I've been thinking of doing standup - any advice

[wonderbunny]

I've always had a problem with stage fright, buts once warmed up I do pretty good with a small crowd. Anything more than a handful I freak out. Anyone with experience out there?

[thecablegal]

Your set has to be well planned out, and trust me, you have to be VERY funny to make it in stand up. If you are having a banter with mates, then they tend to laugh, but a crowd can be hard to please.

Stage fright isn't handy either, because hecklers tend to go for the people who look more scared during a performance.

You can't use jokes you've heard other comedians use, because someone in the crowd will always know. You have to be straight to the point, and very fast with responses, becuase if someone shouts something at you, you have to know what to say back in a split second.

Otherwise you 'die' on stage.

How do I know this? I wanted to try it myself a few years ago, but I just didn't have the material. I'm quick-witted, but I'm nervous on stage, and that wouldn't work. I've also read the autobiography of my favourite comedian, and he had a VERY tough time when he started gigging.

Good luck to you if you ever try it, but it is one of the hardest jobs.

[wonderbunny]

I'm not sure what it is, but apparently there's something about the way I look. I guess I look like an airhead, but I'm not so its apparently 'shocking'. The schtick is I don't talk at all like I look so there's a disconnect. I do know that drug addicts hate me for some weird reason I irritate the hell out of them. I wonder why?

[Twigggy]

I've always had a problem with stage fright, buts once warmed up I do pretty good with a small crowd. Anything more than a handful I freak out. Anyone with experience out there?

Well, if you want to succeed onstage (or anywhere) you have to be different; and the best way to be different is to be yourself. You don't know how many comedians I see that are so dull, so lifeless that I forget about them the next day. Forget about the mundane crap all comedians speak about these days. It's too boring. Too simple. Be yourself. Andy Kaufman was the most open minded comedian to walk the earth and he didn't care. He had no limits in his act. He was the real deal.

[MandyCarrey]

Id love to do stand up. I remember when i was little you know you write about what you wanna be when you grow up that was what i wanted to be. I am funny and i can make a joke out of any situation and all that jazz.. but it aint me.. i dont think it would bte something i could do.. im a very self consious person on stage and get really scared and nervous.. after a while im fine.. when ive acted in plays and stuff you can forget about people watching you but when your a stand up you tlaking directly to the audience... too nerve racking for me. lol. i think stand ups a genius's!... i love lee evans he is awesome!