After three years of wanting to do stand-up comedy (and being too scared), I did an open mic last night.
Did I crush it and get tons of laughs?
Of course not. It was my first time.
I did get a few chuckles though, and it was fun observing other comedians’ styles.
Three observations -
- Most of the laughs I got came from spontaneity, responding to the crowd or silence, not what I’d written in advance.
Lesson: Be present, get out of your head, don’t over-memorize and have fun. - I enjoyed the comedians who used fewer words and more pauses. Some jokes only become funny after a second or two of silence.
Lesson: Less is more. Let it breathe. If you try to say everything, you’ll say nothing. - The funniest comedians reenacted their stories in real time. They became characters, did voices, etc.
Lesson: Show don’t tell.
Comedy may be the greatest performance art we have because it’s about joy, laughter and connection.
When comedy works, the whole room comes together. When it doesn’t, the silence is brutal and humiliating. What a great opportunity to fail fast!
I want to bring more humor into my every day life and gain a greater awareness of social rhythm, tension and release. I want people to enjoy me.
I’m looking forward to my next stand-up open mic.
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