LIGHTS, camera, action! Is it your dream to become a stand up comedian but you don’t know if your bones can shake it? Follow these 10 quick tips to becoming a stand up comedian.
1. Hone your style. Every comedian has a different style, and this is what makes you unique. Are you loud, expressive or downright rude? Is there a certain way you enjoy telling stories? Once you decide on your style, this will make it easier developing content and direction for your material.
2. Watch the masters. There is a lot to be learnt from professional comedians and their ability to captivate a crowd. Watching experienced comedians will also help you understand your personal style. For example, often they are known to have certain personas like Chris Rock always being angry and Adam Sandler silly. Avoid stealing material and never try to imitate your favourite comedian. Instead, watch their comedic timing and approach.
3. Timing is everything. Good timing is all about being in the moment and having flexibility. This is because telling jokes is unpredictable. For this reason, the minutes of your act will unravel in a new way every night. Sometimes you will find it best to jump your cue and another night wait a couple seconds later than intended.
4. Be fearless. You need to be willing to take chances to make a memorable impression on the audience. This means deviating from the intended script if the opportunity arises; perhaps someone sitting near you said something that sparked another joke? Do not be afraid to engage the audience and press your comfort zone.
5. Write, write and write some more. The best inspiration for a great act comes from jotting down the humorous observations you come across each day. You can keep all these notes together and pull from them to assemble and write a routine.
If you aren’t sure what to write about, then concentrate on what truly interests you. Sometimes, the funniest material has to do with your everyday life and small anecdotes about friends.
6. Start out small. To build your confidence, start out doing small gigs at open mic nights or small concerts held at bars and nightclubs in your city. The best part about this is that the people you are performing with will be other amateur comedians. With nothing to lose; you will have the chance to get comfortable in front of a small audience.
7. Do it for love, not money! When you are starting out, it is not the best idea to do stand up comedy for money, since there are many other easier ways of making a reliable income. Understand that becoming a stand up comedian takes time and becoming an overnight success is rare.
If you are persistent enough, you will eventually find yourself earning steady cash while performing at comedy clubs, corporate events and other tours and gigs.
8. Freshen things up. If you find yourself constantly using the same lines and routine, it is important to keep things new. Continue to look back at your routine and think about how a joke might have worked better. Nothing is set in stone, and you might be able to improve your act with new punch lines or different timing.
9. Keep the audience happy. Although you may have seen some professional comedians insult the audience, this is not the smartest move when you are starting out. If someone is heckling you, it is ok to respond but be careful how far you take it. Be cautious humiliating audience members that might have had a little too much to drink.
10. Get on stage! You will not learn anything until you practice and get experience. Although your living room might feel comfortable, it’s not giving you the true experience. Budding comedians often do multiple gigs in one night to get true practice!
