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Step 1
Develop a stage presence. This is an interesting task for a comedian. There are a variety of ways to reach this goal. A comedian like Steven Wright actually develops a stage presence by not having a personality at all. His performance is dry with a dead pan delivery. He is so good at it, however, that he leaves audiences screaming for more. A stage presence works best when it is a part of the comedian’s actual personality.
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Step 2
Welcome criticism. Hecklers are a struggle for some comedians, but they often offer good feedback on style and delivery. Hopefully, new comedians will have other avenues to receive objective criticism of their work. Listen to all critique and use what makes sense to improve stand up.
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Step 3
Find a niche. Comics are often categorized as raunchy or family friendly. Some have routines centered around their unique lives. Some comics have social commentary littered throughout their stand up. This is where comics develop their own unique style that becomes recognizable by anyone who has seen their show. Ray Romano’s routine centered around his family and being a father and a husband. Richard Pryor often commented on being black in America. Go with whatever works.
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Step 4
Work the comedy circuit. Attend any venue or event that features comics. Start with city events and branch out into regional events. Build a following from the ground up and develop buzz around the show. Fans will look forward to seeing it again and again.
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Step 5
Keep the material fresh. There’s nothing more boring than listening to the same joke that a comic has delivered time and time again. There are exceptions to this rule, but it is not the norm. Rodney Dangerfield is an example of a persona that outweighed the power of his jokes. Audiences just wanted to see the guy who gets no respect.
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Step 6
Write jokes that are funny. This may seem obvious, but some comics go for shock value and forget that the goal is to be funny. If a joke is mean, make sure that there is some irony to it that makes it funny in some way. Remember the ultimate goal is to keep them laughing.
