of the show
	Actor comic	a comedian who cannot deviate from a scripted act.	a detached performance
	Angle	a perspective on a topic, alluded to in the joke		slant
	Bar show	a show in a bar	a show with unknown standards and potential volatility
	Bit	see joke
	Blue	a joke' topic that is either socially inappropriate or offensive.		raw, “def”, uncensored, real,
	Bombing	see eating shit
	Call back	a tag making reference to a previous punchline
	Character	the personae the performer adopts during the act	the subject of a story or joke
	Crowd work	an act defined by adlib conversations with the audience, where the subject matter is derived by the audience members response to questions	the ability to respond to unexpected changes in the performers environment		“so, where are you from, what do you do?” etc.
	Crutch	something unnecessary that is relied upon to do the act
	Dinosaurs	old acts, headliners that have been around forever”
	Dying	see eating shit
	Eating shit	not doing well at all		dying, bombing,
	Feature	the opener for the headliner
	Hack	a joke that has been done to the point of no longer being funny	a subject that has no unexplored angles left	a comic who steals others jokes
	Headliner	the last act of the night, usually the longest set and most seasoned performer		closer
	Improv	unrehearsed performance
	Joke	an idea that is translated to an audience in a funny way
	kill	to have a good performance
	legs	an idea that can be extended. An joke worth expanding	The potential for a joke to really kill
	losing them	when an audience's interest and enthusiasm for a set diminishes abruptly
	Momentum	the energy of the audience, susceptibility to continue laughing.
	One liner	a joke that is confined to a single sentence
	open mic	a free/ un paid show where new material can be tried out
	open micer	someone who performs mostly at open mics
	Opener	the first act/performer to go on stage	the first joke of a set	host
	Personae	see character def 1.
	Prop	an item that is required for the joke to be funny
	roll with	continuing on with a bit or topic because of an overwhelming positive response
	Sell	keeping the illusion that a joke is fresh and funny even when you are sick of it, or know it realy isn't that good.
	Set	a collection of jokes		act,
	Show	a collection of acts
	Stolen	a joke or bit performed without the authors permission
	Tag	an afterthought statement added to a punchline to continue the momentum of the bit
	The house	the audience	the owners of the venue you are performing in
	The scene	The business environment of a certain area, venues for performing, audience numbers	the community of other performers in a certain area
	Ticks	an unconscious physical/vocal tell that reveals a performers unease		tells
	Topical	a joke/act/bit that refers to a in subject in the news
	Transition	a vocal device to move or change subjects during an act.		segue
	with them	really connecting with an audience, see rolling with

Sheet 2: Joke table

type of joke
	Categories	example
	Topical	the politician”s a jackass, and a democrat
	bait and switch
	muted
	corporate
	crowd work	Written ad-lib not really possible