How To Start Your Stand Up Comedy Career
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Your Friends Think You're Funny!
So you think you might be the next Jerry Seinfeld or Sarah Silverman? Your friends wait for you to arrive so the party can get started and your co-workers think you're a riot. Even your grouchy boss can't help breaking a smile after you let loose with a quick one-liner at a boring staff meeting. You think you've got that something special. The funny gene. You want to take it further, but you're not quite sure how to proceed. I'm going to take you by the hand and lead you to your first stand up comedy performance. Where you go from there is up to you. Stand up comedy is a rewarding, sometimes lucrative (sometimes not), exciting, depressing, frustrating business chock full of nice people, backstabbers, and raging egomaniacs. If you're truly talented and you've got the stomach for disppointment, you may just have the most fun you've ever had in your life. In my 22 years on stage, I've experienced quite a bit. Standup comedy is like marriage. If you're committed and in love, you'll be successful. Are you ready? Let's begin.
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What Kind Of Comedian Are You?
Figuring out what type of comic you are is the first step to becoming a successful stand up act. Are you observational like Seinfeld? (What's the deal with Ovaltine?), or are you clean, clever and gimmicky like Jeff Foxworthy? Are you blessed with the ability to impersonate others, or maybe props are your thing, like Carrot Top. Maybe you're an adult oriented comedian, like Joe Rogan or Eddie Murphy. Maybe you're just plain insane like the very funny, and very late Mitch Hedberg. What's your style? Determine your identity before you get on stage or you'll be in trouble as soon as you open your mouth.
Mitch Hedberg on Letterman
Write Your Material-And Then Re-write it!
The next step is to come up with your act. The joke writing process is a craft that must be practiced over and over again. You may think you have a great half hour of material waiting to be performed, but if you're starting out, you've probably got 3 minutes of great stuff and 27 minutes of filler. The secret, is to write 30 minutes of jokes and whittle that down to 5 minutes of super funny stand up material. Keep only your very best jokes and throw everything else away.When you get your five minutes written (which is all a real comedy club will let you perform in the beginning, anyway), be sure to keep refining it. Be concise. Don't take forever to get to the punchlines. And need I even mention practice? Practice your act in front of a mirror. Practice it in front of a store window. Run it over and over in your mind during your morning jog, or your ride to work. Know your material. Work on your timing. Don't rush it, but at the same time don't be long-winded. 5 minutes is a long time on a comedy stage.
Jerry Seinfeld on Stage
Find Your Comedy Stage
Ok, so you've figured out what type of comedian you are and you've come up with a killer five minute set that will have the audience rolling on the floor with laughter. Wait a minute... What audience? Before you can start your career and get yourself booked on the Tonight Show, you need to find a place to perform your craft. You need a comedy stage.
If you live in a city or town with a major comedy club (or two) give them a call and ask them if they have an Amateur or Open Mic Night where you could give your act a try. Most clubs have an outlet for new comics. usually on an off night, such as a Wednesday or Thursday. You are a long, long, way off from working weekends, so expect a lot of weeknights when starting your comedy career.
If you come from an area without a regular full-time comedy club, there are probably entertainment venues with comedy nights. Check nightclubs, banquet halls and restaurants in your area. I guarantee you'll find something.
When you call the club, be respectful (don't try and be funny) and ask for the rules. (There may be several) Some clubs will encourage you to bring your friends and family along and some may insist on it. Different clubs will have different rules, so make sure you understand them before attending your first show, or next time you may find yourself on the outside looking in. Some clubs will have set time limits for your act which are strictly enforced. Go over your time limit and you may just get a warning. Do it a second time and you may not be asked to return. Clubs may also have a rule against bad language and drinking alcohol while on stage. Strict adherence to the rules are your best chance of coming back to perform a second time.
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Stage Fright and How To Get Rid of It
It's normal to be afraid of anything new. My first 6 months or so, I was petrified each time I walked on a comedy stage. My dad offered me some great advice that I remember to this day. He told me that no one in the audience knows how nervous you are, so there's no reason to be nervous. He was right. No one knew. I appeared confident (while crumbling inside) but no one in the crowd knew it. That took care of my stage fright for good. Another good technique is to not look directly at the audience members. Look directly over their heads. If you're on an elevated stage, it will appear that you're looking directly at them.
Jeff Foxworthy: You Might Be a Redneck
Prepare To Die!
It's sad to think about, but there is the very real possibility you could bomb your first couple of times out. Doing your act for your friends in the living room is entirely different than doing your material in front of strangers and other stand up comics. If you do end up bombing, the best advice I can give is to shake it off and get up and do it again the next week. If you fall off your bicycle, you get back on (even though you may scrape your knee) Comedy is the same thing. There are nights when you will do amazingly well (known in the business as killing) and nights when the crowd will come after you carrying lit torches with hate in their eyes.It's the nature of the business. The good comics just keep coming back for more. If you're a good comic, you'll do the same.
