Performing stand up comedy is a new development in my career as a writer and speaker and I wanted to share this short video of myself waiting backstage at The Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh.
The Stand is an amazing place to perform, there's a door at the side of the stage you have to walk through when your name is announced and when you walk onstage the audience are incredibly close to you. It's intimate and the perfect venue for comedy.
In the video I'm in the dressing room waiting to be called onstage as the next act of the evening. I can hear the comedian onstage doing well, I can hear the audience laughing. It's my job next to keep that going and its a very adrenalized feeling!
I find it helpful at these moments to smile and remember the hundreds of times I've felt like this before and that its all energy I can direct into the performance.
Whenever elements of fear, self-doubt try to creep in I find it helpful to focus on:
1. Trusting Your Preparation - writing and re-writing, practising and learning your pitch, talk or comedy set to the point you can almost forget the script and just focus on being present and giving your best performance.
2. The Audience Want You To Succeed. Grab their attention straightaway - with a sound, an image, a brilliant first line or joke or simply the way you present yourself lets them know they can relax - you've done the preparation and you've got something of value for them.
3. Fun! Sharing your ideas, insights, experiences should be fun - so enjoy it!
Speaking in Schools for me is primarily about teaching, inspiring thinking, reflection and learning. Performing comedy requires a different approach as it's 100% about entertainment and making the audience laugh repeatedly but the overall aim is the same - to communicate your message and have a positive impact on the room.
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