Standup is demanding but addictive. First, do your homework. Watch DVDs like "Comedian" with Jerry Seinfeld and "The Aristocrats" for starters. If there are comedians you admire, catch their shows or get their videos and learn--don't copy them, but learn. Practice your delivery and timing. Check out local comedy clubs religiously. When you've developed and honed a quick routine, jump in. Take a chance. You don't get points for unrequited ambition. Whether or not standup is ultimately your talent, don't ever quit pursuing the answer. Do what you love and love what you do.
2007-01-10 17:14:41
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answer #1
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answered by carritr 1
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stand up comedy is well underrated. You can well entertain your friends, but you might have a much harder time trying to entertain the people in the crowd. There's loads of things to consider, not just 'am I funny enough?'
If you do end up doing stand up comedy, and try to make money of it, you're warned. Look to Billy Connolly or Tommy Tiernan (preferrably Billy Connolly) for how it should be done!
2007-01-11 12:20:43
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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Number one....What the other guy said. Watch a few comedians. But DON'T try to emulate them. Most hack comedians are bad copies of the stylings of the more well known, but the better ones dig deep inside their own intelligent observations to find material.
Here's the Hack list from Chuckle Monkey.com.
http://www.chucklemonkey.com/hacklist.htm
It's a basic commentary from working comedians about the subjects that are worn, stupid, unfunny, and just plain bombers.
Here's a site that might be of interest to you...
http://newstandups.com/
These are open mic, hobby and aspiring comedians. You can tell that their sets are a little stilted. Their still polishing their styles, but some of these folks have potential. It's a good way for you to get a look at people who are early or amateur in the field, and a way for you to get confidence in your own abilities.
I say give it a shot. People are going to discourage you, and it won't help when you try to go live for the first few times. Everyone starts out a little lame, as with all skills.
I'd be reading from the resource sites and gleaning what information you can, for free, at least for starters. You would need to work on writing a set, then you would need to work on timing it, timing your expressions, and your own reactions. Half of the essense of stand up isn't that the punchine is so mind-blowing. It has more to do with how you deliver it.
Take someone Like Dean Cook. If it wasn't for his theatrics, his jokes would be nothing more than lame stoner talk that no one would find interesting. He has a narration and posture that harnesses the attention of the audience and has them hanging on everything he says. It's always good to not be afraid to interact with your audience. Again, most amatuers and semi-pros can't handle that. As with the recent Micheal Richards debacle, you can act like an asshole, or you can learn to make hecklers an interesting part of your own act. Remember your're performing for drunk people for the first 10 years of your aspiring career, and if you become well established you're still doing clubs 80% of the time. If you can learn to make the audience feel invovled, it boosts thier egos, and it gets you free advertising. In fact, even the better comedians today have lost the abilty to involve or interact with the audience. Tim Conway was a master at it, and Stephen Lynch is pretty good at it as well.
Most good comedians also have vocal props. They deviate from just talking to elaborating on scenarios using vocal sound effects. Jim Gaffagan, for instance, will speak normally, then antagonise himself with a high pitched effeminate counter. Sam Kinnisen would go from normal to screaming, and inspired Bill Hicks to incorporate the same thing in his routines. Then you have George Carlin, Pablo Francisco, Richard Jeni, Frank Caliendo, Phil Hartman and a whole list of others who do/did varied impersonations, sound effects and accents to illusrate characterisation.
The first thing you would need to do when you think you're ready to perfom is to look up the nearest open mic comedy sessions to where you live and start playing around with your style. Never worry about bombing the first time, but do get some practise in before you go onstage. Most open mic amateurs carry notes with them. You'd do a lot better if you memorised your set before going on stage.
That's my two cents on it.
2007-01-11 02:51:54
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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Once when i was in 6th grade, i felt left out and lonely because all people had a group of talents they belonged to and had. Then one day i tried out for choir. some said my voice sucked. i was depressed. Then I tried writing some said my stories were long and boring. and guess what??? when i sang in the talent show, everbody said my voice rocked and when i wrote a story for my fav teachers b.day, she loved it so much that, well, now the whole school says my voice and stories rule, whats more everybody loved my advices so i am now the official question-solver for our schools paper! P.s follow your heart, it will tell you your real talent.
2007-01-11 14:48:24
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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remember that show... Kids Say the Darnest Things...... just kidding hah. umm comedy is a hard career to get into because kids now-adays are being raised ignorant and unappreciative of their surroundings. comedy as well as a lot of other things are being focused on less. in addition to that most people think that they're funny and thinks they can be comedians
2007-01-11 02:49:01
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answer #5
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answered by trrew w 2
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Well, one thing's for sure, spelling and grammar aren't your strong suits(whatever that means). Your talent is whatever you do which you're good at. If comedy makes your clock tick and your friends think you're funny, I would go with that. Just make sure while you write your routines you have a dictionary nearby.
2007-01-11 00:52:50
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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Trying acting. Audition for the local theatre when they are doing a comedy show. Your comic timing could get you the part.
2007-01-11 11:02:02
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answer #7
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answered by Sarah 2
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it definatly wouldnt be a teacher, but i think its what u do daliy that makes u feel like u could do it for other people would be ur talent. mine is music. i play 6 instruments, violin, viola, flute, piccalo, piano, and guitar. u can guess what ur good at and try it. if it doesnt work, try something else.. ps. dont spend to much money on it.
2007-01-11 17:35:57
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answer #8
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answered by kat jo 2
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maybe your talent is asking questions and philosophizing...
2007-01-11 01:42:47
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answer #9
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answered by icabod crane 2
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