The Funny 15 Master Class in Stand Up Comedy

Explore the difference between being funny and performing stand up comedy, and show how a three-minute onstage set reveals stand up as a learned skill.

Define stand up as entertaining an audience within a set time, balancing setups, punchlines, and tags, with pacing and audience response. Organize bits into sets and note material before shows.

Discover where you perform as a stand-up comedian, from open mics to showcases, pro shows, and corporate gigs, and learn how to secure stage time.

Stand up is a timed event: a clock starts your open mic set, lights signal wrap, and you build from four to seven minutes toward a 15-minute pro club goal.

Begin by building your tight five, a five-minute set with around twenty laugh points. Refine into your first 15 through practice, timing, and inserting stronger material.

Meet a panel of 15 professional stand-up comedians who share direct, practical advice on how to do stand-up, including what to do and what not to do for new performers.

Just do it, keep your first stand-up set to about 3 to 5 minutes, write about what you know, memorize through practice, have fun, and don't bring friends.

Be prepared, rehearse your set, and network with other comics; don’t wing it, script concise jokes, pace, and develop your own voice.

Learn the mechanics of comedy, including misdirection, to set up and surprise audiences. Move the mic stand, cultivate stage presence and etiquette, and view nervousness as normal.

Explore the risks and benefits of comedy contests for comedians at all levels, including open mics and bringing audiences. Learn to value stage time over winning and career impact.

Navigate open mics with purpose, avoiding the hangout and prioritizing mic time to improve your craft. Build stage presence, respect the process, and network with other comics to grow.

Spot potential in stand-up by spotting teachable comics with strong material, timing, comfort on stage, eye contact, and likable stage presence, plus consistent practice and risk-taking.

Avoid filler words, overuse of swearing, and hacky or dirty jokes. Engage the crowd with eye contact, gestures with your hands, and responsive delivery of clean material.

Develop your stand-up craft by sharpening joke writing, stage presence, timing, and eye contact, delivering material confidently with a conversational flow and strong audience connection.

Have fun, manage nerves, and embrace failure as part of getting good at stand-up; consider a comedy class, like Mark Ridley's, for guidance and practice weekly.

Perfect your first 15 minutes of stand-up by applying tips from 15 pro comics, staying coachable, and testing material on the road before chasing bigger stages.