Goodnight Everyone! You've Been a Wonderful Audience!
The most important thing about your first few times on the comedy stage is to use your experience(s) as a learning tool. If you do a great show right out of the chute, congratulations. But, don't let it go to your head, because disappointment is only a show or two away (trust me)
Feel free to write and I'll answer any questions I can. If it's happened on the comedy stage, chances are it's happened to me. Maybe I can help you out.
Next time, I'll share some do's and don'ts that you will definitely need when you're starting out. Until then....start writing and good luck.
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How To Start Your Stand Up Comedy Career in the News
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- Local professor writes childrens bookThe Press-Enterprise4 hours ago
California Baptist University professor John Pate has written a children's book inspired by a close friend's name, Red Skelton, strange smells and his background as a stand-up comic and comedy sketch writer for over 30 years. "Harvel Goes to the Farm," Pate's first book, is about a moose who visits his aunt and uncle's farm, which is being attacked by voracious bugs eating all the crops.
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By Adam Tulloch, Special to The Recorder Central Connecticut State University received a visit and performance from Sheng Weng, a stand-up comedian recently featured on the Comedy Central network. Weng performed a very original and unique set. While a few of Weng’s jokes needed to be thought about, the majority of his jokes were basic and understandable [...]
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Comments
Thanks for the nice comments, camedmondson. 100 times? I never heard that one. I personally would have bailed out after 10 times, if I didn't think I had anything. LA is a difficult place to audition. Very cut-throat. On the other hand, I'm just a few miles from Boston which (comedy wise, anyway), is like LA only much more chilly.
What do you think about a 47 year old woman just starting out? Is it too late for me? I'v ebeen talking about it for 20 years, and am finally prepared to get on stage. I live in Philly, so there is quite alot closeby....thanks!
Hi Barbie Lu. I don't think it matters what age you are performing stand up,as long as you can relate to audiences of all ages with your material. You have to start someplace and after talking about it for 20 years, you're more than ready to give it a shot. Philly has LOTS of comedy opportunity. Get a comedy MySpace account and make some contacts. Good Luck-and keep us posted.
Hi, thanks for a great article. I'm currently trying to write a stand up show, I'm probably ages away from trying to get a gig. I just wanted to know what you thought about using your real name at performances, or using a stage name. Which is better?
Also are there any british comics you like?
Hi Mark. Thanks for stopping by. Glad you enjoyed the hub. If your name isn't difficult to pronounce (or spell) you should go with it, otherwise change it to something easy to spell and remember. I use my own name and people always mistakingly add an "r" to my last name. It's unnerving-especially in print advertising.
British comics? A few. Tracy Ullman when she was doing standup was ahead of her time. John Cleese although not a standup is probably the best British comedy writer ever. I recently saw Paul Foot on Last Comic Standing last year. I didn't like him at first, but he ended up growing on me. I have to admit, I don't know too many others.
DON'T WAIT on your stand up, Mark. If it's what you really want to do, make it happen NOW! Life is too short to wait. Good luck.
This really opened a lot of doors that I was hesitating to step foot through. I'm only seventeen but I've been told I have a lot of raw material and I have written some stuff down. I feel that I can open certain points well and hit them crucially and get plenty of laughs. It may sound cocky of me and may just be my young talkin but I am very open and outgoing and I feel I have a chance to be up there and possibly get my chance. And I do have a few questions.
How do you know if material has been used?
What do you do as backup or a fall through if your career doesn't pick up as a stand up comedian?
What is a good age to get offically started. (I want to get started immedately)
A large dream of mine I'd like to fulfill
Help me out
And thank you
Sincerely,
Brandon McQueary, an aspiring future comedian
Hi Brandon. Thanks for your comment. Here's what I have for you...
1.) Do you mean material you're writing about? Basically, every topic has been covered, but it's your take on a subject and the way you perform it, that's different. For example: Say you're doing a bit about your girlfriend, or dating. Those topics have been done to death, but there is so much you can do with those topics, that your chance of coming up with the same joke is rare....BUT, it does happen. I've had friends of mine come up with bits that were kind of close to mine. Sometimes people think alike. The one who wrote the joke first usually owns it, but unless you know the person, ownership of a joke may never be determined. Also, keep an eye out for thieves. There are a TON of comic joke crooks out there. There's not much you can do about them...unless you catch one outside the nightclub, that is:)
2.) Stay in school. Get yourself a good job and do comedy on the side. Don't make it your main source of income, but make it your main goal. Comedy is difficult to break into and there is NO shortage of people trying. Fall back on a good job and an education.
