Stand up be counted

Two nights ago I did 15 minutes of stand-up comedy for the first time. Wow was it scary. It was to help raise money for a school. I only did it because I wrote down that I should try it this year as one of my goals. Goal setting is very powerful.

A few things took out of my first stand up experience:

• It was great to get out of my comfort zone
• It was shit scary getting out of my comfort zone
• Presenting to a business audience and getting a few laughs is very different to being introduced as a comic and having the expectation on you to make them laugh
• I really enjoyed being in the moment when I was up on stage
• Tailoring content for the audience was a very similar experience to presenting
• Writing the content is tricky – write a lot and keep editing
• Memorising the lines and delivery is harder
• I now have even higher respect for great comedians
• I can sense like most things, there’s a success formula the great comedians use
• Practicing standing up, whilst driving, in the shower and doing little run through s were really important for me and helped a lot
• Getting smooth segway’s is no easy task
• Using comic props can help add impact

Now I’ve got the bug I’m on the lookout for my next appearance.

Posted in Presenting; Tagged Presenting; Posted 28 November 2008 by Steve Herzberg