If you’ve been asking yourself, “How do I get started in comedy?” you’re in the right place.
Maybe you’ve always been the funny one in your group of friends. Maybe people keep telling you that you should try stand up comedy. Or maybe you’ve watched comedians perform and wondered what it would be like to be on stage yourself.
I remember exactly how that felt.
A friend encouraged me to take a stand up comedy class because she thought I was funny. I finally worked up the courage to sign up.
When I walked into that classroom, I was intimidated. Everyone seemed to know each other, and I didn’t know anyone. I kept wondering if I even belonged there. I was afraid people would think, Who does she think she is? She thinks she can be a comedian?
The class lasted several weeks. It was fun to get to know the people but I remember wishing someone would simply tell me what to do first, second, and third. I wanted a roadmap.
I looked for books, but the ones I found weren’t what I was looking for. Many of them were long, filled with stories and fluff, and it took too long to get to the practical information. I wanted a book that was organized and to the point. I wanted clear steps that I could actually follow.
Instead, I felt like I was trying to put together a puzzle without seeing the picture on the box.
Looking back, that’s what I needed most: a clear system.
Start by Learning How Stand Up Comedy Works
People are sometimes surprised by my advice because it isn’t, “Just get on stage.”
My advice is to learn the fundamentals first.
Read a stand up comedy book that teaches joke writing in a simple, organized way.
A good book gives you the foundation for writing jokes. Instead of trying random ideas and hoping something works, you understand why jokes work and how to write them yourself.
I’m someone who values efficiency. If there’s a way to learn something with less trial and error, that’s the path I’m going to choose.
Learning first doesn’t mean you should avoid performing. It means you’ll get much more out of every performance because you’ll know what you’re trying to accomplish.
Go to open mics with a purpose
One of the biggest mistakes I see beginner comedians make is treating open mics too casually.
They get on stage and just wing it.
Instead, treat every open mic like an experiment.
Before you leave home, decide exactly what you’re working on.
Maybe you’re:
Testing one new joke.
Trying a different punchline.
Working on your timing.
Practicing your stage presence.
Seeing whether a joke gets laughs consistently.
When you have a goal, you leave with useful information.
When you wing it, it’s much harder to know what actually worked.
Practice Before You Perform
Another mistake I see is people thinking they don’t need to practice before an open mic.
I disagree.
The audience made time to be there.
The venue gave you stage time.
Another comedian could have had that spot.
Show up prepared.
Even if every joke is brand new, practice saying it out loud before you leave the house.
You’ll feel more confident, you’ll communicate your ideas better, and you’ll learn much more from your performance.
Don’t Rely on Shock Value
Another pattern I’ve noticed is that some beginners discover they can get a laugh by saying something shocking.
The audience laughs.
So they keep chasing that reaction.
I think it’s much more valuable to learn how to write jokes that consistently work because they’re well written, not simply because they’re surprising. Many successful clean comedians, including Paul F. Tompkins, show that great joke writing is more memorable than relying on shock value.
Writing is a skill.
The stronger your writing becomes, the less you’ll need gimmicks to get laughs.
The Habits That Helped Me Improve
People sometimes ask me what helped me improve the fastest.
It wasn’t one secret.
It was consistently doing the work.
I write every day.
I record every performance.
I analyze what happened.
I rewrite my jokes.
Then I perform them again.
Every set teaches me something, but only because I take the time to study it afterward.
Advice I Don’t Find Helpful
One piece of advice I hear all the time is, “Just be yourself.”
I’ve never found that particularly helpful.
What does that even mean?
We’re all different versions of ourselves depending on the situation.
The version of me having coffee with a friend isn’t exactly the same as the version of me speaking on stage.
Instead of worrying about “being yourself,” focus on becoming the best prepared version of yourself.
Don’t waste that opportunity by getting on stage and saying, “I don’t know what to talk about. I didn’t prepare.”
Respect your audience by planning ahead. I don’t mean you have to be perfect. I mean have a plan.
Write.
Practice.
Perform.
Then let your personality naturally come through.
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me
When I started stand up comedy, I wasn’t looking for shortcuts.
I wasn’t afraid to put in the work.
I just wanted to know what to do next.
Something like:
Start here.
When you’ve done that, move on to this.
Now you’re ready for the next step.
Keep building from there.
Instead, I spent a lot of time wondering if I was doing things in the right order. Looking back, having a clear sequence would have made the whole learning process much less overwhelming.
My Best Advice for Anyone Who Wants to Start Stand Up Comedy
If you’re wondering how to become a comedian, this is what I recommend.
Find a learning style that works for you.
Some people enjoy reading long books filled with stories and personal experiences.
Others, like me, prefer something that gets straight to the point with clear steps and practical exercises.
Neither approach is right or wrong. The important thing is finding a system that helps you learn and keeps you moving forward.
Prepare before every open mic. Don’t just hope you’ll think of something funny once you’re on stage.
Write.
Practice.
Perform.
Analyze what happened.
Rewrite.
The more intentional you are, the faster you’ll improve.
Comedy is a skill, and like any skill, it gets better with focused practice.
If you find a system that works for you and stay consistent, you’ll be surprised how much progress you can make.
About the Author
Mariza Brussolo is a clean comedian, Florida’s Funniest Female finalist, and winner of the Cape Coral Comedy Festival. She is the author of Kickstart Your Stand Up Comedy. Learn more about Mariza, her comedy, and her resources for aspiring comedians at MarizaBrussolo.com.
