How to become a Stand up Comedian
Okay let's address the elephant in the room first. Anyone, I repeat anyone with the guts to try, can become a standup comic, however becoming a good comedian is a tad more difficult. How many amateur nights have you watched several wanna be hopefuls tank like a lead balloon, the flop sweat pouring down their face, the palms of their hands so wet they could electrocute themselves holding the mic.
Once off the stage they pour over their material going over and over it, wondering where they went wrong. Now it might have been the jokes but maybe not for the reasons they think. So before you jot down those ten sure fire, killer anecdotes, that your friends laughed at and assured you would kill, stop, step away from the keyboard and ask yourself the million dollar question. What is it that makes me so darn funny?
Do I tell funny stories that make not only my friends but anyone I tell laugh so hard they spit out their false teeth? Or maybe you have the gift of snappy one liners and zany zingers that can set someone in their place. Perhaps you've got the gift of mimickry and can toss out an imitation of some one famous or create characters that take on full lives of their own. No matter what style of comic you are ther more familiar you are with the topic or the more original the concept the better the chances of it being funny at least to someone.
While imitation is considered the highest form of flattery, that only really applies to impersonations. Let me tell you why. Comparisons are made all the time just watch the entertainment shows when they are hyping some new on the scene comic and listen to the comics they are being compared to. The key difference is the ones that really know their stuff didn't imitate, they were inspired by their idols, but they brought their own flavor to it. Meaning there's a big difference in taking from a fellow comic that which fits and trying to just get up there and be that comic.
So after first establishing who your influences are let's figure out if your that type of comic. Are you a story teller, a one liner, A prop comic, Current events politcal humorist, An insulter or self deprecating, Cultural humorist using your ethnicity as a tool, lots to think about right? Ask yourself when do you feel the most in the zone where it all feels natural and organic, which one or ones from the list above seems to fit you then move on to step two.
Like a dedicated actor studies their craft your next step is to go to school.
Sit down in front of your tv and watch not just the comics that you apsire to be something like, watch the new batch of up and comers that have made it at least to a half hour special. You're watching not just to learn what they do right, but to get a real good feel for what they still seem to be doing wrong and then how they handle it when it seems to be going down hill to bring the crowd back.
After hours of study, it's time to put your new found knowledge to the test but keep in mind it is also important to stay open to the moment. What if you step out on stage and you hit them with the first couple of jokes and they don't seem to be biting, but then out of the blue you adlib something; maybe in response to a heckler, but the result is the crowd digs it. Take the risk go in that direction, if they continue to come with you then go full steam ahead.
At the end of it if you realize you didn't use any of your prepared stuff don't sweat it, write down what you can remember of what you just did and store it away. Why? Because you just might need to pull it out again.
[note] Material that works for one crowd may tank with another and the smart comic knows to keep their options open.
If you get a chance before the show, go mingle among and read the crowd. Or if you're lucky enough not to be the first one on stage, pay attention to what is working and not working for the comics prior to you. Then ask yourself will the stuff I have planned do the trick, be ready to switch up if you have to. Not that it works every time, but as I said earlier learning to read the room helps because if the crowd is not the greatest to begin with a plan b or c won't matter much.
Let's say there is a big convention going on and a bunch of funeral directors are out on the town after a long day discussing death. Maybe just maybe, they really do just want to have a couple of drinks and retire with that great looking blonde from the bar. So learning not to take it personally when it is clear the audience is just not into comedy by anyone that night not just you is another component to store away.
In between gigs practice, practice, practice. Now some would tell you todo this while looking in a mirror or when with friends, but I say you want to know if you are really funny, then take it to the streets. Just about any time is the right time to start the funny, [with crime scenes and accidents being exceptions].
The best places I have found to try new material? waiting in line at a movie theatre, on the bus, on the subway, at the bus stop, a dentists office, the bank, in line at the DMV, in a coffee shop and so on and so on. See the point is if you can make total strangers laugh in mundane settings, you just might have something there. But when you do try, I have one suggestion don't use any of your material, wing it instead, since most likely that's what you did when you first discovered you were funny in the first place. Not only will that put you to the test, it will also give you new material.
One last pearl of wisdom make yourself laugh. Any comic will tell you three minutes can be the shortest or the longest time of your life so when you sit down to write material if you don't get a little glint in your eye, or a chuckle or a big out and out belly laugh from it as you are writing it, maybe it isnt funny. Now go on out there and make them laugh
