| The best place to start your trip into the world of | | | | and see how to improve. Don't worry if the |
| comedy is in front of your mirror. Here you can | | | | audience doesn't laugh much; most of them will |
| practice your jokes and comedy routines until | | | | probably be amateur comedians themselves, |
| they are perfect, with no one to put you down | | | | waiting for their turn. Since they are the |
| or laugh in the wrong places. You can watch | | | | competition, they may not be too free with |
| yourself perform and try out various movements | | | | praise and applause. |
| until you are satisfied with them - and then | | | | The next step up in your climb to comedian fame |
| perhaps you can ask your friends what they | | | | is the club. Clubs often run Bringer nights where |
| think. | | | | anyone can do a routine on stage if they bring |
| The only trouble with friends are that they don't | | | | five or so others that are paying customers. |
| like to be unkind, so unless you know they are | | | | These shows are usually slotted in early in the |
| honest, take what they say with a grain of salt. | | | | show, before the advertised acts. |
| Performing in front of family and friends is good in | | | | Although you might be eager to jump in there |
| that it gives you confidence in yourself. You'll | | | | and show people what you can do, it doesn't hurt |
| know that you can stand up on stage and go | | | | to do some training. Watching other comedians |
| through your spiel without missing any lines. This | | | | perform either live or on DVD will help you hone |
| knowledge is invaluable for when you do your | | | | your skills, but an acting or drama school will also |
| first performance in front of strangers. | | | | give you skills that you may not pick up from |
| Your first performance might be at a larger | | | | watching others perform. |
| family gathering of a birthday party, wedding | | | | Besides, not everyone you watch will be a good |
| breakfast or some other celebration. Or it could | | | | comedian and you don't want to pick up any bad |
| be at the local pub, a nightclub or bar, many of | | | | habits. Becoming successful at anything takes a |
| which have open mic. nights. Take along a friend | | | | lot of hard work and practice; being a comedian is |
| or some family for support and to videotape | | | | no different. But if it is something you love doing, |
| your act, and then you can watch it afterwards | | | | all that hard work and practice will seem like fun. |