We use cookies to make your experience better. To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies. Learn more.
Funny Man Paul Kerensa’s 5 Tips for Comedy
On 19 October, we’ll be at The Museum of Comedy for Three Funny Men, an event featuring Simon Jenkins, James Cary, and Paul Kerensa. Tickets are available here.
Paul shares his wisdom about comedy events with us.
Right then. After 17 years of stand-up, here are my 5 top tips for doing a comedy gig:
1. Don’t be nervous. These are only people. What’s the worst that can happen? They don’t laugh. So what? You’ll never have to see them again. Oh yes, that reminds me – don’t have your friends in. Or be prepared to get new friends.
2. Oh hang on, no, do be nervous. Alright, just nervous enough. A few nerves are good. It shows that it matters. I can remember distinctly a gig a few years ago when I felt no nerves at all, and I just went onstage not really bothered. And I wasn’t funny. So be nervous. A bit. Just don’t quake. (If you think you might tremble, leave the mic in its stand.) Be the boss of your nerves, and manage them like they’re your workforce.
3. Be yourself. …Everyone else is taken, so they say. If you’re trying to be like Michael McIntyre, you’re just reminding your audience that they’d rather be watching Michael McIntyre. If you’re trying to be like Jason Manford, you’re still reminding your audience that they’d rather be watching Michael McIntyre (everyone always would rather be watching Michael McIntyre, it seems). So just be the funniest version of you that you can be. Basically do what you find funny, and hope others do too. And if they don’t – well at least you’ve amused yourself.
4. Be nice. You don’t have to be nice onstage (although it can’t hurt). There have been some horrid, yet very funny, stage characters. But that’s onstage, and it’s generally, hopefully, an act. Offstage, be nice: to the booker, to the organiser, to other acts. Performers with reputations for being nice are in constant demand. Nice people get booked (sometimes regardless of stage skills). I can only think of one performer with a reputation for being not very nice, who is so funny that it doesn’t seem to matter and he/she gets booked aplenty anyway. Who, you ask? Not telling. Because I’m trying to be nice.
5. Be funny. Oh yes, that should have been number one. Actually it could probably have been numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. How do you be funny? Well imagine a laugh, and think of how to get there. A laugh is like the Eiffel Tower – there are lots of ways to get there. Choose your route, get there, admire the view. Enjoyez-vous!
Related Posts
-
Comedic timing: Paul Kerensa on his newest writing venture
Headlining our Comedy and Cheese event on 23 May, Paul Kerensa spoke about the importance of humour in faith and parodied some popular songs, giving them a scriptural interpretation. The set had everyone laughing.
For those who were unable to -
5 lighthearted books for Christmas
For most people, Christmas is the perfect time of year to unwind, relax and spend precious time with family. With this in mind, SPCK has handpicked five easy lighthearted books for the holidays. -
Stories and salad bars: catching up with Paul Kerensa
Paul Kerensa is a busy comedian and author. We caught up with him about his plans for 2019. -
Ruining the Moment
James Cary, author of The Sacred Art of Joking, blogs for us during Storytelling Week.
