Why are you NOT doing standup?

[scamboogah]

Alright, so we understand why people get into standup (Anonymous sex with women slightly out of their league), but why do you not do standup?

When I was younger, I talked myself out of standup by telling myself that I needed to be a more interesting person first. There are lots of artists that can only talk about their art, because that's all they've ever known, and I never wanted to be that guy. The comics that appealed to me at that time usually came into comedy later on (or so I thought), after becoming a more well-rounded person (In this case, you can substitute 20 years of alcoholism or drug addiction for well-rounded).

Now that I'm older, I can see more clearly what bullshit that was. I had completely discounted the act of being a struggling artist as a kind of life that is full of interesting things by itself. I think I imagined the artists I liked to live in a vaccum sealed chamber when they weren't doing their art, and that comedy in particular was the act of someone shoving you on stage and saying, "Tell a story", which was a pretty simple way to look at it.

I don't think there's any way to say this without sounding like an asshole, but I find it almost impossible to care what strangers think of me (on stage). That said, I'm incredibly concerned about how I'm perceived by people I know already. This means I'm totally petrified if I know and like anyone there, but couldn't care less if it's a room full of people I've never met. It makes for a weird mindset when it comes to performing that I don't really care for.

I also know that I don't have the drive anymore that one would need to be a working comic. I like my current job and where I live, and while I love to go out and see live comedy one or two times a week, know that bumping that up to 4 or 5 times a week plus performing sounds exhausting and would make me fall way behind on television. Also, I drink a lot, and know how expensive it can be to not be drinking Costco-priced beers.

Or, to be more succinct, I'm a lazy chicken-shit.

[Itslikeimsayin]

I'm waiting to see if my first professional ambition (baseball player) works out before considering other careers. (Wish me luck for becoming the first 38-year-old ever drafted next June.)

[Jawa]

I'm a-scared

[Alex Mac]

I don't think there's any way to say this without sounding like an asshole, but I find it almost impossible to care what strangers think of me (on stage). That said, I'm incredibly concerned about how I'm perceived by people I know already. This means I'm totally petrified if I know and like anyone there, but couldn't care less if it's a room full of people I've never met. It makes for a weird mindset when it comes to performing that I don't really care for.

Ditto. I'm having something of a crisis related to this lately. Or a variation of this. Its like I'm having my "I'm not sure if I can" moment as I am doing it. I honestly don't care how the audience percieves me as long as I am proud of my work and my attempt. I think part of it comes from that fact that I'm taking the risk by taking the mic. Obviously, I want them to like me and to laugh but lately I am finding myself far more concerned with how my family and friends look at my pursuit of comedy and especially the opinions of my peers.

Which is leading me to a mini comedy crisis right now. As I start working at places that have a good reputation, getting more involved with the scene and with people who have done the things that I would like to accomplish, the more I find myself pyched out when I am doing my sets and doubting myself (at least when they are around). Being a comedy fan for so long and finally making even 1% progress towards what I want to achieve has been both rewarding and terrifying. And I think I am worrying way too much right now about being accepted in a world that I've loved for so long. If the rewarding part didn't outwiegh the terrifying part, I don't know how I would keep pressing on.

(Sorry for that mini rant. Its just been bugging me lately.)

[ProfessorShutYoMouth]

I am not doing standup because I am only occasionally (usually accidentally) funny.

[heatherm]

i hated doing it. i didn't like going to the open mic and having to sign up first because i'm "the girl" and having everyone go outside during my set except for the homeless people. i never had fun on stage. i just write now.

i only did it for like, 2 years, so maybe i didn't stick with it enough. but it put a bad taste in my mouth, and i honestly don't care if i ever get on a stage again.

[yumitree]

just look at me.

AM I RIGHT, LADIES!?

[Me!]

Because I'm not good at it.

[RubelT]

So did you stop doing it or you've never done it ?

[Cupid Stunt]

I don't think there's any way to say this without sounding like an asshole, but I find it almost impossible to care what strangers think of me (on stage). That said, I'm incredibly concerned about how I'm perceived by people I know already. This means I'm totally petrified if I know and like anyone there, but couldn't care less if it's a room full of people I've never met. It makes for a weird mindset when it comes to performing that I don't really care for.

This. Especially with family.

My first (and only so far) time up i just told my family that i was "going to a comedy show," they had no idea i was actually going to be a part of it.

I told them a few days later....its still kinda awkward with them.


related topic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic2_bDOv3oA

lol no sideburns

[ASR]

Ha, my parents hate the fact that I'm doing stand-up. They think it's a waste of time and it's taking them really long to warm up to the fact that I'm going to keep doing it. The biggest problem is that their sense of humor is so far from mine that they're never going to enjoy my comedy, anyway. Kind of a shame, but whatever.

