By Creig Ewing
One of the many difficult aspects about standup comedy is that you are going to face a lot of setbacks. How you deal with that will determine how long you can keep going.
I have been at bar shows where I could barely get the attention of the audience, let alone make them laugh. Afterward, I shuffled to the parking lot, wondering what the hell I was doing and why I would put myself through that. Is comedy even worth it?
Instead of giving up, I decided I would try to figure out how to better command the attention of the audience and also be more selective in what shows I would do.
If you’re a comic, you’re also going to be rejected by festivals, not advance in contests, get ignored by the audience and not get booked on thousands of shows.
The same goes for all creative pursuits — acting, singing, art. You are going to get rejected a lot. You can let it drive you away or use it as fuel to get better.
You can sit and stew about how comedy is unfair or why you aren’t getting more opportunities. Or you can decide not to take it personally and use it as incentive to improve.
I have been in contests where I think my jaw actually dropped when I did not make the finals. In my mind, I did better than everyone in the contest and the audience was with me.
After cursing everyone involved, I decided that maybe my material was just not the right fit for the judges.
If you feel beaten down by rejection in comedy, it might help to share with a friend or fellow comic and get the frustration out instead of stewing and deciding comedy is not for you.
Also, remember that as you continue to do more comedy, you will get better. You are already so much better than that comic you were a year ago.
If you are looking to improve your chances of getting picked for festivals, booked for shows and such, here are some general things you might work on:
Find your unique voice
You don’t have to transition to Larry The Cable Guy, but if you can find material that showcases your unique talents, experience and mindset, you will set yourself apart.
Plenty of newer comics do jokes about porn, taking a dump and pleasuring themselves. Sometimes all three. Do yourself a favor and veer away from these and other well-worn topics.
Refine your material
You were just handed your latest comedy setback, and your response is to be defensive. If you decide that all your jokes are perfect and your act doesn’t need changing, prepare for a lot more setbacks.
Take a critical eye to your material. What is really working? What words can be cut out, what can be added?
Many newer comics think just talking about a funny or naughty subject is enough to get laughs. It’s not.
You should know where in your set people are going to laugh, take the fewest words to get there and go on to the next bit.
This is the step that can take your comedy to the next level.
I see lots of comics do material, and I wonder where they expect people to laugh. You should know where your punchlines are.
Be able to work cleanish
I am not a huge fan of clean comedy, but a lot of comics I like have material that is too dirty for me to book them.
If you like to do jokes with shock value, it may shock you to learn they are costing you chances to be booked on a lot of shows.
If you want more opportunities, you need to be able to work clean or cleanish.
As you get better and more comfortable on stage you can work more adult stuff into your act skillfully.
Get comfortable on stage
Getting comfortable on stage comes with time and experience. One skill that headliners have is that they have seen it all — hecklers, equipment malfunctions, drunk audience members, whatever, and can keep the show rolling with ease.
The more often you are on stage, the more familiar you are with your material, the more at ease you are talking to a crowd of hundreds or the four people who came to the show and the better response your jokes will get.
Keep at it and good luck!
