Tips for becoming a professional comedian - with Myq Kaplan
Highlights from our epic podcast episode
Firstly, if you haven’t, please listen to the amazing “Needs Work” episode I had with
. If you’re not familiar with the podcast arm of my Substack - I interview, usually “up and coming” comedians about a bit of theirs that isn’t working as well as they hoped and we try and fix it together.
This was the first time I had an “Already up and came” 👀 comedian, and Myq had so many tips for the noobs I thought I’d share most of them here.
I’m paraphrasing this somewhat so if you want it straight from the source, listen to the pod! ⬆️
When should you move to the big city?
Hit the glass ceiling in a smaller scene before moving to a huge scene
Myq took many years becoming a regular headliner in Boston’s largest clubs before setting sail for the big apple. He says you should be more than ready before you make your big move.
It was good that it happened later. I was better, with more years and more experience under my belt. As they say, never have a second chance to make a first impression.
If you already live in a large city already, try and fly under the radar a bit.
Obviously if you are based in a large city already, it wouldn’t make sense to move away and come back again. But try and fly under the radar a bit. Stick to mics before trying to showboat yourself to larger shows.
On being patient
It will take way longer than you want [to make it]
You’ll see some of your peers make it ahead of you. Know as always that it takes time and patience. You will probably be a better comic that took 10 years to go pro, than someone that took 5.
Bill Hicks was not as good at 15 as he was at 30
You will always get better
OK some some comedians eventually grow in to tedious boomers - but we’re talking about the beginning steps here. You will get better year by year.
Richard Jenney. who has said something like: if you're starting out and you feel like you suck and everything sucks and your jokes all suck and everyone's telling you that you suck and audiences are saying that you suck, he's like, you're probably on the right track.
The gig you are doing tonight isn’t as important as the comedian you’ll be in 5 years time
That’s not to say gigs aren’t important - it’s to say don’t beat yourself up about single gigs. If they go badly, or whether you get booked to do the 10 minute spot. Just focus on improving, always.
The first resource is permission to uncensor yourself. When you're writing and then decide what are the things that are the most meaningful to perform and do it as much as possible.
Uncensor yourself and do material that is the most meaningful to you
Uncensoring yourself doesn’t necessarily mean doing dick helicopters, but if that is your truth my friend… (no - please don’t do that). It means don’t shy away from being 100% you just to appease the imaginary “them”. Then find the strands of 100% you that connect and do that more.Compare yourself to your past self, not other comedians
lol I noted in the podcast, this can be impossible advice to take! However we must try! Everyone is different and is on a different path.
you definitely will improve and it however bad you are when you're starting there's even more room for improvement you understand like to climb mount Everest is impressive but if you're starting all the way halfway up that's not as impressive if you're starting in the Marianas trench then you're you know
The worse you are the more you’ll improve!
That’s a sobering thought! It’s true. Some of the comedians I know that had the slowest starts ended up becoming the most interesting and original comedians because they really had to find all the interesting strand. People who start strong, often end up strong, but might just have a lot of comedy influences already which will make them seem less original.
On being prolific
Honestly, it's willingness to fail, you know, and I think every comedian has that to some degree. You must know going into it that you're not going to please every audience. I Love Hedberg's joke. “You can't please all the people all the time. And last night, all those people were at my show”.
Be willing to fail
Don’t just do your A material at every show, especially open mics. Take risks. Try out stuff you know will bomb! Then see if you can make it work.
Ultimately you are going to be the one who decides what you do and what what you say and what you want to do, as opposed to in the beginning. I say this sometimes that I was more asking jokes than telling jokes. And because it's like, is this this this one?
You decide what you do and what you want to say
Don’t ask the audiences permission to be funny. You are the comedian, you are in control of everything. Sure, if then consistently don’t get an joke that you think is hilarious - it needs work. But don’t let them decide your destiny or you’ll end up being generic.Have shows you can experiment at
Personally I love new material & improvised stand-up nights, probably more than I like regular shows. It’s so fun to have a safe space you can experiment at.Imagine your material from different points of view
I can not find this quote, but it was in my notes. I always give this advice to my students and its a great writing tool. What would a bigot say about my material, a bible basher? A bro? A wine mom? Of course they are all just facets of your own personality
Online comedy coaching
I do 1 on 1 classes and coaching sessions for stand-up comedians - Email
Teaching plugs Berlin
My Autumn in-person beginner’s classes are currently sold out but I will post more! Join a waiting list here - Link
I just started a new Telegram Channel for classes announcement - Link
World Wide Web Plugs
Berlin Stand-Up School - berlinstandupschool.com
Linktree - carolineclifford.com
This is really good: "I was more asking jokes than telling jokes."
dear caroline,
thanks again for having me as a guest on your podcast AND your substack newsletter!
some things that i said that you said that i said that i agree that i said that i stand by:
"Bill Hicks was not as good at 15 as he was at 30"
"Compare yourself to your past self, not other comedians"
"The worse you are the more you’ll improve!"
"You decide what you do and what you want to say"
"Have shows you can experiment at"
and MUCH MUCH MORE!
thanks again for having me and sharing!
love
myq