How to perform on a reguar basis

[crowbar]

I did my first standup performance 8 months ago, and in the time since, I have managed to get myself to perform 5 additional times, the most recent time being in late february of this year. The question that I am asking in this thread is, does anyone know of anything that I can do to get my ass in gear and get myself to perform more regularly. This is not a simple case of laziness. I feel there is actually a lot of desire and inspiration, but I guess there is so much fear and overthinking that occurs that leads me to not perform nearly as often as I would like to.

Does anyone have tips, maybe from personal experience, on things to do to get oneself to perform more often, despite what ever rationalizations the mind might make for one not to go and perform.

I must say, I may have a deeper difficulty at this than an average person though, as I experience social anxiety and have a lot of self doubt and insecurity, (or maybe that is the norm for the average stand up comedian. I don't know). But if there is any advice anyone here could give, I'd love to hear it.

[Just Brett]

Just say fuck it, and get on stage.

[Vercetti]

It really just is about getting out there and DOING IT. That's how it is with stand up. When you're new it's natural to feel anxiety and uncertainty, but the more you get out there and make it a regular thing, the more those feelings will diminish and confidence will take it's place.

[maxbarth]

Just say fuck it, and get on stage.

Yep.

[JuanCarlos]

Just say fuck it, and get on stage.

Exactly, whenever yous see a stage, just get on that fucker. Whether it's a comedy stage or not, just push whatever fool is up there doing nonsense and start your set, one of my best spots was at Cirque Du Soleil, I managed 3 minutes before the blue dragon beat my ass.

[crlygrl]

This thread isn't helping with your overthinking

[AliasRomanian]

Exactly, whenever yous see a stage, just get on that fucker. Whether it's a comedy stage or not, just push whatever fool is up there doing nonsense and start your set, one of my best spots was at Cirque Du Soleil, I managed 3 minutes before the blue dragon beat my ass.

That's pretty cool man. I got drunk at my sister in laws wedding and did my material. The wife got pissed but it was worth it.

[pg13]

Does anyone have tips, maybe from personal experience, on things to do to get oneself to perform more often, despite what ever rationalizations the mind might make for one not to go and perform.

When I started out, I made myself this promise each time before I going to the Monday open mic:

"No matter what happens tonight, I'm coming back and going up again next week."

That commitment to go up once a week, regardless of results...and the willpower to not allow myself any excuse not to stick with that commitment...made all the difference. And going once a week made it a lot easier to go twice a week...or more...

Once you give yourself permission to skip, it becomes easier to skip more often. Especially if you allow your results to impact your enthusiasm... You NEED to get dozens of bad nights under your belt to know how to not have more bad nights--and every time you skip a chance to go up, you're denying yourself the opportunity to get better...assuring that you'll have more bad nights, which feeds the demon that tells you not to go up...

If you want it, you have to make it so nothing stops you from doing it. Write it on your calendar in pen...and anything else you want to do has to be worked around that absolute schedule.

The question that I am asking in this thread is, does anyone know of anything that I can do to get my ass in gear and get myself to perform more regularly. This is not a simple case of laziness. I feel there is actually a lot of desire and inspiration, but I guess there is so much fear and overthinking that occurs that leads me to not perform nearly as often as I would like to.

If you don't have the hunger or desire to do this, you're like most of the people in the world. That's how the process of comedy weeds out the hobbyists and the toe-dippers. It's EASY to not do comedy.

Some people wake up early every morning and run five miles. It's easy not to, but these people have committed--rain or shine--to doing that...and they're going to be better at running than those people who stay in bed and think they'd like to run, maybe, someday...

And if you want to conquer your fear and your overthinking...how is NOT doing comedy helping that? The ONLY way to get over your fear is to have performed so often that you no longer have anything to fear...the ONLY way to get past your overthinking is to do it regardless of what you think or feel, to do it regardless of the circumstances you find yourself in...

Ain't nothin' to it but to do it.

I must say, I may have a deeper difficulty at this than an average person though, as I experience social anxiety and have a lot of self doubt and insecurity

Well, there's your Get Out of Jail Free card.

