The Art Of Being A Stand-Up Comedian

A stand up comedian is a comedic performer who presents humor via an informal way, which is ‘chatting’ with the audience. It’s done by one solitary comedian standing on stage with a microphone delivering his routine, thus the term stand up comedian. A stand up comedian usually recites a fast moving series of funny anecdotes, short jokes and one-liners called a monologue or a routine. A stand up comedian isn’t limited to just the microphone but may also use music, props and even magic tricks in their act.

It sounds simple enough but being a stand up comedian is no easy task. Despite a plethora of comedians seen on mainstream media, a lot of them had gone through rough times before making it to the big times of entertainment. There are a lot of time and effort that are put into the work; sometimes even having to sacrifice some dignity is involved.

Many comedians seen on mainstream media started out as a stand up comedian. Some of the more notable people are Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Cosby, Chris Rock, Robin Williams, and Jim Carrey. Though these people have seemed to gain immense popularity, they didn’t get it overnight. It took years of performing in open-mics, comedy clubs and having a five-minute guest appearance on some shows.

Being a stand up comedian is nothing short of an art that not many people can master. There’s practice involved and having to put yourself out there for people to criticize. You are at the mercy of your audience and it’s up to you as a stand up comedian to make them laugh and not react too negatively to any heckling that you might receive.

The skills needed by a stand up comedian are diverse, often having to take on the job of being the writer, editor, performer, promoter, and producer all rolled into one. Along with these skills are the attitudes that would be key to a successful career. Dealing with hecklers while maintaining composure and even being able to come back with a witty retort, is a quality that a stand up comedian needs to acquire.

Should you be able to hone the talent, acquire the skill, and achieve notoriety (even if it’s just among colleagues), it is only then that you can call yourself a stand up comedian. You don’t need a television show that many other great comedians have received. All you need is to master your art.