How Stand-Up Comedy Became an Allegory for My Career
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2025 10:01 am
Once upon a time, I was a stand-up comedian and I actually learned something from that experience. No, you have not heard of me unless you frequented coffee houses, small theaters, and bars in New Orleans.
In the late 90s, I jumped into stand-up with both feet (and injured a knee on stage once but that’s another story). I enjoyed the rush of getting a great belly laugh out of audiences and nearly imploded every time my punch lines took a trip to cricketland. I also produced a series of shows, some of which were successful and others not so much.
Hopefully, you have a hobby or activity that helps enhance your career. For instance, a high school classmate once told me that golf is an allegory for his life. An avid golfer, he said the game taught him about his lack of patience.
In the midst of those emotional ups and downs and “gadzooks” moments in the world of stand-up comedy, here is what I learned:
Go ahead and take a risk.
It may sound like motivational mumbo-jumbo when folks salute comedians for having dominican republic whatsapp phone number the guts to get on stage but that is a well-deserved compliment. I took my comedic risk a step further. I was notorious for breaking out an untested joke in the middle of a big show. Sometimes, I looked like an idiot and other times I was a creative genius. Take some risks. Regardless of the outcome, what you learn will push you to the next level of your career.
Decide which road is right for you.
At one point, I thought about going on the road. It sounded great until I took a short trip and realized that being in a van with other comedians drove me up the wall. My late father, who passed up a contract to sing with the Metropolitan Opera, told me he did so because having a family was more important to him than being a full-time traveling artist. What kinds of sacrifices are you willing to make for your career? Most importantly, will you be okay with making or not making those sacrifices when it is all said and done?
Prepare, prepare, prepare.
One of my early mistakes was failing to prepare for shows because of letting early success go to my head. Ironically, comedians even rehearse seemingly spontaneous facial expressions, gestures, and punchlines. Pivotal career moments happen before meetings, project launches, and of course job interviews. Prepare for everything.
In the late 90s, I jumped into stand-up with both feet (and injured a knee on stage once but that’s another story). I enjoyed the rush of getting a great belly laugh out of audiences and nearly imploded every time my punch lines took a trip to cricketland. I also produced a series of shows, some of which were successful and others not so much.
Hopefully, you have a hobby or activity that helps enhance your career. For instance, a high school classmate once told me that golf is an allegory for his life. An avid golfer, he said the game taught him about his lack of patience.
In the midst of those emotional ups and downs and “gadzooks” moments in the world of stand-up comedy, here is what I learned:
Go ahead and take a risk.
It may sound like motivational mumbo-jumbo when folks salute comedians for having dominican republic whatsapp phone number the guts to get on stage but that is a well-deserved compliment. I took my comedic risk a step further. I was notorious for breaking out an untested joke in the middle of a big show. Sometimes, I looked like an idiot and other times I was a creative genius. Take some risks. Regardless of the outcome, what you learn will push you to the next level of your career.
Decide which road is right for you.
At one point, I thought about going on the road. It sounded great until I took a short trip and realized that being in a van with other comedians drove me up the wall. My late father, who passed up a contract to sing with the Metropolitan Opera, told me he did so because having a family was more important to him than being a full-time traveling artist. What kinds of sacrifices are you willing to make for your career? Most importantly, will you be okay with making or not making those sacrifices when it is all said and done?
Prepare, prepare, prepare.
One of my early mistakes was failing to prepare for shows because of letting early success go to my head. Ironically, comedians even rehearse seemingly spontaneous facial expressions, gestures, and punchlines. Pivotal career moments happen before meetings, project launches, and of course job interviews. Prepare for everything.