According to ‘Wikipedia’,” Stand-up comedy is a comic style in which a comedian performs in front of a live audience, usually talking directly to them. The performer is commonly known as a stand-up comedian. Stand-up comedy is not just about going up on stage and belting out jokes that you have prepared for the night. It is a unique form of art.
I have attended several shows, watched many stand-up comedians perform and have also spoken to a few of them.
I believe that stand-up comedians are the most approachable celebrities I have ever seen.
The reason to why I love this art form is because it has helped me to battle feelings of depression during some of the most difficult times of my life.
I respect these performers immensely because it is one of those art forms that involve improvisation, doing away completely anything that is scripted. A stand-up comedian needs to be alert at all times while he is performing because he can never know what may suddenly become a joke. The jokes have to be not only relatable and unique but also topical.
Stand up comedy is about the delivery and timing of the joke. A joke is considered a good joke, not only because of WHAT is said but also because of HOW it’s said.
Being a successful stand-up comedian is difficult. There is no way to learn comedy; there is no textbook, no exams for it, no entrance tests, you take your jokes, walk up the stage, be confident and just make people laugh.
Here’s a piece of advice, if you want to do something completely different from what you are pursuing now, TRY IT, DON’T BE AFRAID OF FAILURE. If you don’t experience things go wrong, how will you know what’s right? You will never know success unless you fail.
-Iqra Khan (11B)