If you’re thinking about doing comedy or even if you have been doing comedy for a while, a good rule to follow is “don’t be mean.” Look, stand-up isn’t easy. It’s difficult. But even the ability to get up on a stage and trying to make strangers laugh is brave. It takes guts. I was lucky because I had a lot of supportive people around. They will tell me good job, even if I felt I did terrible. They never made me feel bad for chasing a passion of mine.
And that’s something I hate. If someone does comedy and bombs or doesn’t do well, don’t be a jerk to them. We all started in that position. We’ve all struggled. I’ve been doing comedy for 5 years and I still feel insecure and scared of what more established comedians will think of my act. But it’s the people who come up and tell me I did well or make me feel better about not doing so great that really make me feel like I belong. I’m not saying you have to lie to people or be overly nice. But maybe don’t talk behind people’s backs or make fun of what they’re doing. Comedy is a process and it takes some people longer to find their voice. But they keep working it and I respect that. These days when I see someone bomb or feel bad about themselves after a set, I tell them about some of my worst shows. It’s nice to know that someone else has experienced the same feeling. And maybe one day they will get really good at stand-up and remember me when they are famous. But mostly, I just want people to feel included. I’ve been excluded before and it’s a sucky feeling to not feel like you belong or that people don’t like you.
Stand-up should be fun. It should be judgement free. We are all on a journey and we are all just trying to figure it out. So let’s all be friends..okay man? Don’t be a dick.
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