Stand Up Comedy

When your friends need a laugh, they turn to you, waiting for you to do something stupid again so that they can forget their own woes. While you don’t necessarily mind being the screw up, it seems like you might want to do something with your ‘talent’ – not just be the one that takes the jabs with ease. Instead, you might want to look into a career in stand up comedy, where you can get laughed at and make a living out of it. Not a bad way to go to work, is it?

Are You Actually Funny?

Just like people who think they’re poets because their friends and family like their poems, you need to actually be funny in order to become a stand up comedian. And that takes more work than you might realize. While some people are born inherently funny, it’s not easy to tell a joke. It begins with being observant about the world around you, seeing the things that don’t make sense or seeing the things that are so ridiculous that they make less and less sense the more you try to explain them. Try telling a few jokes to friends and family, but then invite them to be honest in their criticism. And listen.

Learn from the Greats

Of course, the best way to learn about comedy is to watch the pros in action. Some of the best comedians include:

• George Carlin
• Jerry Seinfeld
• Dane Cook
• Eddie Murphy
• Dave Chappelle
• Katt Williams
• Mitch Hedberg
• Chris Rock
• Robin Williams

Sure, these comedians are up for debate as to whether they are actually as fantastic as some say they are. But let’s face it, they’re getting paid and you’re not, so they’re already off to a strong start. Take some time to review their tapes and their shows to see what they have done to make people laugh. Look at the way they use their voices and how they write out their jokes. And then practice what they have done. And then write your own.

Get in the Club

Then you need to get into a club to see if you can make it as a stand up comedian. The best way to do this is to sign up for an open mike night. There, you will be with a bunch of other people who are just as horrible as you and you will be able to see if you can cut it up on the stage. And the more that you try to get in front of an audience, the better you will get at the whole deal. Yes, there will be nights when you bomb, but every comedian has those nights, even the greats.

Getting into stand up comedy is a great way to begin to get paid for doing something you love. But you need to be good at it. And funny enough to keep people from throwing their drinks at you.