By Matt Bridgestone
Being naturally funny is a gift that some people are just born with. Becoming a comedian is a whole different story. Some people are hilarious in everyday life, but if you put them in front of a crowd, they freeze. Other times, someone might be a shy introvert, but give them a microphone and you will see a side of them you never expected. One time I picked up a comedian to do a show, and he was the most soft-spoken person I had ever met. We made small talk over our almost three-hour ride from New York to Atlantic City, but it was difficult to get more than some polite smiles and one-word answers to my questions. The comedian I am talking about is Gilbert Gottfried, quite possibly the loudest comedian of all time. You simply never know what type of comedian you will be until you try. That’s the hard part. Many people don’t know where to get started.
Hopefully, this article helps point some of you in the right direction. If you have always dreamed of doing comedy or think you know someone who should, here are a few little pieces of advice to help you get started. First, go watch some live shows in person. I don’t mean comedy on TV. Watching comedy on TV can be a lot of fun, but you are watching skilled professionals in a very controlled environment. Your start in comedy will be nothing like that. You will likely be starting out on small shows at open mics and in dive bars. You will have distractions like people ordering food and drinks during your set. Hecklers might be in the audience trying to throw you off your game plan. Simply go observe. Take some mental notes. Watch for little things, such as how far to hold the mic from your mouth and how much time you should plan. The other important thing is not to overthink things. Comedy works best when you can feel natural. Before you step on stage, you should have a good plan. So good that you don’t need to overthink things once you are up there. You want it to spill out of you like how you are funny with your friends, or at the office. Commit to what you have to say. If you hold back or give a watered-down version, the crowd will sense your fear and tense up right along with you. If you are comfortable, then the crowd will be. It’s one of those situations where you need to fake it till you make it, so act confident even if you are shaking in your shoes. If you want more advice, feel free to email me at matt@acjokes.com. I can help tell you about the best open mics in the area to get started and answer any questions on what it takes to jump into the very unpredictable yet exhilarating arena of standup comedy.
You can see Matt Bridgestone regularly in Atlantic City by visiting AcJokes.com.
