Comments on: A Great Question From A Professional Musician About Becoming A Comedian

By: dr_hoddi

dr_hoddi — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:22:21 +0000

I believe you need “something to say” (i.e., an actual message that you really believe in) rather than merely jokes to tell. The confidence you are seeking will then be in your message itself and not in your ability to entertain, so then you won’t feel that you are under the microscope of a critical audience. When I use humour in public speaking, I focus more on my message than on the humour, which (hopefully) is a natural part of how you think and communicate anyway.

By: Larry Goodale

Larry Goodale — Fri, 31 May 2013 18:58:27 +0000

Any kind of performing is a bonus. It gets you used to being in front of a crowd. Acting in a play is a great experience, especially if it’s a comedy. If you follow the rules of theater (speak loud and clear, let the laughter die down before continuing your lines, etc.), it will certainly help. But acting in a play, playing/singing in a band, teaching (standing in front of a group of people for a certain amount of time), can only help you so much.

It’s like a person who cooks for a family of five people. Does that nightly experience prepare you to be a Master Chef who cooks gourmet meals for hundreds of people every night? In some ways, yes. In other ways, not really. They are two different things.

My experience acting in plays, or singing in a choir, or being a public speaker (pastor) has only helped so much in my stand-up comedy pursuit. Steve’s course has helped me a lot. Plus, it’s just getting up on stage and doing it. (“it” = a well rehearsed act! Not just winging it!) Then analyzing what worked and what didn’t. It’s figuring out how you make people laugh in real life and how to tap into that on the stage!

By: Jared Wynn

Jared Wynn — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 22:31:14 +0000

I’ve taught for years and years, I’ve done a lot of public speaking, and I was already comfortable in front of a crowd, with a microphone in my hand. And it shows on my first open mic. But comedic delivery really is more complicated than just telling jokes. I’ve got a ways to go.