Improv classes. You go to a comedy club, don't you? What's your take on it sharpening your ability to get on people's wavelengths?
I go to open mics. Never did improv class never been good at it.
There's a lot of comedians who will try to read the room and change their act based on responses, this seems to be the standard operating procedure. I don't do that.
I just go on stage and am myself and I say what I think is funny and if the audience doesn't think it's funny I keep going with even more confidence because I think it's funny. People tend to beat themselves up like oh my content wasn't funny I didn't present it right blah blah but I think it's also just, every audience is different, not everyone is going to be a good fit.
I'm against changing your act based on external feedback you get because over time it changes your style and you're no longer performing your comedy, but this weird synthesized thing that may get reactions but is hard to maintain because your humor isn't naturally that way.
My feelings with comedy is that I want to be a funny person, not have funny material. I want to learn to say things and present myself in a way that connects with people and is relatable and gets laughs. Most of the time that's just by embracing myself and being vulnerable on stage. Vulnerability is the funniest thing if you present it right.
As an audience member I'm very responsive. I've noticed many times comedians lock into me specifically in the audience because I'm laughing and then suddenly BAM they gain confidence, go hard, and everyone's laughing. That's what you tend to do as a performer you lock into whoever is responding, who is "feeling" you and that gives you confidence to be completely vulnerable.
Which is why I think charisma comes down to high emotional iq.
In a one on one setting talking to someone, people tend to like me, even if I don't like them because I am
very responsive. I read their expressions, empathize with what they're saying and validate their experiences, just naturally. I'm not so good at asking them about their life or getting them to open up but if someone is talking to me they feel like I am listening and that I understand them and that goes a long way.
All that human beings really want is to be understood and feel that they are important.
Always in my comedy, I find a way to involve the audience. I've asked people if I could borrow something they had as a prop and then when it was my turn on stage went over to them with the mic, asked them to introduce themselves and thanked them. Also if the audience is frustrated with you like if they don't like your jokes, acknowledging that sometimes flips it around. I don't consciously do this; it's my empathy. I notice the response and will say something like,
"I know you're sick of me, but give a chance! This is the only form of social attention I get all week" or you know something like that. And many times people will pay attention again and start laughing.
It's the eq man
Eq
if I succeeded in making anyone actually laugh given the circumstances the world is in, I'd sure feel honored!
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