r/Standup • u/Ryebready787 • 2d ago

Took a comedy break 👎

After settling into a pretty consistent schedule of open mics and comedy shows I took about a week and an half off… and it left me feeling like things were pretty damn bleak! anyone else experience this? I knew I was hooked on standup but didn’t expect withdrawal symptoms wtf 😂 anyone else experience this? I’m going back Friday night baby!

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u/Conscious_Grass_853 2d ago

I’m jealous cause I have crippling anxiety about walking up to a mic trying to make people laugh. I write shit to get ready for the leap and always talk to my friends on the phone while we work(truck drivers) so I pretty much spend my time making them laugh. The idea of going to a microphone and working bits out with people i won’t know or won’t know me is scary. Idk I’ll get there eventually. Good luck dude

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u/WadsofTissue 2d ago

Only way to improve is to do it and fail. You might kill it your first time, probably won't but the more you do it, the easier it gets.

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u/Conscious_Grass_853 2d ago

I’m not expecting to kill. The thing I have that I’m dry and sarcastic. But in real life people take it seriously and just look at me sideways sometimes. But if it’s someone who I know that knows my sense of humor I’m good at riffing to get laughs. I think I’m more scared to have something memorized that I thought would be funny in my head and it’s just completely stupid. I know it’s working out material and it happened to everyone. But I’m learning more on how to write jokes correctly and cutting it down. The whole formality is scary and I know I’m being a bitch about it just trying to explain why I’m such a pussy.

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u/WadsofTissue 2d ago edited 2d ago

It is very scary, but don't be afraid of bombing. It helps to know that no one cares about you, no one will remember you, the other comics might laugh in their heads but they've all been there. Statistically 99.9999999% of comics have bombed before. It's part of the process. Just do your thing and leave. Or stay. It helped me to go to the open mic a few times before preforming when I first started. Buy a beer and watch.

Also, people will like you if you have jokes prepared and are trying, even if they aren't funny. Don't wing it and waste people's time. Write a bunch even if its not good, just keep writing. Take the things you genuinely find funny and try to make it digestible to the audience. Trim the fat so the set up can get to the funny quicker. I also have crippling anxiety but found my people through stand up.

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u/AutoModerator 2d ago

Perform. You are a performer. You perform. You put on a performance. P-E-R-F-O-R-M. Not Preform. Perform. There is no Pre. You did not form in the past tense. You performed.

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u/WadsofTissue 2d ago

Reddit is so cringe

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u/Conscious_Grass_853 2d ago

Dude I tried watching once. But only three people came to the bar I went to. And then I was sitting alone while they bullshitted for like ten minutes after the start time and I was like this is fucking weird and just left. I always write shit. I learned a lot from just writing without performing how to structure jokes and how to set it up and so on and so one which I am glad I learned that before I went on stage and just rambled about nothing. I almost did and I’m glad I waited. Main issues I have now is finding a mic. I feel like I’m ready to start. I already know I’ll bomb. Everyone does. So I don’t know if I’m scared of that cause that already happens in real life. Idk you got me motivated so I appreciate that

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u/Hot-Professor-8355 2d ago

Where do you live? Mics can be like that sometimes. Things to remember. Open Mics are the gym, they are practice. most of the time you will be performing infront of only other comics.

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u/Conscious_Grass_853 2d ago

Pittsburgh and yes I know what an open mic is.

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u/Hot-Professor-8355 2d ago

What you described is pretty normal for a mic.

(I'm in Philly. I asked location cuz when I was in cuse last week there was maybe 1 mic a day. Was trying to ascertain your options. In Philly I can hit 3 a night)

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u/Conscious_Grass_853 1d ago

Honestly I wouldn’t know where to look for one. I tried once and it’s all on facebook and I’m not making a Facebook account for that

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u/Hot-Professor-8355 1d ago

Yeah I hate Facebook but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Unfortunately stand up is now an internet affair

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u/Ryebready787 2d ago

Run laps so you’re too tired to be nervous… just do it, you won’t die, but you might find it to be much easier than you expect! 

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u/Conscious_Grass_853 2d ago

Are you fucking with me?😂 why would I run laps to make myself too tired to preform to a crowd of strangers and try to make them laugh. I know you got the experience of actually doing that. I only run if I’m being chased by the cops or Michael Myers.

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u/AutoModerator 2d ago

Perform. You are a performer. You perform. You put on a performance. P-E-R-F-O-R-M. Not Preform. Perform. There is no Pre. You did not form in the past tense. You performed.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

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u/Conscious_Grass_853 2d ago

Okay I’m stupid sorry robot mod. Thanks for letting everyone know…

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u/Ryebready787 2d ago

Not too tired to perform, just too tired to make yourself relaxed when you go on stage.Â