It sounds tempting, but if you are an aspiring comedian, you should not dream of millions, but think about how to prepare your first performance and write material that can make the audience laugh. In this article, you will find specific tips to help you with this from Kilara stand up comedian.
What is stand-up comedy and when did it appear? A stand-up comedy is a show or performance in which a comedian performs original jokes on stage in front of a live audience to make them laugh. Comedy performances were popular in ancient times, but the progenitor of modern stand-up is the vaudeville of the late 19th century.
If you're still determined to be a great stand-up comedian and have already recorded some hilarious jokes, here are 9 tips to help you.
Experiment! No one will recognize you as a stand-up comedian until you start flaunting yourself, so take every opportunity to take the stage. Any public speaking will boost your confidence. Chat and make friends with fellow comedians, work on jokes until you start seeing results.
Edit on the fly. The more you perform, the faster you will learn to feel when a joke doesn't work halfway through. At times like this, your confidence will allow you to edit the line in real-time, shortening and modifying it based on the mood of your audience.
Perform with the best material and don't be afraid to cut. Keep your standup show short, but as fun as possible, so ruthlessly remove parts that don't hit the target. Use pauses. Remember that every joke must have a stopping point. In this brief moment of silence, the audience will think about the climax for a split second and hopefully start laughing. Successful jokes are characterized by a long pause before laughing.
Collect jokes. After you tell the funniest, secondary, and third-rate jokes, you run out of material. Start building a catalog of bits to prevent this shortage. Forget about improvisation. Focus on the jokes you learn and stick to them. You may improvise in future performances, but planned beats first are your best chance to make the audience laugh. If you find yourself forgetting your next joke, check your setlist. It's better than being silent and absentmindedly clapping your eyes in front of the audience.
Keep it simple. Don't try to reinvent something new: just tell your jokes and give up flips, stage jumps, dancing and other eccentric actions. Keep track of your routine. Stand-up comedy requires a lot of physical and mental effort. At first, you may have to perform in bars at night, and in the morning run to work by 8:00. Therefore, manage your time wisely, eat healthy foods and exercise regularly. The last tip is especially relevant.
Good comedy takes a lot of energy and if you are tired, it will make your performance tense and unfunny. Therefore, engage in physical activity to get the blood to move actively in your body and brain.
Remember that your sets may not be supremely funny at the beginning of your stand-up career, and if you don't hear a lot of laughter during your performance, ignore the urge to evaporate. Walk on stage with humility and walk away with dignity.