3.) Start now. Write material that is relavant to your age. This is important. You can't talk about marriage or owning a house at your age, but you can talk about high school or working at Burger King, or something. You might be able to hook up with an open mic night-even at 17. Some clubs will let underage performers inside with your parents knowledge.
The important thing? Don't wait. Do it yesterday. Set your goal, become famous and then let me open up for you in Vegas when I get old and really need the money.
Good luck!
I only have one thing to say...you rock Joe. :)
Ok, I have something else to say, very nice hub, and I ROFL at the Mitch Hedberg video because insane funny is my favorite. This was enjoyable to read and I'm sure it's going to be very helpful to future comedians.
OH, about Last Comic Standing, I enjoyed the Foot guy too, but one of my all time favorites was from the first season...the caveman looking guy...what's his name? Oh well. He was funny in a surprising and unusual way. :)
In my office I once mentioned that I like George lopez and sometimes carlos mencia then my colleague told me the ultimate is George Carlin and gave me a DVD. Although Carlin is good but his jokes are extremely adult in nature. One of the reasons I like George Lopez is that he cracks jokes which are clean fun to listen to. Btw I saw your profile and had a question (what does a store detective do?)
Hi countrywomen. Thanks for the comment. George Lopez can be extremely funny, but I'm not a fan of Carlos Mencia. George Carlin was perhaps the best known comedian of his era. Not all his stuff was of an adult nature. (Especially his early material)
A store detective is someone who catches shoplfters for a living. You dress like everyone else and either walk around the store or watch others through video surveillance. It's sometimes confused with a "security guard", but it's two different things. Thanks for asking:)
I've always wanted to ask this of a comedian: Aside from the brilliant pioneers of stand up, and giant names who have followed, who is your favorite stand up comedian?
Hi RMR. Without mentioning any of the George Carlins, Seinfelds, Dangerfields or Johnny Carsons' of the world, my favorite stand up comic is without a doubt, the late, great, Mitch Hedberg. Watch the above video if you haven't seen it. The guy was an amazing writer and performer. Ahead of his time and unfortunately no longer with us.
Oh I've seen it. He was one of my favorites. He never failed to make me laugh. I still watch him in reruns on Comedy Central. But, as far as comics who are currently performing, I would probably go with Brian Regan.
Hmmm, there's a bunch of really talented guys-and girls I work with from the Boston-Providence area, so it's tough for me to pin just one down as a favorite. Brian's great. Steven Wright always makes me laugh, too. I worked with Joe Rogan once and although his act was pretty much on the dirty side, the guy has an amazing stage presence.
Did someone say Steven Wright? I LOVE that guy! And Dom Irera too!
I like Dom, too. I used to like Pat Cooper. I picked him up at the airport once as a favor for a club I was working in. I carried his friggin' suit bag half a mile and drove him to the club 15 miles away, No thank you, no tip. When he walked into the nightclub, he asked one of the bouncers if he was Italian. The bouncer said, "Yes, I am" Cooper pulled a $20 out of his wallet and put it in the guy's shirt pocket and said "Good. Go buy yourself something" Me, (the Irish guy) got screwed over. I tell EVERYONE I meet about that story.
Well, I don't know if I have the funny gene, but to get up on stage and tell some jokes (whether I bomb or not) is definately on my "buket list". U know, list of things to do b4 u kick the bucket. I figure it could be awful, or the most fun I've ever had.
This article was very helpful, and humorous, and also inspiring. You have a very optomistic air to your writing. Love it!!
You know rockinjoe, I have studied American culture through watching stand up comedy for the past three years. I lived in the U.S. for more than 25 years and I started to enjoy watching stand up for just a few years of time. I considered this is an advance level of learning American culture and I recommend all my immigrant friends to challenge. I told my friends that watching stand up comedy could become one of their best hobby if they can really get the joke. It is rewarding when every time I found myself "got the joke" and I laugh out loud.
From an immigrant's point of view, I think stand up comedy is an unique culture purely "Made In USA" as McDonald or Coca-Cola. It is also a tough one to conquer, more tougher than making myself speak fluent English. I have discovered many comedians got themselves great writing skills. As a writer myself I am very admired such talents. Please keep on writing and being funny.
Ok here goes nothing im 20 years old and i have few questions and maybe somebody can help me out. since my early teans i have always wanted to do stand up but i have a hard time writing stuff down that i think is good. i just don't know what to do. i have been to partys with friends and stuff and they all think im a riot but i just go with the flow but i don't know if thats what i should do if i go on stage. please someone help me out.
im ready to get up on stage and do a 3 or 5 minute open mic but after i finished writeing it came to 10 min. a lot of the things i write about build up to the next thing and get funnier so how should i arrange things to be 3 to 5 min? should i cut out a lot of things and just the hard things while the other funny things sit on the side line? i hate that! it feels like a waste. what do you have to say about my situtation?
i like to go into my jokes and explain what makes them tick, instead of saying one line that will get a laugh u know what i mean?and if anyone else has advice on this please dont no hesistate to help!!!! by this sunday i want to be up and ready!
