Use Your Head To Make Them Laugh
The one stark difference of a human being that separates him from the animals is his ability to laugh (Don’t ask me what about shaving). The ability to make people laugh is what separates a man from his other fellow beings and is the pre requisite when one thinks about how to become a comedian. An inborn quality of many comedians is their spontaneity and timing of the jokes that keep the audience laughing aloud, and forgeting about the present world (till their blackberry reminds them about the presentation or the project for the meeting next morning).
Let us ponder about the additional qualities, apart from spontaneity and timing, that answers the question ‘how to become a comedian.’ The first one is of course your grasp of the language. You may have a score of ideas in your brain (or in your ‘things to do’ list), but expressing them through words at the stage calls for a rich vocabulary. Invest good time in reading and rehearsing some difficult words and sentences aloud so that you know how that will sound, before the audience. This will also help to keep a face like a sphinx, while the audience is laughing their head off with your words. You can also align your thoughts for the next line in the mean time.
The ability to connect is another must for any comedian. This could be a recent upheaval in the political circle, cultural impasse, or an imminent danger such as something like Skylab coming back to visit earth as a one way ticket. Remember the comedians who had a wonderful time (though it was not like that for somebody high in office) with the word Monica on television shows and on the stage. Carefully choose a topic, spin a story around it, and go ahead storm into the stage to perform, without bumping your head on the door frame on your way in.
Spanning your view is another good way to be on the stage for a comedian. Focusing on the same person, or area makes it difficult for the thoughts to flow or follow your tongue. You can also spot something that you can use with your spontaneity with your look spread around the audience. Choose your words - simple. If you have a good thesaurus at home, keep it there. For the stage use words that will evoke laughter immediately, not while they are driving like mad to get to their home. I remember the way the legendary Bill Cosby took his audiences to the roof, when they applauded on his appearance with the simple words “you call that a reception?”
Rehearse before each show as if you are doing it for the first time. Going over and over about your preparation on the previous day in the morning and this will ensure a better timing and flow for your show. Just before the start of the show some finer points can be rehearsed that you hit upon during your travel to the show. Use the situation to your benefit. If a faulty microphone or lighting on the stage takes some of your time, wait till it is corrected and when things are in order again resume with “I think the light and sound contractor is not paid till now”. Even one of the toughest audiences will boom with a laugh.
Incoming search terms:
- www thebastion org