do you think i can do it? i mean seriously, all carlos mencia has 2 do is get on a stage and say "dee dee dee" and everyone cracks up laughing...... do yo know anyways to get off on a goodstart with a career in it?
2007-01-08 11:51:26 · 6 answers · asked by emilyONION 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Performing Arts
It's not what you say so much as how you say it. In stand up comedy a sense of timing is all important, also the ability to read an audience. Audiances for stand up comics are probably the toughest in the business.
Be prepared for a lot of false starts and keep in mind that there are a lot more wanna be's then there are brass rings.
The best advice I can give you is don't go on stage as yourself. You need to be portraying a personna, and you need to decide what that persona is. From that point on, you are that person on stage not yourself.
-Dio
2007-01-08 12:02:50 · answer #1 · answered by diogenese19348 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello,
If you want to try stand up comedy, the best way to get started is to find comedy open mikes in your neighborhood. http://www.chucklemonkey.com is a good place to start, along with the entertainment section in your local newspaper. Then write down a list of topics that you think you can make funny, then write some jokes. Then go to the open mike comedy and give it your best shot!
Carlos Mencia makes doing stand up comedy easy, but it's not. Most of the comedians you see on TV having been performing 10 years or more. Doing stand up comedy is a LOT of trial and error. After doing your first open mike, if you want to decide to continue and decide this is what you want to do, perform as much as you can. Try your new jokes in at least 3 different places to see if they are good or not. Audiences have different tastes, so the joke that tanked at one place might rock somewhere else. Keep the jokes that consistently get good laughs, edit or drop the jokes that don't, and keep writing new material.
As far as having a career in comedy it is a VERY competitive field. You don't want to apply for work at good comedy clubs until you are ready. Get a lot of practice, get GOOD, then get some demo tapes and send them out different comedy clubs and festivals. Get a website. Get business cards and hand them to everyone you can after your shows. Most importantly, you should be unique. Good Luck!
2007-01-08 22:28:26 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are serious...watch every comedian you can.
Learn the timing of their telling. See when their timing is off, which is even more instructive. Now -- don't use ANY of their jokes (seriously, that is stealing and the comedy world is pretty small).
Get involved with any local improv groups or classes. It will help with finding a direction for your comedy and an outlet for working on delivery.
Find any "open mic" events to try out your material. Have someone there who will give you an absolutely honest opinion.
Observe the world -- what's funny about it? What's wrong with it?
Examine why you want to do comedy -- to avoid a "real job"? To bring a little joy to other people? To make a lot of money? (if it's the last one... get out now) Is it because you have something unique to say? Even if you don't have something unique to say, can you say it well?
Stand-up, particularly, is a difficult row to hoe. I've written jokes for stand-up acts and the world of it is pretty awful. Of course, there's nothing else like it! Cheers!
2007-01-08 20:09:16 · answer #3 · answered by blueowlboy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a cousin who also wanted to be a comedian. He started off small and locally. I can suggest going to a bar or local restraunt to gain some fame. If the people at the bar or restaurant show interest expand. Go to New York and perform on the street and such. All you really have to do is just get out there and make people laugh. I am sure you can do it ;) .
2007-01-08 20:04:03 · answer #4 · answered by mono 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't try your stuff on your family.They'll either be too hard or too soft.Take some improve classes.Any place that's got an open mic night,be there.Invest in some classic comedy albums.
Bob Newharts "Button down mind". Everything Richard Pryor
laid down on wax.
2007-01-08 20:19:02 · answer #5 · answered by VooDoo Kydd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am very good at telling dumb Yankee jokes. you might like to do this in clubs in the South land.They absolutely love it.dont do it up North though. they dont seem to have a sense of humor.get er done
2007-01-09 04:03:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