Embarking on a stand-up comedy career is akin to a thrilling roller coaster ride, filled with highs and lows.
Aspiring comedians face common hurdles that can make or break their journey.
Understanding and overcoming these mistakes can not only enhance your performance but also propel you towards success in this challenging yet rewarding art form.
So what are the top mistakes new stand up comedians make? The top mistakes comedians make are:
Attacking a Small Audience
Misjudging Hecklers
Over-reliance on Notes
Not Recording Sets
Not Watching Recorded Sets
Excessive Drinking
Poor Time Management outside the Stage
Inappropriate Dressing
Lack of Enthusiasm
Rushing into Material
Ignoring Audience Reaction
Using Inside Jokes that a stranger won't understand
Disregarding the Light
Using Offensive Material
Not Networking
I see these mistakes in comedy scenes all over the United States and all over the world. From gossiping instead of working on your art to getting too blazed at each show, there is a lot to unpack. While open mics are required to practice your art, they are horrible places to build bad habits.
The bad news is that it will require some effort. The good news is it's easy and laid out for you.
Let's discuss these in detail.
Mastering the Mic: Mistakes New Comedians Make All the Time
1. Attacking a Small Audience of those who did Show Up
Respect is key, regardless of audience size. I see too many mics with more than 10 people waiting to perform, and only three audience members. The first few comics alienate or insult the small audience, ruining it for the remaining comics who haven't gone yet.
A small crowd presents an intimate setting, offering a unique opportunity to connect deeply and create loyal fans. If you can make them laugh and enjoy themselves, a real crowd in the future will be a cake walk.
Show gratitude and perform with enthusiasm; your positive energy can turn a modest gathering into a group of ardent supporters. It will keep the mic alive and also give you incredible skills for the future.
Oh and hosts keenly observe which comics are aware of this and will happil put them up earlier if it means keeping crowds in their seats.
2. Misjudging Hecklers
Interpreting audience interaction is an art.
Not all interruptions are hostile; some may be attempts at engagement. Handling these moments with humor and grace can enhance your likability and show your quick wit.
I know you're nervous as a new comedian but you're also a nobody (sorry to be harsh) and the bar or club or coffee shop owner will hate you if you walked out two paying customers just because you took their interactions personally.
If you are going to try and engage a heckler (even a real one) it always helps to be self deprecating at first so the audience can find you likable until you truly know how to handle each situation.
3. Over-reliance on Notes
Familiarity with your material breeds confidence.
While notes are helpful during preparation, constant reference during a performance can disrupt your flow and disconnect you from the audience. Aim to internalize your set to maintain a natural and engaging presence.
There is nothing worth than a comedian who is bombing flipping a page on his notes as the audience thinks "oh man he has a list this isn't ending soon."
Once you have a tight twenty or thirty minute set, go ahead and bring notes on stage at open mics because you might be doing hundreds your first few years.
However the final product will just be your eye contact and charisma with the studio audience, so make sure you get to that final state earlier than sooner.
4. Not Recording Sets
Recording your performances is a powerful tool for self-evaluation.
It allows you to objectively assess your delivery, timing, and audience reactions, providing crucial insights for refinement.
Even the poorest of comics has a camera more powerful than the computer that took people to the moon in their pocket.
You have zero excuse to record the audio or video of your set. Many times a joke will work and work well, but you can't remember if it's because the way you said it or the specific words you used.
Recording at least the audio solves this problem and can make or break entire specials.
5. Not Watching Recorded Sets
Simply recording your sets is not enough; reviewing them is where the real learning happens. Analyzing your performances can reveal strengths to build upon and weaknesses to address.
When you watch your set immediately after performing it, you actually perform twice.
So many comics do the exact same thing the next show because they can't bear to hear themselves bomb the night before.
Don't do that!
6. Excessive Drinking
Maintaining a clear head is essential for delivering your best performance.
Overindulging before or after shows can mess up your timing, your recall and your crowd work.
It also breaks the bank over time when in reality you should be in your element trying to make strangers laugh and reading the room.
Just because you see your hero drinking on stage doesn't mean you should also, at least early on.
If you're going to be a professional comic you're goin to do close to 300 shows a year. Are you really going to drink 300 days a year?
7. Poor Time Management
The time before and after performances is valuable.
Use it wisely to rehearse, reflect, and acquire new skills such as digital marketing or film production, which can broaden your career opportunities.
If you are hanging out at the open mic for two hours before your set you have no excuse to not memorize your 5 minute set. What else are you doing with that time?!?
Use your downtime on days you're not doing shows to send Facebook and Instagram messages and emails to bookers. Learn to edit videos, record blog posts, blog, and the basics of digital marketing.
If you're not doing it, other comedians are and while they might not be as funny as you they're algorithm and promotional prowess will ensure they sell tickets while you still struggle.
8. Inappropriate Dressing
Your appearance sets the tone for your performance.
Dressing well shows respect for your audience and venue, especially for significant shows, enhancing your professional image.
Too many young comics show up to paid gig in flip flops and a t-shirt when the crowd paid $20, got a baby sitter and took a shower to be there.
While jokes are number number one, first impressions can make a huge difference in how people perceive you. On the flip side, don't be that comic who gets a haircut and a shave before each show to try and get lucky but has mediocre jokes.
Figure the rules out first and then bend them.
9. Not Supporting Other Comics who are on Stage
If the mic is empty, it often means people are coming in to the venue and leaving when they see all the empty chairs.
When I run a mic I make the comics sit in the second or third row, even if they're just going to look at their phone. It prevents them from talking to each other but it also ensures people who walk in later think there is already a crowd there, and thus won't leave but will instead stick around.
10. Rushing into Material
Take the time to establish a connection with your audience before launching into your routine. A brief introduction or interaction can help settle the crowd and warm them up to your humor.
11. Ignoring Audience Reaction
Stand-up is a dynamic interaction. Pay attention to how the audience responds to your material and be flexible enough to adjust on the fly. This sensitivity can transform a good set into a great one.
12. Using Inside Jokes
Relatability is key in comedy.
Ensure your jokes resonate with a broad audience to avoid alienating those who might not get more obscure references.
If you got an audience of all caucasian folks they're not gonna care about 30 minutes of Indian jokes, or if you're an accountant doing office humor the drunks at the bar may be working at totally different industries.
13. Disregarding the Light
Respecting the light, the signal to wrap up your set, is crucial. Overstaying your time can disrespect the venue and other comedians, affecting future opportunities.
14. Using Offensive Material
Comics who start dirty stay dirty. It's hard enough to get a laugh, it's way harder to get a laugh on a clean joke. However anybody can be edgy or blue or dirty and probably get a chuckle just based on the subject matter being risque.
The best way to get bigger stages is to ensure your material will work on any stage.
TV, streaming services and corporate events can all be excluded if you're only edgy or controversial.
15. Not Networking
Comedy is as much about connections as it is about talent. Networking with peers and industry professionals can open doors to opportunities and provide valuable insights and support.
Conclusion
Stand-up comedy is an art that requires not just talent but also a keen understanding of its unwritten rules.
If you take this seriously as a career, you will come early to the mic, grab a premium spot, do your set and then watch two more performers to support them.
From there, get back to managing yourself!
Avoiding the common pitfalls above can help you build a strong foundation for your comedic career.
Remember, every mistake is a lesson in disguise, and every performance is a step towards mastering the art of making people laugh.