Don't say things on-stage you wouldn't say off-stage

You are still you, but now you have a microphone

I make my main living teaching Beginner’s stand-up comedy, and it’s always astounded me how much people can change when they pick up the mic. It’s often one or all of: over-confidence, nerves, fear of failure and/or copying other stand-ups.

Photo by Anita Jankovic on Unsplash

I recently had a student “Barry”, that had some material that was often unpleasant (mysoginistic, transphobic etc.) and most of all, not funny. I told him “I don’t think you would say that to people, so why are you saying it to us? We’re people!”. I totally get it though, edgy comedians can be brilliant - so new comics want to emulate their heroes. But their heroes have arrived at that style usually after many decades of performing. This is why in my stand up comedy classes I make students do at least 3 weeks of just free authentic writing before they get around to writing any jokes. You need to learn life drawing, before you get to cubism.

Early Picasso - not a cube in sight - nga.gov

My entire 6 week stand-up class for free(ish)!

The version of you that’s doing stand up is still you. It should still hold the same values. If you wouldn’t usually engage in bigotry or overly sexual talk etc then why would you do it if you’re holding a microphone? Because you assume that to be a comedian you have to go there. But that is just some comedians that you have observed, and this type of material sticks in your mind. A truly great comedian is 100% themselves.

But what if I am a piece of shit?

Barry’s argument was that he and his friends joke about this kind of stuff all the time. Oh please invite me to your next hang! 🙏 I guess I see his point. Isn’t art about expressing yourself, even if you’re a complete bell-end? Just because it’s not to my taste, it doesn’t mean it’s bad. BUT, funny is funny. You still have to write a good joke, and the darker the material, the more charisma and sharp joke-writing skills you need. So just start slow, I implore you!

If you're offending your audience, write better jokes

Think about your set, are you being authentic?

I often observe comedians writing material for the zeitgeist, rather than just writing for themselves. When the brain detects inauthenticity you feel disconnected to the person. If you stick to this Venn diagram you can’t go wrong.

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Video comedy coaching

• HMU for private coaching for your comedy set, or anything else comedy related, I operate a sliding payment scale - Email

Teaching plugs Berlin

• I’m teaching Intro To Sketch with Comedy Cafe Berlin in January,nearly sold out! - Link

• My January Beginner’s Stand-Up Comedy classes are all sold out, but join a waiting list here - Link

• Vouchers for my classes/coaching make cool presents! Link

Last shows of the year!

If you are strapped for cash you can always email me for guest list.

• Wed 18.12.24 @ 8pm - The Improvised Stand-Up Show - Link

• Fri 20.12.24 @ 8pm - Improv with Funfdollar The House Show - Link
  9.30pm - Improvised road trip - Drive Time With Roadkill - Link

• Sat 21.12.24 @8pm - Miracle on Roseggerstraße - A Holiday Variety Spectacular - Link

World Wide Web Plugs

• Berlin Stand-Up School - berlinstandupschool.com

• Linktree - carolineclifford.com