I have a very big problem. My home town doesn't seem to have any comedy clubs at all. I've lived here my whole life, and I've never even heard of one close.... Not to mention, my town is a black hole, so theres no way for me to get out to find one anyways...... So, what do you suggest I do about that? I make all my friends laugh, and every stranger I run into on the street. My life is shit, and all I want to do is make people laugh. Please help.... It'd mean the world to me. This is the most I've seen written on a comedian career.
hi nightraven. I believe I answered your question by email. Good luck!
Hi Joe. Yeah, you have to trim your act. If you can't get up and do 3-5 at an open mic, there 's a problem with your stuff. You'll have to get to the punchline faster by eliminating a long set up. Trust me, it can be done. I used to be guilty of the long set up. Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. Hope you did well on Sunday.
Hi Pepper. I wish my town didn't have any comedy clubs, I'd be out building my own. Make opportunity where there is none. Is there a hall for rent in town, where people hold wedding receptions and baptism parties? I bet there is. Ask them how much the rental fee is for the evening. Rent it out and hold your own comedy show. If there's nothing going on in town, people are bound to want to go. Even at $5 a seat, if the place holds 100 people you've got yourself $500 at the end of the night and enough to pay a popular headliner. How about a coffee house? Sometimes they look for entertainment. Know of a restaurant with an empty back room on a weekend night? Let the owner know that you'll take the room, YOU will collect 100% of the proceeds at the door and he/she will sell drinks and food. That always works out for everyone. If the owner wants a cut of the door, I would move on and tell them to keep their empty room.
How about a high school, looking for entertainment? They won't pay you anything and you would have to work 100% clean in front of high school age kids, but it's a great way to get stage time, A college? I used to do lots of college entertainment related parties when I was starting off. Bachelor parties? Someone is always getting married and many "wives to be" don't appreciate strippers at their future husbands' bachelor parties. Comedians are always a popular choice.If you go through your local paper, you're bound to find LOTS of opportunities and places to perform your craft. Don't get discouraged, get excited. You're in the perfect place to do comedy-someplace there is none. Good Luck!
Well im not really going to ask for advice or anything...im just bored.I was thinking about doing stand up comedy and just winging it the first time.I have not shame and i am pretty good at reading people.And hey,who knows i might just do awesome,or i might bomb it.But if i bomb it i think i'll just take the harlem williams approach and just start pointing people out and attacking them.Idk it seems like a risky buisness but i suppose it is if your scared or you are confused about where you want to go with it.I think i can make it a career because no matter how many times i am booed off stage whether it be 10,20,30 or even 100 i will still come back =).
Very helpful info Joe!
Just wondering, I resemble to opening statement about being the party starter at work.
There are a lot of funny characters at work, I sell cars....
My city is big but not that big , is it a good idea to talk about work at all or should I use other instances in life and I have plenty
I have been thinking about comedy for the longest time, alot of my freinds and family says that I have what it takes to be a comedian. The voice, looks, impressions, jokes, suggestions, prank ideas, and all kinds of other topics, topics no other comedian would even have thought of, it even amazed my family when I came up with a topic that they never even heard of, and they laughed so hard, they were crieing. I'm actualy getting ready to start comedy. I'm a have alot of fun with it and really enjoy making other people laugh. It makes feel really good to make everyone laugh. Well, I hope to see all of you out there sometime, and good luck.
Hey Joe, not to sound cocky but i think i can be funny and feel very comfortable in front of crowds. I just want my shot. Unfortunately most places wont listen to a 15 yr. old. I'm pretty good on improv but have a hard time writing down material. What do you suggest for my situation? Please e-mail at business_only2546@yahoo.com
Hey Joe,
I feel like I could really get into the stand up gig but I just don't have any drive or any knowledge of how to get started. I have some stuff down but I don't know how to get exposer. Any advice? MikeMiller407@yahoo.com
thanks
I'm doing some research for my buddy. He is looking to take his "funny gene" and do something with it.
I told him I'm on board to support and help him. I enjoyed the article. Do you have any other recommendations?
Be peaceful on your way,
Time_Spiraling
camedmondson says:
14 months ago
Loved the hub Joe! I tried stand up when I lived in LA about 8 times. It was SO HARD! God I was terrible. How long/how many times do you think you should try doing standup before you decide if it's worth pursuing or if you'll be any good? I've heard to get on stage 100 times before you can even make that call. Just wanted to know what you thought.