How to Be a Comedian

Video Transcript

"Hi I'm Richard Rifkin and we are here at the Merlin Theater in Budapest, Hungary. And we are going to do a little bit about how to be a comedian. Now was that funny because it wasn't funny and I was talking about comedy. Maybe, maybe you laughed. I don't know. How to be a comedian, obviously you have to be funny. You have to decide what area you want to go into. Do you want to be on stage? A comedy theater actor, and do plays that are comedies? That's one thing. You have to go to school learn acting, and be a theater based comedian on stage. Maybe you want to be a stand up comedy like Eddie Murphy or Steve Martin. When Steve Martin started he was just a page an usher at the Tonight show. But he kept on going and kept on going and asking for a break and he got a break and got into the Tonight show and got a spot on there and became the world famous actor and comedian. So if you want to be a comedian and you want to start in say your area go and find you know a club or sometimes bars or restaurants have stand up comedy night. You can go get some material, either you write your own material or find somebody that is funny in writing and try some stand up comedy at one of your local spots. Try it where you are first if you are not in L.A. or New York because if you go there the competition is great. Don't forget the big guys are out there doing it. But most important be funny, be original, don't be afraid, don't be shy and just let it all go. And make those people laugh."