If you want to spend your life with a smile on people’s faces, you may have thought about becoming a stand-up comedian. There is nothing quite like making people laugh, and if you have a great routine that can help you connect with your audience, you may feel like you don’t work a single day in your life. At the same time, the life of a stand-up comedian can be challenging. Your work schedule can be erratic, not all of your jokes will land, and even the most experienced people get stage fright from time to time. If you want to get better at stand-up comedy, take a look at the comedian’s guide to survival below. Then, implement them if you want to maximize your potential as a stand-up comedian!
1. Practice as Much as Possible
If you want to get better as a stand-up comedian, you need to practice as much as possible. The more you are on stage delivering various routines, the better you will get at telling jokes. It is as simple as that. Even if you suffer from stage fright, remember that just about everyone gets nervous from time to time. The more times you go through your comedy routines with the bright lights shining on you, the more comfortable you will be onstage. Sometimes, your jokes are all about how you deliver them. The more you practice, the better your delivery will get.
2. Start Local
If your first stand-up comedy gig is in Hollywood, it is going to be a struggle. When you are first starting out, try booking a few gigs in your hometown. You might even want to consider going to a few open microphone nights from time to time. You are probably comfortable in your hometown, so this is a great place for you to start as a stand-up comedian. Small towns are frequently more forgiving, and you can have your friends and family members in the audience to provide you with a source of support. This will also give you an opportunity to figure out what makes you funny. Just because something is funny on TV doesn’t mean it will be funny if you are the one sharing it. You need to figure out where your niche is, and starting in your hometown is a great way to do so.
3. Study the Legends
There are a lot of ways you can improve as a stand-up comedian, but one of the most important tips you must follow is to learn from the best. You may want to listen to some famous comedians share their stories. Everyone goes through struggles, particularly when they are starting out, and the masters are not immune to this. You need to figure out what some of their biggest challenges were and how they overcame them. That way, when you face a fork in the road that could decide your career, you know how to tackle it.
4. Focus on Your Feelings
Your comedy routine is going to be a product of your experiences, but what makes your own routine funny will be how you feel about those experiences. One of the most common mistakes people make is going through their life trying to figure out what experiences people want to hear about. It is your reaction to those experiences that will make them funny. Learn how to find comedy in your natural, unforced environment. If you try to force your experiences onto someone else, they won’t find it funny. Make a few humble observations of your daily life, allow them to grow in your mind, and communicate your feelings to the audience, not necessarily the nuts and bolts of the experience.
5. Network as Much as Possible
If you feel like you are ready to make the move to bigger markets, you need to network as much as possible. Sometimes, booking a gig at a major club in a large city is all about getting someone to give you a chance. Once you are done with a routine, stick around for a little while and shake some hands. You never know when an agent might be in the audience. They might be able to help you catch your big break.
Put This Stand-Up Comedy Guide To Work for YouIf you are looking for the comedian’s guide to survival, these tips are a great place to start. If you are looking for a comedy club where you can test a few jokes, swing by Side Splitters Comedy Club! This is a local comedy club with a forgiving audience that has been graced by a wide variety of talented stand-up comedians over the years. There are different events from time to time, so don’t hesitate to swing by for an open mic night!
