Скачать или смотреть Standup at Comic Strip December 2025

Last night, I performed at @thecomicstriplive for a professional show. My comedy mentor, @DFSweedler1, booked me for a ten-minute set. I’ve learned that professional shows vary widely. Some feature a thirty-minute set from a headliner, while everyone else does five-minute sets. The professional shows at the Comic Strip treat all performers equally, and everyone does a twenty-minute set. The lineup usually has six performers, making the show about two hours long.

I find it fascinating to perform at different shows and venues. Maybe it’s because comedy is so challenging, but compared to playing the violin, I believe external circumstances greatly affect my ability to perform. I started doing comedy through a workshop with DF at the Comic Strip and regularly performed in his bringer shows, which are on Saturdays at 5 pm. For those not in the business, a bringer show is one that isn’t advertised, and the audience consists entirely of people the performer (i.e., “bringer”) invites. Because of how often I’ve done that show, I’ve become very comfortable on that stage. In DF’s bringer show, performers have a broad range of experience, from first-timers to professionals trying out new material. The less experienced get five minutes, while those of us with more experience might get up to ten minutes.

The funny thing was transitioning to the professional show, which they have daily at 8 pm. First, my fellow performers are seasoned professionals who know their order. Oftentimes, they show up at the club just minutes before they are supposed to be on stage, and depart immediately after performing. Typically, they don’t watch each other performing, preferring to hang out in the bar area to talk shop or talk about life in general. At the Saturday amateur show, I usually sat behind the audience and watched everyone perform.

Despite having been on that stage tens of times, performing on that first professional show was awkward. Last night, I felt like I made progress, and for the first time, DF’s first comment was “Good job” instead of a grimace. My journey continues…

#comedy #standup #learning #selfimprovement #learning