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Doing Stand-Up Comedy for the First Time, Any Tips?
- Thread starter RoboPlato
- Start date
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the_log_ride
Member
Good luck, OP. I've always wanted to write a quick set, but I don't think I could muster up the courage to perform it. I guess I can try to write for other people... hmmm.
Subscribing to see how you do.
Subscribing to see how you do.
LiveFromKyoto
Member
Do internet meme jokes. Everyone here seems to love 'em.
VillageNinja
Banned
Talk about your unique upbringing.
way more
Member
Have a crazy aunt.
I've spent some time watching amateur stand-ups and what works best it to create a character that you play. You want it so that you have the same personality for each joke. This character playing can make you shine more than a comic with better jokes and no personality.
I've spent some time watching amateur stand-ups and what works best it to create a character that you play. You want it so that you have the same personality for each joke. This character playing can make you shine more than a comic with better jokes and no personality.
That's assuming he's a white guy:Korey said:
women joke about what it's like to be a woman
black people joke about the differences between black people and white people
ethnic groups who are neither black nor white joke about how crazy their ethnic families are
white guys joke about things like hot pockets
Randolph Freelander
Member
Remember that a funny thing happened on your way there is not really something that happened on your way there, but rather something that would have been really funny if it actually would have happened but it didn't and there's no reason to let that little fact get in the way of a good joke.
Gareth Bale
Member
Prepare some stock putdowns for types of hecklers
NEOPARADIGM
Banned
You're going to DIE.
lightless_shado
Banned
Sanjuro Tsubaki said:
How did this not happen sooner?
Because it wouldn't make sense. Could you see mcbain making that kind of joke?
You're probably going to bomb pretty hard, most first timers do. Just go with the flow and keep at it.
You might want to start listening to Joe Rogan's podcast as he has a lot of comics as guests and they spend a lot of time talking about how to do good standup, write material and whatnot.
You might want to start listening to Joe Rogan's podcast as he has a lot of comics as guests and they spend a lot of time talking about how to do good standup, write material and whatnot.
ShortDarkAndUgly
Neo Member
Don't tell jokes about things your audience can't relate to. I went to a comedy show at a club one night and some dude on stage was telling jokes about dungeons and dragons. Predictably, he won the award for the worst comedian that night.
industrian
will gently cradle you as time slowly ticks away.
If you're doing well: get off the stage. If you're not doing well: get off the stage.
ShortDarkAndUgly
Neo Member
Trurl said:
They were so-so. A couple of the other comedians that came on later that night were even worse, but I think that they guy I referred to lost because people didn't even know what he was talking about.
Have a drink before hand. The first few times I did it sober and I bombed. First time I loosened up with a stiff drink and it went a lot better.
Just have fun and practice your delivery. I hope you did that because it's crucial. delivery and timing.
Just have fun and practice your delivery. I hope you did that because it's crucial. delivery and timing.
Open and end strong. Go through what you have written and try and cut out as much unnecessary stuff as possible. Having to much stuff in your setup, or trying to cram and many jokes in a single bit is a common mistake we all make when starting out. Honestly it will go by quick and don't be discouraged if you bomb. Regardless of how it goes, you have to keep going up at open mics and just honing your craft. Keep in mind every stand up says it usually takes 10 years of going up almost everyday before they got really "good". Best of luck OP and let us all know how it goes.
speculawyer
Member
Let me know how it goes. I think I want to give it a go some time. Just do 5 minutes at an open mic or something. It would be therapy.
Dark Octave
Banned
Youtube yourself doing a piece of your set and post it here.
I love standup. One of my favorite forms of entertainment.
Good luck.
I love standup. One of my favorite forms of entertainment.
Good luck.
DrForester
Kills Photobucket
RoboPlato said:
Make fun of Blacks, Gays, and Jews. Worked great for.... Oh wait, don't do that.
Seriously though, practice in front of people. Consider what to do in case of hecklers, but don't worry about it or let it dominate your preparation. Have fun.
Try to use the following words in your act, especially if you're going to be filmed.
* Shit
* Piss
* Fuck
* Cunt
* Cocksucker
* Motherfucker
* Tits
Summary Man
Member
Good luck, OP! Stand-up comedy is one of the toughest things you can do, in my opinion. I personally wouldn't be able to do it, I'd be too afraid of ruining my jokes, choking, or dealing with hecklers!
Summary: I hope you do well!
Summary: I hope you do well!
AceBandage
Banned
Don't talk too fast!
Worst thing you can do is just try to rush through your act.
Worst thing you can do is just try to rush through your act.
valkillmore
Member
Bungieware said:
This is what I came in to say. This is some good advice.
I'd also say, plan on bombing your first time up. Bombing horribly, and frequently, will be the best thing to happen to you early in your career.
DrForester
Kills Photobucket
Summary Man said:
This is getting very very annoying.
Summary: I hope you get banned
lightless_shado
Banned
I don't know why someone would give a summary of a two sentence post
Summary: This is worse than faux signatures.
-PEACE
-MY MAN
Summary: This is worse than faux signatures.
-PEACE
-MY MAN
I really appreciate all the advice. Keep it coming. One of my best friends has been recommending me some of those podcasts so I'll probably check them out. I'll see if I can set something up to record a bit of my set tomorrow. I have a ton of papers and job application stuff to do between now and then though so I may not have time. I'll probably seem a lot more awkward on camera than on stage. I'm pretty comfortable on stage and public speaking, but I haven't really done much on camera.
King Of Fuh
Member
ismaboof said:
I always have huge respect for succesful comedians, it is a hard thing to do. If you're new, nobody in the audience is on your side, and for "amateur night" they're mostly expecting you to fail.
So yeah, sincerely, good luck, but if you think it was a disaster, don't give up. I've watched/read a lot of stuff about comedians, and even the biggest legends generally bombed early in their career. And I second the suggestion to have someone film you. Alternatively, just tape record yourself. That way you can revisit what worked and what didn't work.
As someone who did a lot of musical performing in a past life, I can say that doing standup is something I don't have the chutzpah to do. And this, in spite of the fact that I was providing levity between songs on stage most of the time. But it was way easier because the audiences were already on our side.
apocalidiot
Banned
Yeah... I'm not feeling summary man either.
Summary: Masturbate before hand
Summary: Masturbate before hand
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