freethecloudss asked: HI Jen,I just wanted to say that you have some serious comedic skills,any tips for a growing comedian?

Answer:

Well, just keep doing it. There are no short cuts. I have been doing stand-up since 1997 and I did it FOR FREE the first 11 years. And I still perform for free at bars, theatres, comedy clubs around Los Angeles when I work out new bits to take on the road or make into an album. I had no help from anyone - no mentor, no class. Also, you need to hear every comic tell you this over and over. So listen to Marc Maron’s podcast WTF and listen to every interview with every comedian.  Read every comedian’s biography.

If you draw your material from your LIFE it is important to have a life and to keep living year after year. You will only get better with age. I had a joke at 23 that no one ever laughed at. Now that I am 37 they are laughing at the joke because I grew into it. Nobody wanted to hear it when I was just “a kid.”

Also, perform all of the time. You don’t have to be in big fancy showbiz cities like NYC or LA at first.  Don’t talk shit about other comedians whether famous or in your peer group.  Don’t write to famous comedians on Twitter and send them links to your stuff to watch.  Nobody can help you. 

There is no such thing as comedians who have come before you learning the tricks and secrets and then passing them on to your generation so that you guys can prevent bombing or learn the business better. It’s impossible. Everyone goes through the same thing or has to.  Stand-up is fair.  You can’t get ahead in stand-up just because you went to Harvard or your brother is a stand-up. It’s the great equalizer.

Just know that stand-up is a hard, hard living and it may not make you a living. I can’t live on what I make doing stand-up a year so I have other jobs.

If a genie came to you and said, “You will never make a dime doing stand-up but you will always have free time after your day job to do it” and your answer is “Yes, then I’d like to still do stand-up” then you SHOULD DO STAND UP.

So, get on stage - even if you haven’t written anything. Let yourself bomb for years or have mediocre sets or have AMAZING sets and then realize you hate that material anyway. Listen to every podcast that has comedian interviews. Listen to comedy albums - all that you can. Find your style by simply BEING YOURSELF.

And try to have fun - even just 10% fun on stage. It will show. And it will be contagious.

xoxo

Love,

Jen