Be A Comedian!

Do You Want To Be a Comedian?

So, you think you're funny, eh? Well, if lots of other people think you're funny too, then you could have a career as a professional comedian waiting for you! Here are the steps to get your comedy career started.

1. Get To Know Your Inner Comedian

First you've got to figure out what kind of comedy works for you. Are you adept at delivering the punchline of a one-liner? Or are you more the type that likes to get smacked over the head and fall flat on your face to the amusement of others? Are you a political satirist who can twist your words just right to get guffaws, or an absurdist whose observations about everyday life are hilarious?

Look at all your favorite comedians. Each of them has a shtick. Shtick is important in setting you apart and making you unique. Uniqueness is memorable. Jerry Seinfeld makes witty observations that are "funny because they're true!" Mitch Hedberg says ridiculous absurdities through his hair in a deadpan delivery. Sam Kinison screams at everybody. Bill Hicks rants and raves about conspiracy theories and human stupidity. John Pinette is fat. Everybody's got something to make them unique.

Comedians spend a lot of time watching other comedians. Study the masters and see how they crafted their jokes and routines. There is a lot to learn from just watching tons and tons of comedy.

2. Write Your Routine

Comedy is a little bit inspiration and a lot of craft. Comedians spend lots of time working on jokes and perfecting them. They write their routines like an author writes a novel; there is a lot of hard work and discipline involved. But the end result is an air-tight routine with good jokes and perfectly delivery that guarantees laughter.

To write jokes, you need a little inspiration first. Keep an eye out for funny things in everyday life. Keep an ear open for things that come up in conversation. Jokes can come from anywhere. The key is to get them down on paper. Write down anything at all that strikes you as funny. These notes can be developed into jokes.

There are a thousand ways to tell a joke. Once you've got a joke worked out, refine it. Mess around with the wording and timing, and try to get the delivery just right. Try it out on your friends or slip it into an everyday conversation, then wait for the reaction. You want to find a way to tell the joke that is fool-proof.

Once you've got it just the way you want it, practice it. Many comedians practice in front of a mirror. This is a great way to practice delivery because you can see exactly what the audience sees. It can also help you get just the right facial expression and tone of voice for your delivery.

Put together a routine of solid jokes that runs for 10 minutes. Once you've got a 10 minute set, you're ready to put your comedy act on stage.

3. Take It To The Stage And Get Laughed At

The place to start your illustrious comedy career is your local "open mic night." These are events where anybody can get up on stage, grab the mic and start doing whatever the heck they want. Lots of bars and clubs have them, not just comedy clubs.

For your first gig, pick a date and stick to it. This will put fire under your proverbial bottom and make you get your routine into shape. You can also go to an open mic beforehand and see what you'll be dealing with.

Basically, you can expect a bunch of terrible comedians, probably much worse than you, doing their act in front of an "audience" that is there to drink. Seeing this beforehand might help take the pressure off a little bit. There probably won't be any talent scouts, so don't worry.

The comedy scene is horribly competitive. If the other comedians stink and you get all the laughs, they will hate you for it. But even at this early stage, you should be nice and try to network with anybody you can!

4. Take It To The Next Level

Pretty soon, you'll be ready to hit the clubs. Comedy clubs often have "bringer" nights. These are nights where the comedians "pay to play" and you get paid according to how many fans you bring in. These are good for folks just leaving the open mic scene and looking to bust into the clubs. They're your doorway to getting regular club gigs.

It's also a great idea to enter comedy contests. Local comedy clubs have them, and also community events. You can win prizes, but even better, you'll get exposure.

Once you're in the local circuit, network like crazy. Jump on any acting or comedy opportunity that comes along. Don't worry about money at this stage, do it for the fun and for your dream. Be part of the scene and make friends, and it will reward you big-time later.

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