Stand-up comedians seem to be talking about this and that when they take the stage. In fact, it is a real art, and it requires a lot of preparation. Read on to learn more.
Steps
Step 1. Write a five-minute monologue on a topic (or more than one) that you find amusing, and that you believe will be recognized by others as well
Some comedians find it helpful to see other stand-up shows, but remember that the more you observe other people's approach, the less easy it will be to be original. Let your friends tell you funny stories and jokes, then embroider them on, make everything more interesting. Have you noticed that some comedians talk about unpleasant experiences? Well, you can too! Surely something happens to you that is worth talking about at least once a day.
Step 2. Find a cabaret club and book your performance
Try to be as friendly as possible to the people you meet, and send them a friend request on Facebook. This process may take some patience as some clubs have a long waiting list. Don't you have the opportunity to perform in a cabaret club in your city? Try it in schools, talent shows, anywhere you may have an audience. Make jokes with everyone, even if they are strangers. For example, you are in the supermarket trying to grab the same box of peaches as a lady. Apologize and try to make a joke related to the situation, the first that comes to mind. Try to cultivate your humor in all relationships. If that doesn't work, tell about your missed sexual experiences. Who knows, maybe the owner of a club looking for comedians will hear them. So try to be positive and fun with everyone.
Step 3. Rehearse
Learn your monologues perfectly. Practice them aloud. It might seem difficult at first, but it will help you hear your own voice. Most comedians rehearse alone, with their manager or club owner. Avoid asking your friends or other people, otherwise you will reveal your "secrets". Practice is perfect, right? And perfect practice is even better, therefore, practicing without perseverance is like doing nothing.
Step 4. Make sure the audience can hear you well while you are on stage
Listen to the presenter and other comedians to understand how their voices come out and how they hold the microphone. As much as the audience applauds you, never shout. This could demotivate him and maybe even risk causing problems to people's ears!
Step 5. Stick to your allotted time
By respecting it, you will be able to get more engagements. Many comedians use vibrating clocks, so they know when time runs out, without the hassle of an audible alarm.
Step 6. Keep a record of the dates of your performances, the list of monologues and the success you have had
An advantage of having this information? If a club calls you and offers you a performance of your own, you can reply that you need to consult the register. This way, the person who wants to hire you will think you are super in demand. It always works, guaranteed success.
Step 7. Rewrite anything you think could be more fun
Be truly critical. If a piece doesn't work, rewrite it or throw it away and replace it with an effective monologue. Repeat this process until you are happy with the job.
Step 8. Ask for feedback after each performance
You don't have to ignore the comments, but remember that they are still opinions. If what they suggest doesn't convince you, ask yourself why. Use common sense to see if these tips will work for you.
Step 9. Prepare for the troublemakers
There will be people who will interrupt your performance, especially when they don't like it. Not everyone will find you funny. Big stars generally don't have to face this problem: because tickets are expensive, people who don't like a certain type of humor don't go to the show. However, even in these cases it may happen that disturbers present themselves, albeit to a lesser extent, perhaps they are people who want their minute of fame. You, aspiring comedian, will have to deal with both the more "polite" troublemakers and the "die hard" ones. This could happen at any time, but especially when the punchline of a story doesn't enjoy them. If they harass you, there are three things you can do. The first is to ignore them and move on; it's often the most sensible option for new comedians, who have no way of knowing if the audience is on their side or not. The second and third both involve an answer. You could make a snide or try to make a joke that focuses on the jammer's reaction. Try to avoid personal insults, they are not liked by anyone. The best answers are those that allow you to achieve a moral victory. They must be short and sharp. If you think of one at a later time, save it for a future intervention by a jammer. In fact, you might be surprised that the same harassment happens more than once.
Advice
- Base your jokes on what you find funny.
- Be original, never plagiarize.
- Make several attempts to find your comedy style.
- Carry a diary with you and always keep it by your side. When you make a joke, you say / dream / think about things you could use on stage, write them down, otherwise you will forget about them. Write it all down, a few words are enough to ignite the spark.
- Move the mic if you're not going to use it, place it behind you if you can, so it won't get in the way.
- Be yourself, listen to advice and take risks.
- Start performing on open mic nights or cabaret nights in bars or other venues. If you know a stand-up comedian who is more experienced than you, ask him if you can perform before him to try out new materials. By being respectful of the main comedian and able to make people laugh, you can be a guest in more places and get free advice.
- If you are worried about your new monologues, ask a friend to accompany you to a show. It should be someone you trust and can really give you suggestions: what you are good at, what you should improve at, where the monologues don't work, and when you didn't perform at your best. If he tells you the truth, his support will be invaluable.
- If the audience isn't laughing when they should, then you should change something.
- Remember that parroting what people say to make fun of them is not fun.
- Have fun!
- The courses might help you cultivate presentation skills, monologue creation, and stage confidence, but they definitely don't give you the experience of performing in front of a real audience. They can also be expensive and, depending on the teacher, could give you a one-sided perspective on entertainment.
- Attend your hometown cabaret club as often as possible. Always say hello to the bouncer, give the waitresses a good tip, and if you can talk to the lead comedian and the conversation seems to be going well, invite him to the movies.
Warnings
- Smile and show a funny attitude, but don't laugh at your jokes, this is the audience's job. You can giggle a little, but try not to lose focus.
- Never perform using another comedian's monologues!
- Don't talk incessantly about your "career" if you only started a few months ago.
- Bad jokes are generally not appreciated by the public. Sure, many seasoned comedians often use awkward arguments, sometimes simply to test themselves, but they are still professionals. Stay away from hot topics until you can afford them.
- Don't start doing comedy because you think it's an easy commute to acting or presenting on TV. Many comedians never appear on the small screen, others make brief appearances on certain channels, and then you never hear about them again.
- Don't perform when you step off the stage, write down your experiences for the stage.
- Don't insist on involving an audience member if they don't want to. Humiliation is not funny and viewers will not be favorably impressed.
- Shocking doesn't necessarily mean having fun.
- Never ever argue with a jammer. This is what he wants, so ignore him completely.
- If after a few years of experience you are not offered paid performances, try another avenue, such as poetry or writing.
