Stumbling Into Stand-Up

I never thought I would write a book. I never wanted to own a comedy club. I never would have guessed I would be on TV. I never imagined I would be a stand-up comedian. I never… yet, I did all of those things. How could this be?

I seem to have stumbled into everything I’ve done and am doing. I’m creatively clumsy. I went with the flow. I never had a plan. It’s not how it works for everyone, but for me, the “one thing leads to another” approach has been key. If you start walking, even without a destination in mind, you will eventually arrive somewhere, and then you adjust to the situation. You ask yourself, “Am I where I want to be?” or “Should I try something else?” And proceed accordingly. I suppose much of life is handled this way — constantly evaluating and adjusting. Perhaps this approach is what has brought you here, to a book about doing stand-up comedy. Maybe you’re a Lawyer who thinks “I could do this”, or somebody that grew up with parents dissuading you from fancy and frivolous fantasies and this is a “Fuck You”. And maybe you’re just at a crossroads of curiosity. Just because you buy the cookbook doesn’t mean you’ll actually make any of the recipes, but you want to cook more and be better at it, so you start with the easier recipes.

Every comedian’s story could be described as “the journey of the ego.” The ecosystem of comedy, or as I like to call it: “ego system.” Once you get the sweet taste of an audience laughing and clapping and saying “you were great” you will think that you have discovered something specific to you. You will want to be the funniest on any show, and if someone bombs you will feel bad, but also grateful that it wasn’t you. There is a lot of selfishness inherent to the experience of performing stand-up. There are innumerable opinions about what a stand-up comic should be, aspire to, and how they should grow. Some people believe that if there is no growth in a comedian’s abilities, material, or performance, they should quit comedy. I argue that every level of comedian, as well as every caliber of comedy show — from an open mic in a coffee shop to a big sold-out theater, the crusher and the bomber, is integral and necessary. Just as a forest is composed of insects, majestic trees, and dead leaves, so too must an entertainment ecosystem contain similar elements. These elements are necessary for self-reflection and personal growth. The simple math is the more you do something, the better you will get at it no matter what it is, but comedy isn’t simple math. It is politics, philosophy, sociology, history, language, art, performance and most of all, ego.