Who here has ever done stand up comedy?
 

I did in the late 80's. Performed at clubs like The Funnybone, Jokers mainly regional places in and around Texas.

Used to also perform at a Pizza Place in Dallas..I think the name was Prestos...been a long time...a small club / pizza place that had a nice little stage. David Spade warmed up there before his Improv shows on the other side of Dallas, and Jaime Foxx used to perform there before he made it.

I've been getting the hankering to try it again...don't know why.

It's a scary biz, you're out there all alone, it's your material, nothing to hide behind, no one to blame but yourself when you bomb.

I thought about doing it and started doing my research and writing some stuff but just chickened out. I dont know if I can take being on stage. Props to you for being able to do it.

My biggest night I bombed was when my dad showed up to watch...LOL

Man what a night. 10 minutes of material went by in about 2-3...LOL

When you start to bomb that shit just flies out of your mouth.

I know... i have a bunch of friends that are comedians and they tell me all their horror stories. They also were telling me that its harder when you are a girl etc. Maybe I will still do it one day.

The only performance in front of a crowd I've ever done was playing in my band. I'm sure it's nothing like standup.

i love comedy, its great for cheering you up, and good all around, anyone that can make me laugh, deserves a thumbs up. try it again, before its too late. if you enjoy making people laugh, thats all that matters.

Are you still in Texas?? i love going to see comedy shows every once in a while. I'd love to see you perform!

I did in the late 80's also in NY , if I didnt get anxiety attacks , you would of probably been watching Everyone Loves Tony lol Its very lonely up there and everyone is comedy critic.

I thought life was one big stand-up comedy. Isn't that was made Jerry Seinfield famous.

Lyn

heh.. ive never seen a stand up comedy girl that was funny.. dont know why that is...

Used to shoot amateur nite at a club in Lexington years ago. That count? lol

I won an amateur contest few years ago inScottsdale and then went to a club in Nashville I think it was called Zaynes. It was fun, I was scared as shit since a few years back my English was worse then it is now and my Dutch accent thick as hell. I never persued it as a carreer tho.

Actually I'm in Vegas now.

I love stand up comedy. I wish I have the timing and pacing skills to give it a shot. My favorite comedian is Dennis Wolfberg (RIP). Awesome timing. Great word play.

the hardest artistic craft of them all - making somebody cry is much easier than making them laugh - the worst of being a standup comedian is that a large part of the audience wants the comic to suck.

Oh hell yeah, that's why I have a lot of respect for comics that continously kill the audience night after night. Wolfberg, Chris Rock, Chapelle, et al.

A good few - that's why it's so damned funny visiting GFY.

Tho they ain't got a clue they are doing comedy. :winkwink:

Even the best can swim or sink on material! :thumbsup

So true, so many think it's their duty to show up at a club and give the comedian a hard time.

Hence a lot of people came up with lines *these are very old* like:

I don't show up to your job and show you how to salt fries.

I don't show up to your job and slap the dick out of your mouth.

Someone put a dick in her mouth that might shut her up.

etc.etc.

I love hanging out with comedians, really interesting people. Smart, funny and the good ones can just pull shit out of the air you would have never even thought about saying. Shit that makes your drink fly out of your nose you're so startled. I used to tend bar in a comedy club.

Yeah some of the funniest people are the smartest people. Not necessarily book smart, but if they had decided to focus their energy on their education would have suceeded at that as well.

I've been told that I should try amateur night, does that count?

Eroswebmaster, not to turn this thread into a Q&A session but what words of wisdom would you have if I chose to give that a try?

Write out about 15 minutes worth of material...practice in front of a mirror until it becomes 2nd nature to you.

When you do decide to hit amateur nights you'll be so nervous that the 2 minutes they give you, you'll be amazed at how quickly you'll go through all that material.

Have someone videotape each and every performance so you can review it later. A lot of clubs don't mind.

Show up early, it's usually first come first served, but be prepared to be bumped because the emcee for the night has a few favorites he wants to put in before you.

If you get bumped to the last * I did a few times* still go on, it's all about time on stage and getting comfortable with who you are.

The hardest part of being a comedian is trying to sell people on who you are in such a short time. Your friends find you funny, your family finds you funny because they know you. They get you, they know where your mind is at.

Successful comedians are able to bridge that gap between themselves and the audience much quicker.

This is why you see the joke guys who do well, but never make it as stars. They just tell jokes. If you take a look at the better comedians out there you will see they are really humorists, telling stories, weaving a pattern through there whole act which they use to draw you in, and finish off with a bang. Alot of times that finish / punchline will be a point that they've been driving home all night.