How to Perform Your First Stand-Up Comedy Gig
Debut Comedy Performance Survival Guide
Performing stand up is considered by many to be the most frightening thing on earth. When someone does it for the first time the experience can be a little overwhelming so it’s sensible to stick to the basics.
Gig Basics
These tips may be obvious to some but keeping them in mind will save you and the comedy promoter who's organising the night a lot of headaches
- Check where the venue is, print a map and check your journey time
- What time you have to be there?
- How long you will be onstage ?
- Find out who else is on the bill.
Also and very very important - don’t get drunk! It may make people think they are more funny but it doesn't make them more funny; in fact it can make a performer look very unprofessional and lose them the respect of the audence. What's more it impairs your judgement and slows down your brain processing time. Wait until you’ve finished your set.
Know Your Routine
Knowing your material inside out is the fast way of giving yourself some breathing space. At a first gig a performer will be required to perform for no longer than five minutes (sometimes less) and even though that doesn’t seem like a long time, it will feel like it the first time. It’s best to work out your routine at around 3 jokes per minute at first. Use any spare moment you have to memorise those jokes so you don't have to write them on your hand.
Be Happy
As nervous as you may be or as stressed as you are, try your best to smile and address the crowd with enthusiasm. Even if you want to be a dark, mean moody comedian, you will have to slowly develop the stage presence to pull this off over time. Happy comics always die less onstage then moody ones anyhow. Some tips to overcoming nerves can be found in the article Eliminate Public Speaking Anxiety.
Expect the unexpected
Jokes that seemed to be the hilarious on paper can bomb unexpectedly; conversely things that would never be expected to get a laugh will. Things never quite go to plan in stand-up. That’s why it’s so much fun and so addictive. Go with the flow and enjoy the ride!
First gig goals
First gigs aren’t make or break. Remember, stand up comedy is a long hard learning process so don’t set your first gig goals too high. Just…
- Get through it
- Try out material
- Get used to being onstage
- tryy and get a few laughs
- build confidence
Friends and Family
Whilst it’s great to have the moral support of loved ones, stand up is a very personal process and it may not be appropriate to have them in the audience at first. They’ll make you nervous and affect your performance. It’s also likely that some of the people close to you will be doubting your abilities. Wait until you’ve got a bunch of gigs under your belt and then really show them what you can do.
Try and record the gig (with a memo recorder) so you can listen back and analyse where laughs occurred and where they didn’t. This will leave you in no doubt what material works and what doesn’t. Once it’s over take stock and book some more. Work hard because It is possible to make a career out of stand-up comedy. For those people who love live comedy but don’t want to perform why not learn how to put on a comedy night.
