Regardless of your professional ambitions, having a way to earn an income is always a great motivator.
Though a lot of people dream about becoming the next big comedian, the chances of becoming one are slim.
As a matter of fact, very few people are blessed with natural talent as a comedian. Consequently, many fail in that aspect.
Having said that, there are various steps one can take to improve one’s chances of becoming a successful comedian.
The type of material a comedian can perform will depend on many factors.
These factors are listed below:
- Categories of material
- Audience
- Nationality of the comedian
- Genre
- Time of day
Context
Comedians can create segments within their routines. Some can be topical, some topical within a certain theme, while some may be a combination of the two.
For instance, perhaps a comedian will perform a joke on women who dress up as clowns for fun.
Some shows may want to hear more about the topic to get a different kind of laugh.
Timing of the routine
The timing of the routines also depends on the time it is performed in the show.
For instance, there may be times when the routines should be repeated within the same show to generate more money.
The timing of the routine also depends on whether or not the audience is in a good mood.
The direction of the act
Whether or not the act is joke-based or character-based, comedians can explore several directions for their acts.
Each performer can take it differently to have an all-around successful act.
The two types of characters
In addition to the routines, there are two types of characters a comedian can portray:
- Character-based standup comedy
- Joke-based standup comedy
Character-based standup comedians will choose their characters depending on the topic of their material and the timing of their act.
For instance, a comedian will have a character that he will portray if he is going to perform a routine about children.
A joke-based comedian will choose a character that the audience is familiar with from childhood, and depending on the situation, a comedian will choose one of these characters to perform a standup routine about.
The type of humor
Two types of humor can be used by a comedian. The first is a situational comedy.
These comedians will decide on the topic of their routine based on the situation they are in.
For example, a comedian can choose to use a dirty joke in a show about children or politics.
Joke-based comedians will use a joke on each occasion.
For instance, if a comedian is going to perform a routine about religion, the comedian will use a joke about religion during his performance.
Types of jokes
There are many types of jokes to choose from and each comedian can choose from these types depending on the situation.
Each type of joke consists of a phrase or word that will be said to the audience.
The comedian will either add a sarcastic spin to the phrase or add a comical spin to the statement.
For example, an audience member may hear a joke about a dog that dies. The joke may be said sarcastically.
Types of material
Two types of material can be used for a comedian. These are:
- Funny
- Likely to offend
Funny material
Funny material is material that will get a laugh from a majority of the audience.
This material may be very brief in length and it will be known by the comedian.
Likely to offend
Likely to offend material is material that will offend a certain amount of the audience.
This material may be longer in length, but it may be part of a longer routine.
Comedians use both types of material depending on the audience.
Types of props
Different kinds of props can be used in standup comedy routines.
The type of props can depend on the style of joke or character used.
For example, comedians can use fruit for one of their routines. The comedian may place the fruit in a bowl and it can then be eaten by an audience member.
Fruit for a routine about children.
A comedian may set out a bowl of apples, oranges, and pears, and the comedian will tell a joke that relates to the fruit.
The comedian then proceeds to take an apple, put it in a napkin, and then eat it in front of the audience.
This joke may be a takeoff of a television show where an audience member eats an apple.
A comedian can also use balloons. A comedian can tie a balloon around his or her hand and then take a balloon from the audience member.
The comedian may then throw the balloon at a friend on stage or an audience member off stage.
Comedy goes beyond the physical act of being on stage.
The comedian needs to be confident, and most comedians gain this confidence from performing in front of a live audience.
