After years of wanting to try it, I've finally grown some balls and booked myself a slot at an open mic night at the end of october. Pretty much got my set worked out (been building it for years in my head) but was wondering if anyone had any tips?
Never had the confidence to do it myself but my sister is quite good. One of the things which either she told me or I read in a book by a comedian, (I forget which) is even if you wobble a bit somewhere along the line, do your best to turn it into a joke. Just because you've got a set planned out, there's nothing wrong with improvising here and there especially if you forget your bit or start to get stage fright. I think this is the first time she did stand-up in front of an audience http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0nJ2RUKq6Q
For a first time that's really good. At the beginning you think she's gonna fall apart but she pulls it right together. Nice to see someone british doing it too, I keep looking on YouTube for examples of first time and it's all American stuff.
I'm sure she'll appreciate that I'd never really looked but you're right it is all americans I wonder why :/
They have a big scene for it. Here there are so few comedy clubs unless you hit the big cities and even then it's usually just one or two main clubs. The alternative is somewhere like blackpool. I'm doing it in Bournemouth but there is no dedicated comedy club here only open Mic nights and it's mostly singers who take up the slots. I guess if I were in London I'd be spoilt for choice but I'd rather die than go to London.
While I have never done standup comedy I have had my share of making crowds laugh. A good tip is to use your surroundings if possible. One of my best one liners went something like this: I was at the place I was working at around 2.5 years ago. Was a bit early so we were sitting around a table idly chatting. Conversation had just finished up with gays and lesbos (don't ask...) and was currently on how dangerous the chef was due to being an off duty Marine. Someone asked something along the lines of coming in the front or back doors of the place due to the Marine chef. I said "I know I want to come in the front door so he can see me. Don't want to go in the back way just in case I surprise him and get royally fucked up." You can guess the way they took it from what was still on their minds. Everyone was on the floor laughing for like 5 minutes straight. I shit you not. A good example of using your surroundings to make a good joke or quip. Just gauge the audience so you have an idea of how far you can go before they start getting pissed off.
My biggest advice for any public performance is PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE! Be confident in yourself AND the material. Some things you'll only learn through experience. Practice in front of a mirror, in front of your family, in front of your dog even. There's a YT clip of me out there doing stand up, but it is so bad, because of technical difficulties, and the material is dated, so I won't bother you.
I was acting for 10 year, most of the plays where comedies and for some kind of reason I never consider myself a comedian, but people always say I was very funny. My director tell me the best comedians are those who make the people laugh but never laugh with his own jokes. I do a short stand up but I found that its not what I like anyway people like it and ask me for more. I only do it when some fellow actor invites me to appear and make fun of the coincidence of the day, or what is happening in the country and give a funny aspect. Also imitate public figures especially politician but that is too overuse. My recommendation is be yourself and dont do what other saturate take the risk for something unique and new that defines your person.
I agree with this. I've never done standup, but I'm a musician, and I think that applies to any performance art. It's good to be able to improvise, since there are always variables, like the audience and your own shoddy memory, that can get in the way of doing things exactly as you'd planned. Plus, sometimes really great things come out of improvisation.
Thanks for all of your advice so far. My slot is confirmed, so now I gotta just practice I guess. I've managed to convince a handful of friends to come along so hopefully if they can fake laugh it'll be a start
Be sure to record it for us. I want to see how it goes. Maybe I'll get a laugh from. Whether it's with you or at you will be determined as I watch. I can be so evil at times. :witless:
I'm gonna ask a friend to video it for me. I work occasionally with a large TV production company responsible for some big comedy franchises. They're interested to see it as well...so yeah that adds some pressure but if I'm any good it could be an in for me.
