Breathing

[Berliner]

How do you guys like to breathe when you're up on stage? Do you wait thirty seconds between inhaling and exhaling or 40? I think 30 is better but I could be wrong.

[Americas Team]

Do you have some audio of your breathing so I can get a feel for it?

There is really no hard and fast rule for breathing, except that you have to do it. You look at some successful comics like Robin Williams* and think "WOW breathing often is the shit." Then you see Steven Wright, well known for almost not breathing, and think "Jeez I should breath less." The most important thing is to keep getting up on stage and keep breathing. You will find your own breath if you do that.

I would also recommend reading Judy Carter's The Comedy Breathing Bible. There is some really great stuff about diaphragm in there.



*Rumor is that Robin Williams breathes so much that he actually steals other comedians' breath. Though, when questioned about this, Robin says that he does not know who's breath he is breathing most the time because he is in "The Zone" when he is on stage. (The Zone is a trade mark of The Robin Williams School of Talk Show Question and Answers. Do not attempt to use it in further discussion for you will be sued by very hairy lawyers. Also, please go see Old Dogs, in theaters now.)

[Supa Scoopa]

My favorite comedians don't breathe at all. Even if they're not physical comedians, the sight of them collapsing on stage after they've starved their brain of oxygen always elicits a laugh from me.

Having said that, I'm cool with comedians that breathe during their sets, too. Just not too much.

[CarolineEAnd]

I keep an oxygen tank on stage just for security.

[Darryl]

I was really impressed by this one comic's improv breathing skills. Then I saw him again a year later, and he did the exact same breathing! That breathing was all scripted! WTF!!!

[Barmy Man]

Breathe in through the nose, out through the asshole. Big laughs.

Happy Holidays.

[ASR]

I've never even considered breathing while on stage, thanks! This is going to open up a whole new world of possibilities for me.

[Me, The JerBear]

Breathing is so hack.

[CarolineEAnd]

Breathing is so hack.

I've seen some people do it originally and creatively.

[Darryl]

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether the breathing is hack, or ironically hack.

[crlygrl]

I breathe chocolate rain style. Quick turn of the head away from the microphone, take a gasp, and then move on with the performance.

[Keith Whitener]

I'm okay with just breathing offstage. I feel no need, really, to breath in front of strangers, although it does seem interesting and I've sometimes thought about breathing up there. I breath in class a lot and people always tell me I'm really good at it. But, I just, I dunno. There's enough air to go around already and, really, I don't think what I'd have to exhale is worth contributing. (Although I think some people might appreciate my breathing, so maybe I'll try it at some point.)

[Darryl]

I'm okay with just breathing offstage. I feel no need, really, to breath in front of strangers, although it does seem interesting and I've sometimes thought about breathing up there. I breath in class a lot and people always tell me I'm really good at it. But, I just, I dunno. There's enough air to go around already and, really, I don't think what I'd have to exhale is worth contributing. (Although I think some people might appreciate my breathing, so maybe I'll try it at some point.)

Maybe work just a little breathing in once you have the crowd on your side. Then, if it doesn't work you can just move on to the next chunk. And if it does go well, you can keep breathing. You just need to do it in a safe environment until you get comfortable with it.

[Keith Whitener]

Crowds don't form when I breath. If they did, I'd be alarmed and likely they would be as well.

[Mr. Museum]

I've always been told that you should breathe once every four jokes.


That was a swimming joke, and it was terrible.

[SlyBattery]

It's best to read books about it.

[Berliner]

AT, the Comedy Breathing Bible's third edition is ten dollars cheaper than the fourth on amazon. Should I just buy the third? What would I be missing out on? Has comedy breathing theory changed considerably from 2008 to 2009?

I've been reviewing some of my videos, and I think I blink too much and it throws off the crowd. How many blinks per second is optimal for maximum humor?? What do you guys do to condition yourself to unconsciously blink less?

[Darryl]

This is what Steve Martin meant when he said "comedy is not pretty."

[RoyalDutchOfDukes]

Well, Hicks and Bruce and Pryor and Carlin all stopped breathing late in their careers, so maybe it's something to save until the end.

[maxbarth]

Judy Carter's The Comedy Breathing Bible. There is some really great stuff about diaphragm in there.

Psh. Just learn to breathe on your own! If Judy Carter could breathe so well, she'd be doing it. Not writing books.