Comedy

“Death is easy, comedy is hard” is one phrase Sir Lawrence Olivier used to describe his experience as an actor on the stage and screen. While the genre flourishes and it seems that everyone from...

You were always a class clown growing up and as an adult you find that you are drawn to comedy. Everyone you know has always told you that you could be a stand up comedian because of your sense...

Comedy improv is short for comedy improvisation, which is one method stand-up comedians often employ in their routines. Despite of the meaning of the word, not all comedy routines are...

Are you considering becoming a stand up comedian? It's a lot tougher than it looks! However, if you think you got what it takes to make an audience laugh, read this article to learn how to prepare...

If your mind easily makes jokes that's great. If not, there are lots of other ways of getting a laugh. The key is know what's in YOUR toolkit.

Stealing comedy material from another comedian can be a subtle as changing the wording of a whole bit, but it is considered sneaky and dishonorable in the stand-up world. Create only original...

Stage fright as a stand-up comedian must be conquered to minimize the agony and anxiety that festers for the time off stage. Get over stage fright, and get on with your life and career, with great...

Dealing with hecklers in a stand-up comedy show is best done by letting them embarrass themselves, so avoid shutting them up too quickly. Gather as much ammunition against the heckler as possible...

Cheap laughs during a stand-up comedy show should be avoided, because they diminish the integrity of the comedian as an artist of his craft. Avoid making fun of audience members to get a cheap...

A hack comedian is someone who uses old, successful ideas in his act in order to get guaranteed laughs. Try original material before resorting to the same old jokes with great tips from a...

Staying calm before a show is crucial to putting on a great performance, as hanging out with the wrong crowd beforehand can greatly affect your mood and motivation. Prepare for a comedy show...

Before doing a stand-up act, avoid hanging out with bad influences, such as draining people, because this could greatly affect the quality of the performance. Psych yourself up before a show by...

Getting stage time can be difficult, so find a city with plenty of comedy clubs. Consider making deals with club owners to get a bit of stage time with great tips from a television comic and...

Repeating jokes to different crowds is part of being a stand-up comic, but it is beneficial to change them up slightly each time, making them stronger, funnier jokes. Understand how to freshen up...

Creating fresh jokes involves maintaining interest and keeping each joke alive and new for the audience. Get the audience excited about new and old material alike with great tips from a television...

Doing homework and research as a stand-up comic keeps the material poignant and accurate, as even a slip up of a few words can ruin the integrity of a good joke. Study your own material between...

Bombing on stage is inevitable for all comedians at one point, but working through it and acknowledging the failure is a sure way to learn from the experience. Maintain dignity when bombing on...

Off stage, bombing can affect a comedian greatly, and it could potentially affect future performance. Get into the right mindset for learning from bad experiences with great tips from a television...

Timing in stand-up comedy is extremely important, but it is usually something that comes naturally to some people. Understand the finer points of impeccable timing on stage with great tips from a...

Working the crowd as a stand-up comic is a great way to kill time between jokes, and it helps to ask questions to the crowd on prepared topics. Involve the crowd in a few jokes during a show with...

Being a hit with the crowd when performing stand-up is a great feeling, but remember to stay calm and maintain composure to ensure a successful set. Kill on stage over and over with great tips...

Writer's block as a stand-up comic can be frightening, but working through ideas and using free-association writing techniques can open up new avenues of inspiration. Keep writing joke after joke,...

Writing jokes requires starting with a foundation and a strong point of view to make a connection with the audience. Find a reason to write about a certain topic with great tips from a television...

Inspiration for new jokes can come from anywhere, so always be prepared with a tape recorder when the idea strikes. Document a great joke idea on tape instead of on paper with great tips from a...

The comfort level of a stand-up comic greatly determines the success of the performance, as the audience feeds off of the performer's energy. Find out how to harness confidence on stage with great...

Second City is a comedy club that opened in Chicago, Illinois in 1959. While small in size, the comedy theater boasts some of the most well-known comedians among its alumni, including Bill...

How to pursue a career as a stand up comic.

While many comedians use shock humor and strong language to get reactions from their audiences, others have found success with a clean act that is centered on content rather than shock value. One...

Improv games are all about taking risks. Learn the improv comedy game Kitty Wants a Corner in this free theater acting video from a teacher of improvisation.

Break down improv boundaries with the People to People game. Learn the improv comedy game People to People in this free theater acting video from a teacher of improvisation.

Get improv students used to chaos with the Group Juggle game. Learn the improv comedy game Group Juggle in this free theater acting video from a teacher of improvisation.

The faster the Pass the Clap improv game goes, the more exciting it will be. Learn the improv comedy game Pass the Clap in this free theater acting video from a teacher of improvisation.

Zip Zap Zop will help improv students to get used to messing up in front of each other. Learn the improv comedy game Zip Zap Zop in this free theater acting video from a teacher of improvisation.

Play Enemy Defender in improv class to promote closeness among participants. Learn the improv comedy game Enemy Defender in this free theater acting video from a teacher of improvisation.

The Ball improv comedy game is like volleyball with everyone on the same team. Learn the improv comedy game Ball in this free theater acting video from a teacher of improvisation.

Cat and Mouse Tag is an improv game to get people to work in pairs. Learn the improv comedy game Cat and Mouse Tag in this free theater acting video from a teacher of improvisation.

Associate names with movement in improv to break the ice. Learn the improv comedy game Name Signals in this free theater acting video from a teacher of improvisation.

Sheriff, Bandit, Victim is an improv game that's great at promoting awareness. Learn the improv comedy game Sheriff, Bandit, Victim in this free theater acting video from a teacher of improvisation.

Improvisers need license to yell and scream and be silly. Learn the improv comedy game Jeepers Peepers in this free theater acting video from a teacher of improvisation.

The point of the Cow, Alien, Tiger improv game is to get people to act in the same way and strike the same pose. Learn the improv comedy game Cow, Alien, Tiger in this free theater acting video...

Use the improv icebreaker called Movement Evolution to focus on listening and repeating. Learn the improv comedy icebreaker Movement Evolution in this free theater acting video from a teacher of...

Get improvisers used to paying attention with the Equilateral Triangle game. Learn the improv comedy icebreaker Equilateral Triangle in this free theater acting video from a teacher of improvisation.

Red Light, Green Light is a popular kids game that is useful for improv class. Learn the improv comedy game Red Light, Green Light in this free theater acting video from a teacher of improvisation.

Improv comedy is done in groups of people who need to be comfortable with each other. Learn how to lead improv comedy games and icebreakers in this free theater acting video from a teacher of...

Use the Three Things in Common improv icebreaker to loosen up a group of beginners. Learn the improv comedy game Three Things in Common in this free theater acting video from a teacher of...

Alliterative Adjective is an improv name game used to teach names to everyone in a group. Learn the improv comedy game Alliterative Adjective in this free theater acting video from a teacher of...

Play Knick Knack to get improv students to do silly things and avoid embarrassment. Learn the improv comedy game Knick Knack in this free theater acting video from a teacher of improvisation.

Bunny is an improv game that's energetic and fast-paced. Learn the improv comedy game Bunny in this free theater acting video from a teacher of improvisation.

Build trust in improv comedy groups with the icebreaker called Cats, Dogs, and Monkeys. Learn the improv comedy game Cats, Dogs, and Monkeys in this free theater acting video from a teacher of...

Chicago style improv is an interesting comedy technique that incorporates the use of unique characters. Learn more about Chicago style improv from an improv comedy expert in this free video.