How to Start Your Career as a Stand-Up Comedian

Stand-up comedy is a remarkable art form that allows individuals to express themselves creatively, bring laughter to people’s lives, and even paves the way for a successful career. If you’re considering embarking on a journey into stand-up comedy in the UK, this guide will provide you with the necessary steps to get started.

Start Writing Material:

The first crucial step in your stand-up comedy journey is to start writing material. Begin by brainstorming ideas based on your life experiences, personal anecdotes, and things that you find amusing. Consider jotting down observations about the world around you as well.

To develop your jokes, be patient and persistent. Comedy is subjective and encompasses various styles, making it challenging to offer one-size-fits-all advice. However, the top tip is just to get writing and to explore different styles. The more you write, the sooner you’ll develop your unique style and find your comedic voice.

Find Inspiration:

Inspiration can be found in various places when crafting your comedy material. Here are some specific sources to consider:

Other Comedians: Watch stand-up comedy specials by as many comedians as possible. Pay attention to their topics, joke structures, and delivery styles.

Comedy Books: There are numerous books on stand-up comedy that can provide valuable insights and guidance. Some popular titles include “The Comedy Bible” by Judy Carter, “Stand-Up Comedy: The Book” by Steve Allen, and “Becoming a Comic” by Jerry Seinfeld.

Comedy Podcasts: Explore the vast selection of comedy podcasts available, which can offer fresh perspectives and ideas.

Your Own Life: The best comedy often stems from truth. Reflect on your own life experiences, quirks, pet peeves, and observations about the world around you. These personal insights can form the foundation of relatable and authentic comedic material.

Network:

Networking is an essential part of any career, including stand-up comedy. Attend comedy shows, open mics, and other events where comedians gather. Introduce yourself to other comedians and industry professionals. Building relationships within the comedy community can lead to future opportunities, such as guest spots or recommendations for paid gigs.

Consider joining online communities or forums dedicated to stand-up comedy. Engage in discussions, share your experiences, and seek advice from fellow comedians. Social media platforms like Twitter or Instagram can also be valuable tools for connecting with other comedians and promoting your work.

This can be tough for some acts who maybe are not too inclined to sell themselves, maybe even feeling awkward to do so. You just need to find your way. The great thing about the advance in online comedy and platforms like Tik Tok is that you can build relationships online. More important than anything else is to be professional in your conduct and friendly to all those you cross paths with. Heck, if you are funny to boot, you won’t have too much finding trouble getting gigs at all.

Be Persistent:

Stand-up comedy is a tough business, and it takes time to build a career. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get gigs right away or if your material doesn’t always land with audiences. Keep practicing, writing, and performing. The more you do it, the better you will become.

Embrace failure as a learning opportunity. Some of the most successful comedians have experienced numerous setbacks before achieving fame. Use each performance as a chance to grow and improve. Recording your sets can be a great way to review your performance.

The place you are trying to get to is consistency – either through finding your own audience and giving what they want, or across the UK at various gigs. Getting to a stage where you can perform to different audience demographics and where 9 times out of 10 it’s been an alright or good gig is a beautiful feeling.

It can take some acts years, decades, before they find a way to breakthrough – others seem to crack it in months. Again though this is an area that online presence can help with. You can put out so much material, so quickly, that you can find your audience in new ways. For everyone it isn’t about being ‘famous’ but just becoming a good comic and that is probably the best place to start your journey from.

Get Gigs:

Once you have developed material that you’re satisfied with, it’s time to start performing. Open mic nights are an excellent way to test your material on a live audience and gain valuable stage experience. Look for open mic nights at comedy clubs, pubs, and online platforms dedicated to connecting comedians with gig opportunities.

When you do get gigs, it’s essential to be professional. Show up on time, be prepared, and be respectful to everyone involved in the show. This includes other comedians, the audience, and the venue staff.

Don’t be inappropriate with other acts. It’s the quickest way to end your fledgling career. Be respectful, don’t stalk people and please don’t make unwelcome advances. The comedy circuit is on high alert currently for those that are perceived as a threat. If you can’t control yourself, the comedy circuit isn’t for you and you should seek medical assistance.

What to Expect from the Circuit:

The UK comedy circuit is both competitive and supportive and gorgeous and ugly and fun and hard. As a newcomer, expect to perform at smaller venues such as comedy clubs and pubs. Some shows will have a stage. Some won’t. Some might not even have an audience who were expecting a comedy show – when you are starting out you will see it all!

The thing to remember though is no matter the set up or venue or audience is to get something from it. When you are new/newer you will learn with every gig. So if you can find a way to learn and even enjoy every gig you do, good result or bad, you will be in a really healthy place.

Building a following takes time, so don’t anticipate instant fame. It requires developing your material and growing a fan base. Explore those online options, when you’ve got clips of you smashing it, start putting them out there. Comedy is subjective, so if you can make people laugh – you will find your people.

Becoming a stand-up comedian requires dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to take risks. Use the tips and tricks provided in this article as a starting point for your comedy journey. Remember that success in stand-up comedy doesn’t happen overnight; it takes time and effort to develop your skills and find your unique comedic voice – and that success means a whole lot of things to different people. Stay committed, keep writing, and keep performing. With passion and persistence, you can turn your dream of being a stand-up comedian into a reality. Good luck!