There is no degree you can receive in standup comedy. When I start teaching students in comedy classes, I am quick to point out that there is so much of comedy that you can’t really “learn” in a class, and that you really have to experience it through doing. You’ll learn more from a good ole fashion bomb on stage then you ever will from reading this blog.
But here you are, reading this blog! So let me try to be somewhat helpful in the content I provide for you.
This week’s post is a bit subjective, and maybe less informational then some of my previous posts. That’s okay! It’s my blog…you didn’t come here for objective and unbiased truth.
I started this article with the intention of writing “5 Do’s” and “5 Don’ts” of standup comedy, but I ended up really getting into the first two. So instead, here’s my “Biggest Do” and “Biggest Don’t of standup comedy.
I may write the rest later in a different post.
DO: Have Fun!
You may have read or heard me say this before, but Rule #1 of comedy is to HAVE FUN. This was the first piece of advice I received before doing my first open mic. The weekend comedian I saw at the club I was about to perform at (for the open mic) told me,
“Just remember to have fun. If you’re having fun, the audience will have fun. And even if they don’t, F*** em, you’re having fun!”
I don’t think I fully appreciated back then what good advice this is, but I do now and it’s literally the first thing I tell comedians. It is absolutely true, that you’re jokes only work if you exude “Fun” from on stage. If you exude anything negative, it will impact your audience’s experience, and not in a good way.
And sure, maybe you aren’t always in a “fun” mood…well, that’s when the performance part comes into play. If you aren’t able to have fun on stage, you better start learning to fake it for the audience’s sake. Otherwise you won’t be as funny.
But there’s a deeper reason why you need to be having fun as a comedian
And that’s because if you’re not having fun, nothing in comedy is worth doing.
If I took out the fun part of what i do as a comedian…everything else really sucks. The pay, sucks. All that driving, sucks. Bombing, sucks. Frequently working with other comedians, sucks. The behind the scenes work of social media, networking, and creating opportunities, sucks. Working up the ranks and street credit within the comedy community, when you first start especially, sucks.
BUT, if you enjoy performing and the challenge of being a comedian…The narrative of your experience will completely change.
Suddenly you don’t care that you didn’t get paid a ton, because the internal fulfillment of what you’re doing made the difference. There usually is a point in the 6 hour drive or more to certain gigs where I ask myself, “Is this even worth it?” and then when I’m on stage internally I begin thinking, “Absolutely YES this is worth it!”
And all the struggles, the rejections, the drama and politics of comedy and comedians…While by itself it’s the pits, if you really enjoy telling jokes and being a standup comedian…all of the crap suddenly becomes challenges and hurdles that you *get* to overcome, to prove yourself to yourself and others. It becomes “part of the game”, and if you are enjoying yourself on stage you will find the stamina to keep going after a bomb, or continuing to push forward after you get rejected by a club or crapped on by a YouTube comment.
As you are evaluating your experience as a comedian, you’ll ask questions like “Did I do well?”, “Am I getting booked?”, “Do people laugh at my material?”, “Am I meeting my goals and progressing as a comedian?”
All of these questions are important, but don’t forget this one, “Am I having a good time?”
And one last thought on this point, if you are NOT having a good time there is no shame in taking a break from comedy or quitting. I mean it! Lots of people will encourage you to not quit, or keep hustling, but let me propose an alternative notion.
I have never met a comedian who quit or took a break from comedy who isn’t happier afterward. Seriously!
If you quit/break, one of two things is going to likely happen. Either you will quit, and likely go to something else creatively that will make you much happier. OR, if you’re like me and a lot of other folks I know, eventually the “Comedian’s Itch” will start itching and you won’t be able to NOT scratch it.
I’ve “quit comedy” 3 times, and here I am….I tell people now I am to far in to quit a 4th time, but even if I did I’m pretty sure I’d eventually come back.
Why? Because it’s fun, and despite the hard stuff, I love standup comedy.
DON’T: Expect Comedy to be Fair
I tell my students on the first day of class, “Rule #1 of comedy is to have fun.” Then I tell them on the second day, “Rule #2 of comedy is comedy is not fair.”
This is really true about life…Life isn’t fair…but somehow when people get into comedy, a lot of us expect that it is fair and we will be given all the opportunities we think we deserve because why wouldn’t we?
Here’s the truth….People will book their friends over you. Bucket spot mics and anything “left to chance” in comedy are 100% not left to chance. Venues, bookers, and other comedians, will put themselves and their needs above you, and why wouldn’t they? You may think you’d be great for that show, but the booker may think you aren’t a good fit for their audience. (And they might be right) And at the end of the day, that booker has the final call.
Nobody you interact with in the standup comedy world owes you anything. The longer you do comedy ,the more entitled you will get. (Trust me, I am the most entitled)
The best advice I can give you is stick around and adapt to the situations as best as you can.
I like to view Comedy like a game, and each different venue or room is a different level. When I go into a new comedy spot, I sus out the vibes of the room. Who calls the shots? How do you get booked? What do you need to do? You’ll learn who you need to win over, and how you will need to do it…Now you may decide it’s not worth doing what you need to do, to get booked, but at least you learn the beats to the dance. And make no mistake, there is a particular beat to get booked by everyone.
Comedy is a business of relationships, and the more folks you network with, the more places you will find yourself performing. And the more people you meet in comedy, the more folks you’ll meet that won’t book you for whatever reason. It’s not right or wrong, that’s just life as a comedian.
The same qualities that make you bookable in someone’s mind will be the exact same things that make you unbookable for someone else.
I hate to burst your all’s bubble but the notion of “Just be funny, and you’ll get booked.” is a myth we tell new comedians to help them get better and keep going.
Humor is relative, and what works for some folks will not work for others.
So just keep going and see what doors open! Some may close too, but whatever. Also, if you feel you aren’t getting the opportunities you deserve as a comedian then it’s your time to CREATE those opportunities and start more shows or book outside the norm.
This is how the disease of “Comedy” spreads.
I know my perspective here sounds a bit cynical and nihilistic but here’s why i think it is important. The sooner you accept that comedy isn’t fair, the sooner you won’t be bothered by the fact that comedy isn’t fair. And then the more fun you’ll have while doing comedy.
….And then we’re back to Rule #1, which is the most important thing about comedy is HAVING FUN!
When you enjoy yourself, you’ll find the stamina and motivation to go very far with whatever your doing in the standup comedy world.
These are two of my most important tenants to surviving standup comedy…What do you think? What are your most important Do’s or Don’ts? Feel free to share any and all thoughts below!
