You might have read the title and thought, “Ha, challenges” of being a comedian? Yeah right. I’m sure a job that requires you to get up at 7:30 p.m for an 8 p.m show is very challenging."
Well thank you for your sarcasm, but let's try to leave it up to the pros—myself.
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It might surprise people when I say this, but becoming a comedian is not as easy as one might think. Surprisingly, pursuing a career of comedy is really no laughing matter. It takes years or practice, rewrites of jokes and sketches, classes and workshops, failed open mics, and countless people telling you that it would be wise to have a “backup plan."
For the record, I have been in the make ‘em laugh game for only a few years but I have already faced a handful of obstacles and have a good grasp on the struggles that are still to come.
Just like any other profession or job that requires a skill, it takes years of practice. When you see a sketch or improv show, the audience is seeing the finished, polished product. But what came before that was hours of object work exercises, ridiculous warm-ups, shows with only five people—three of whom are friends you bribed into coming—a ton of failed jokes that never received a laugh, and classes that cost more than you will make in your first few years of being a comedian.
When I tell people that I have to go to rehearsal for improv they look at me like I just told them I am currently harboring fugitive. “But isn’t it all made up? Why do you have to practice?” It's pretty simple, practice makes perfect and when it comes to making stuff up, you have to know what works and what doesn't. Especially when you are starting out, there are a handful of rules that you need to know and learn before you can just jump on a stage and expect laughs.
By far one of the greatest challenges for comics, especially young ones, is the constant questioning from friends, family, and everyone in between on “Are you sure this is what you want to do?”, “Do you have a backup plan?”, “Well, are you going to be able to support yourself?”
Yes, thank you. This is what I want to do for the rest of my life and fully aware of fact that I won’t be actually making money for quite sometime. I’m not doing it for the money or the fame, I’m doing it because—call me crazy—it makes me happy and I love making people laugh.
I understand that to most of it is because people just want you to be able to live on your own and be financially sound. But let's be honest, no matter what your job is, or what you are majoring in school, you have just as much of a chance of not getting a job as someone in the entertainment business.
Despite that, struggles and challenges that come along with being a comic, they are all outweighed when you step on stage with an eager audience in front of you that's ready to laugh. Not to mention, when you get that first laugh it is the most reaffirming and comforting thing that will happen. It just reminds you why you took that eight week class on scene work again and gives you the motivation to continue on to your next adventure.
Until next time, Katie.