[Shane]

I'm not doing it because I want to be good before even going on stage, which is absolutely ridiculous. My main problem with the material that I have written is that it doesn't reflect how I am in real life, and the things I do that make people I know laugh. Also, I've seen a ton of open mics and a ton of people bomb and I'm terrified of that happening to me.

Every time someone says they want to see me do stand up for the first time it makes me cringe, and almost makes me want to do it less.

[thecomedian]

Ha, my parents hate the fact that I'm doing stand-up. They think it's a waste of time and it's taking them really long to warm up to the fact that I'm going to keep doing it. The biggest problem is that their sense of humor is so far from mine that they're never going to enjoy my comedy, anyway. Kind of a shame, but whatever.

my parents hate that i'm taking classes at second city. they think it's a waste of my time.

[ASR]

Oddly enough, when I signed up for a 3-Day Improv/Writing intensive at Second City, they were ENTHUSED and EXCITED. Hell, even to the point of bragging to all of their friends and then coming along down to Chicago for the trip to support me.

To be fair, I made a 5-part Youtube series with some friends and they thought that was cool, and when they finally watched it they realized that the first joke was a masturbation joke and it kind of went downhill from there.

[scamboogah]

Hey! This thread is for bitter jerks like me to come up with flimsy rationalizations about why they never tried a career in entertainment, not to boast about how ashamed their parents are...

[KevinLee]

I'm starting a standup comedy class that i want you all to be a part of! its for beginners and its based on the comedy rule of threes: #1Fear. #2 Meanness. #3 Envy! It'll be great! Classes are online! Help me make this class a success by sending me a PM or give me a call! 317-250-8365! Thanks, Kevin Lee

[yumitree]

Hey! This thread is for bitter jerks like me to come up with flimsy rationalizations about why they never tried a career in entertainment, not to boast about how ashamed their parents are...

can't i do both?

[Kon Darp]

I'm not doing it because I want to be good before even going on stage, which is absolutely ridiculous. My main problem with the material that I have written is that it doesn't reflect how I am in real life, and the things I do that make people I know laugh. Also, I've seen a ton of open mics and a ton of people bomb and I'm terrified of that happening to me.

This, basically. I did the same thing with my high school band where I wasn't comfortable going on stage unless I was fully confident in what we were playing. My band mates wanted to play gigs and stuff even though we didn't have a singer or many originals, and I refused.

I'm not worried about being in front of people: I did a lot of hosting school events where I could pretty much play it loosey goosey and I had a lot of fun. If I'm just introducing people and doing some off-the-cuff jack assery, I'm fine. But when I'm the product, I get nervous.

Maybe it's because I've seen so many bad acts that I don't want to feel like I've wasted people's time. Being an entertainer is inherently selfish in ways that I'm not comfertable with.

I can't get on stage until I'm good enough, but I can't be good enough until I get on stage.

(I'll do stand up eventually: I'm a young guy. I got time. Having a comedy buddy who understands the trials of starting out is invaluable)

[sharilyn]

I like this thread.

I was pressured (okay, "encouraged") to get on stage in summer of '06 by the comics back home in Winnipeg (I was strongly connected to the scene, just not as a performer). It was supposed to be a one-time thing, but I worked hard at it, killed, and kept doing it for the next year and a half.

At the beginning of 2008, I moved to Toronto, and settling in took a while (I spent a chunk of time travelling, as well). 3 months later, I hadn't gone up. Then 4 months. Then 6 months. The longer you're away, the harder it is to go back. And I still haven't gone back.

Not that I haven't thought about it, of course.

I was very spoiled back home, and didn't have to pay dues the way most n00b open-micers do. So I'm not terribly willing to deal with that bullshit in Toronto. The young comics here, compared to Winnipeg, are noticably more self-absorbed and definitely keep others at arm's length. (Not all, I'm sure, just the ones I've met.) I'm not going to beg anyone for stagetime, which is precisely what people here want you to do.

Is it an ego thing, then? Yeah, probably. But I think it boils down to simply not wanting it badly enough. At least not right now. I feel like a douchebag for saying that, because I always viewed standup as one of those "if you can do it, you SHOULD do it" things.

Doing standup (and doing it well) is the thing in life I'm most proud of having done, and I still love the idea of doing it. So I'm confident I'll do it again. Under what circumstances, I don't know.

[PinkieOfDoom]

Because I'm a pussy...
I do stand up at my college, but it's the same as an open mic. I'm waiting to see if my friend from Alaska comes to New York this summer, because he plans to do open mics, and if he goes, then I'll go.