Stand-up comedy is a difficult act that relies solely on the performer’s talent. It can take many forms and has evolved over time, from vaudeville to subversive message comedy to observational humor. Dealing with hecklers is a crucial skill, and open mic nights offer beginners a chance to try their hand at it.
Stand-up comedy has often been described as one of the most difficult acts to pull off. It basically consists of a person standing in front of an audience and trying to make people laugh. Many professionals say sitting can be hard and lonely. Perhaps this is where the phrase, I died up there, originated.
Unlike an actor, a stand-up comedian either fails or succeeds thanks to their talent. An actor usually has a script to rely on and a team of other actors to rely on. Stand-up comedy is just a single, hopefully talented person with a very likable personality or an arsenal of jokes.
Stand-up comedy can take many forms. It can consist of a monologue of funny episodes that can form a story. It can be a series of biting jokes or just a succession of jokes. It can also be performed almost anywhere: clubs, bars or parties.
The art of this type of performance has undergone many changes. Gone are the slapstick days of vaudeville and old gag artists like George Burns, Bob Hope and Jack Benny. The 1960s and 70s brought new artists with a different approach. The new comedy was subversive, message comedy. He used current affairs and political content to raise social issues and change public thinking.
Comedians like Lenny Bruce and Bill Hicks got in your face and brain as they broke the barriers of comedy. Lenny Bruce has been arrested many times for his particular type of comedy. These stand-up comics challenged traditional comedy to a brawl and then swept the floor with it.
The 1980s gave birth to a comedic style known as observational humor that looked at everyday incidents with a distorted eye. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld was a master of this type of comedy. Many stand-up comedians have transitioned to starring in their own television shows and movies. Stars like Robin Williams, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin made their stand-up comedy debuts.
One of the greatest skills a stand-up comedian can have is knowing how to deal with the heckler. The best comedians have been known to use the jammer and incorporate the jammer into the act, but a cutting remark from an audience member can sometimes kill a performer’s act.
If you think you have what it takes to get into the world of stand up comedy, many comedy clubs hold open mic nights. Complete beginners can stand in front of an audience and do their best to make them laugh. It takes a very talented and courageous person to do that.
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