Moving on Stage

[Burnside]

First of all, there's obviously great standups who stand at the mic and never move much. But standup also gives one the opportunity to use the space of the stage, to gesticulate wildly or subtly, to pace around, to be visually interesting. Yet I never hear comics discuss this aspect of standup. It may be because prop comics and Dane Cook types have made other comics embarrassed to admit that standup is, whether you like it or not, a very visual medium. If it weren't, the audience wouldn't keep their eyes focused on the performer. I always appreciate a comic who makes the space of the stage an interesting place. To me, the performance seems bigger if a comic treats the entire stage as if it were his natural habitat. It's something the best comics (with obvious exceptions) do very well.

I'm still at the point where I can't walk and chew gum at the same time on stage. I try to be aware of what I'm doing physically and remember to move around a bit, but I can't say that I'm able to do it un-self-consciously.

I think the main value to moving around a bit is simply that it's more interesting to watch, particularly over the course of a long performance. One reason (among many others) open mics are dull to witness is because comic after comic tends to just stand there. Your eyes get bored.

[AynBannd]

Intersting because when I started out, an older comic told me I had to move LESS on stage- All I did was walk back and forth, and occasionally stop behind the mic stand. But aren't there, maybe, comics today like Jeselnik and Wright? Like they don't move at all/rarely do move, but their stage prescence still has everyone hanging to their every word.

[Burnside]

Well, nervous movement, which is what I suspect your walking "back and forth" was, is bad (as is swaying from side to side behind the mic). I suppose Woody Allen could tic nervously behind the mic and have it add to his delivery -- but he was surely self-aware of what he was doing with that.

I'm not saying that all movement on stage is inherently good; much of it by beginner comics is horrible. I'm just saying that learning to move well in a manner that fits your stage persona is a tool of the trade that often seems neglected by beginner comics. I'm a beginner myself, so don't take my thoughts here as any sort of veteran advice or anything -- but these thoughts are motivated by observing how great comics tend to move gracefully about the stage, compared to how open micers tend to move.

[SeanX3]

Actually, Stephen Wright moves around the stage a reasonable amount; he's not like Jeselnik or Kathleen Madigan.

[MJEH]

I think your movement/animation on stage should be reflective of your material/persona. You need to adjust your motions to your comedic type. Rodney Dangerfield didn't move at all, but Robin Williams is usually all over the place. They're both comedic geniuses (geniusi?) in my book. I think you should use hand gestures, within reason, to demonstrate that you're at least alive.

[ArchStanton]

it's threads like this that make me want to kill myself

[nixonjames]

Always move with a purpose. I also like the advice of addressing the sides of the audience with the setup lines and punchlines straight ahead to draw them in. But I think the motion has to A. fit your persona or the character you're portraying (both if you're in a character for the set or just doin a few lines in a character in a bit (e.g. I'm working on looking up while I'm acting out a child talking to me) and B. doesn't distract.

As a taller guy I've always felt uncomfortable with thinking my small movements are bigger than they are and having to incorporate more freedom and comfort in moving and talking more naturally to the audience, but that's me, if they're roaring all the way through, just keep doing what you're doing.

[funkyrhino]

I think your movement/animation on stage should be reflective of your material/persona. You need to adjust your motions to your comedic type. Rodney Dangerfield didn't move at all, but Robin Williams is usually all over the place. They're both comedic geniuses (geniusi?) in my book. I think you should use hand gestures, within reason, to demonstrate that you're at least alive.

Agreed. Brian Regans act is very physical. Toddy Barrys isn't. Two great comics who are polar opposites in style and in between you have comics like Chris Rock who paces back and forth. In fact I don't think I've seen a black comic who didn't do much walking - maybe Hannibal Buress.

[ImAScooby]

Just do everything physically that Dance Cook does. There has to be some reason he's a god damned millionaire.

[Burnside]

it's threads like this that make me want to kill myself

now this is the sort of honest feedback i needed. thank you. i'm just trying to make up some bullshit conversation about standup & couldn't think of anything better to say. glad someone called me on it.

[ErikNielsen]

I think not seeming affected is more important that walking or not walking, gesturing or not gesturing. Unless a movement you're making is integral to the joke, just do what comes naturally. Some people stand still, others pace, and both work. If something you're doing physically is a problem, it'll feel wrong and you'll instinctively stop doing it that way. Don't try to imagine what you look like to a third person. It'll just take you out of the moment.

[AynBannd]

I think not seeming affected is more important that walking or not walking, gesturing or not gesturing. Unless a movement you're making is integral to the joke, just do what comes naturally. Some people stand still, others pace, and both work. If something you're doing physically is a problem, it'll feel wrong and you'll instinctively stop doing it that way. Don't try to imagine what you look like to a third person. It'll just take you out of the moment.

Yeah, I gotten rid of my nervous movement when I started, and now I just follow this- if movement helps sell the joke, then go for it- but essentially I am those people who prefer to stand still, and it works for me.

[ArchStanton]

http://youtu.be/rzoPSV4ua94

[dicknose]

Agreed. Brian Regans act is very physical. Toddy Barrys isn't. Two great comics who are polar opposites in style and in between you have comics like Chris Rock who paces back and forth. In fact I don't think I've seen a black comic who didn't do much walking - maybe Hannibal Buress.