How To Become A Comedian

If you fancy yourself funny, you've wondered how to become a comedian. It seems easy enough-you think of funny things, you write them down, you memorize them and you say them. However, there's a lot that goes on in between. If you're serious about this comedy thing, here are some tips to get you started.

Don't Go Chasin' The Green
If you're thinking of getting into comedy just to make money, it may not be for you. While comedy can eventually become a full time job and source of income, it doesn't start out that way. Many comedians work for free for four or five years before finally hitting their stride and getting paid. Your first few years should find you focusing on developing an act and an appreciation for the craft, so make sure you're in it for the right reasons.

Observe and Study
As is the case with sports, acting or other performance activities, watching other, established comedians perform on television and in person is vital to growing as a comedian. While you'll eventually want to develop your own, unique style, it can help to take note of how veteran comics present their jokes, deliver their punchlines and gauge an audience.

The Write Stuff
While many crave the thrill of getting on stage in front of a bunch of strangers and winging it, chances are you'll find it harder than it seems. To avoid such a traumatic experience, take the time to sit down and jot down some ideas for bits (meaning rant-like routines), stories (funny anecdotes or experiences from your life) or jokes (one-liners-setups/punchlines). Another good idea is to enroll in a standup comedy class or comedy writing class, which are often offered at colleges or adult education settings. In fact, many comedians start out this way; it's a good venue to try material out on your peers before you try it on strangers.

Find a Mic
Virtually every standup comedian in the world started out by playing open mics. It's a good way to try your stuff out without your career or future on the line. While many professional clubs offer open mics, you may want to steer clear of those for a while and seek out weekly shows at bars or coffee houses where you'll at least have people for whom to perform. Many clubs will offer "bringer" shows-these are shows in which you either have to pay to play, or bring friends to fill the audience (and pay for two drinks). Unless these are recommended audition situations (which you'll hear about by talking to other comics), try to avoid them, as they generally don't help you advance or improve and just make your friends hate you.

Clubbing
After a month or two of getting genuine laughs at the open mics, talk to some established comics to find out a good club for new comics to perform. Visit the club's website and find out its policy for newbies/auditions, or see if a comic will recommend you. When you get your time, record your sets and watch them, taking notes and finding ways to improve your material while also generating new ideas with which to work.