You've got a ready-made excuse...a reason that can be whispered in your ear by the demon who will say anything to keep you from doing this thing that you say you want to do.

"It's not your fault that you broke your commitment to go up every week, you're insecure and you have a condition. Better to stay home and think about it."

Either you overcome your limitations or you don't. Plenty of comics have had social anxiety issues and have pushed past them. Plenty of wannabe comics have had social anxiety issues and couldn't overcome them.

The bottom line is...nobody owes you a comedy career. Either you want to do it, commit to do it and do it...or you don't. There are tens of thousands of people in your position in this country alone who could do comedy, want to do comedy, but don't.

No one can make you. No one, particularly, wants to make you.

It's totally up to you.

pg--Realizes he should take his own advice and get my ass back out there.--seattle

[crowbar]

I appreciate all the advice. I guess I knew that the advice would be so obvious, but it certainly helps to hear it again. Alright, starting next week, I'll work on making this a weekly thing.

[dan telfer]

Henry Rollins has a song for this.

[JuanCarlos]

Just go out there, bomb a few times and see that it's no big deal. Get Richard Pryor's video Live and Smokin' the guy isn't killing and a bunch of his jokes fall flat, he doesn't give a shit.Everybody bombs, don't worry about it.

[Vercetti]

When I started out, I made myself this promise each time before I going to the Monday open mic:

"No matter what happens tonight, I'm coming back and going up again next week."

That commitment to go up once a week, regardless of results...and the willpower to not allow myself any excuse not to stick with that commitment...made all the difference. And going once a week made it a lot easier to go twice a week...or more..

And once you get into the rhythm of going up on a regular basis you don't WANT to back out. Seriously, if I don't get stage time at least once a week then my whole week feels incomplete. I love getting up there, working it and getting those laughs. Once you get into the rhythm of going on a regular basis it's easier to stick with it.

[crowbar]

Thanks guys I appreciate it.

[scottbox]

Starting out, I had pretty acute stage fright, so it isn't merely a lack of "commitment" on your part- it's real fear, and you have to work with that. Understand that the repetition of going up on stage- aside from improving your comedy- is a form of exposure therapy (look it up).

As others have suggested, start out by going once a week to an open mic. When you get okay with once a week, go to twice a week. And don't feel like you need to stay up on stage for the entire five minutes- do two or three, then build it up little by little, as you get more comfortable on stage. The rule is, do just a little more than you're comfortable with, but not enough to traumatize yourself. Also, when you're starting out, prep a little bit before, so you don't hide behind a sheet of paper. Also know that at first, you're going to seem nervous, and that may make others nervous (or limit the amount of laughs you get). Don't feel bad about it, that will improve over time. Lower your expectations a bit.

[Just Brett]

That's pretty cool man. I got drunk at my sister in laws wedding and did my material. The wife got pissed but it was worth it.

HAHA!! I realllly want to do that at my friends wedding next week, but I have a feeling that If I do that he won't put me in his next wedding.

[JayP7]

All good advice. Like most things (but maybe especially comedy) it comes down to "You just gotta force yourself"

Another thing I think helps is making a promise to someone else.

If I know somebody is expecting me to be somewhere I can wake up at 5am without much difficulty. And yet if it's just for myself it's an unbelievable triumph if I can wake up by 11. No matter how much I want to.

If you can get a buddy who does comedy or really likes to watch and make a commitment to them then it makes it a lot harder to flake cause you psyched yourself out.

[MJEH]

Just say fuck it, and get on stage.

I think this quote was first stated by Aristotle.

[KevinLee]

Where do you live Crowbar? For me performing on a regular basis meant moving out of my small town.

[scamboogah]

Finally, I have the choice between Koozies and Great Koozies.

[Carlos]

I just tried it once and I was hooked.

There's only one open mic a week here and after I get off stage I'm already looking forward to next week. If I didn't enjoy it so much, I wouldn't do it.

I have a bunch of social anxiety, but I feel that being "weird" is a lot more accepted on a comedy stage than elsewhere.