Category: Stand-up comedy tips

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How to Get Back Into Stand-Up Comedy After Taking A Break

Whether you took a couple of weeks off, six months, or somehow blinked and realized it’s been two years since your last set, getting back on stage can feel weird.

Your jokes suddenly feel like they belong to someone else. You vaguely remember your act, but it feels like it happened in another lifetime.

The good news? That’s completely normal.

Here are a few ways to knock the rust off before your next show.

1. Watch Your Most Recent Set

Before you write anything new, watch one or two of your most recent performances.

You’ll remember jokes you forgot you had, tags you stopped saying, and transitions that used to happen naturally. More importantly, you’ll remember what it looked like when you were comfortable on stage.

2. Perform Your Entire Set Out Loud

Don’t just read your notes.

Actually perform your set.

Stand up, talk at full volume, use the pauses, and go through the entire thing from beginning to end.

You’ll probably stumble over a few sections. Good. Better to find those in your living room than in front of an audience.

3. Say Your Set List From Memory

Even if you don’t have time to run your whole act, say your set list out loud.

Just naming the topics in order helps rebuild the mental roadmap of your act.

Instead of wondering, “What comes after the dating joke?” your brain starts reconnecting the pieces before you ever get on stage.

4. Start Preparing a Few Days Early

One mistake comedians make is reviewing their set only on the day of the show.

Instead, start two or three days earlier.

Watch one video of yourself each day leading up to the performance. You don’t even have to study it. Just watch it.

By the time you get on stage, your material won’t feel nearly as distant because your brain has already been thinking about it.

5. Use Open Mics to Get Comfortable Again

If you can hit a couple of open mics before the show, great.

Don’t put pressure on yourself to write ten new jokes.

The goal is simply to get your timing, confidence, and stage instincts back.

Sometimes the biggest thing you’re rebuilding isn’t your material—it’s your rhythm.

6. Take a Comedy Class

If it’s been a while since you’ve performed, sometimes the hardest part isn’t remembering your jokes—it’s getting yourself back into the habit of doing comedy.

A good stand-up comedy class gives you a deadline, regular stage time, and people expecting to see you perform each week. Instead of wondering, “Should I hit an open mic tonight?” you’re already committed.

You’ll also get feedback on what’s working, what’s worth cutting, and whether the “rust” you’re feeling is actually just in your head.

This Is Especially Helpful If You Perform Infrequently

Not every comedian gets on stage every night.

Maybe you’re busy with work or family. Maybe you only perform on weekends. Maybe you produce your own shows. Maybe you perform in another language and those opportunities only come around every few weeks.

Whatever the reason, if you’re regularly going two or three weeks between performances, having a simple “getting back into comedy” routine can make a huge difference.

The Bottom Line

If you’ve been away from stand-up for a while, don’t panic.

Your material is probably in better shape than you think.

Before your next show:

  • Watch one or two recent sets.
  • Run your entire act out loud.
  • Say your set list from memory.
  • Watch a video of yourself each day for a few days before the show.
  • Hit an open mic if you can.

You’ll feel far more prepared than if you simply hope it all comes back once the host says your name.

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“What if I’m just not funny?”

Recently, a former student emailed asking, “What if I’m just… not funny?”

My answer: First: maybe. Comforting start, I know. I only offer emotional support during class hours. Respect my boundaries. But “not funny” is usually too broad to be useful. A better question is: was this joke funny, to this audience on this night, told this way, by you, at this point in your development? Stand-up is an ever evolving pop-quiz administered by drunk strangers who never taught the subject.

Sometimes an audience will just hate your face. Like literally. There are nights where your energy, your look, your topic, your first joke, the room temperature, or the fact that the audience had three margaritas and a workplace layoff announcement earlier that day all combine into: “No thanks, comedy kid.” That doesn’t mean you’re not funny. It means one crowd rejected one version of you for 5 to 55 minutes. Annoying and painful? Yes. Legally binding? No.

More often, you’re probably funny, but the material choice was wrong for that crowd. A smart little joke about your therapist may crush in a class show and die at a sports bar where a skinny guy named Fat Sal is yelling at the Knicks. That doesn’t mean the joke is bad. It might mean the context was wrong, the setup was too long, the premise needed more clarity, or the audience needed a joke that hit faster before you earned the weirder stuff.

Also: you might not be funny enough yet. That’s not an insult. That’s the point of practicing and getting reps. Comedy is a skill. You get better at writing, trimming, pausing, listening, adjusting, and not looking like you’re waiting for a firing squad after every punchline. Nobody hears one bad piano lesson and says, “I guess I’m not musical.” But in comedy, people do one open mic where eight comics stare into their phones and suddenly decide God revoked their joke license.

And sometimes you are funny, but you don’t yet have the experience to handle a bad room: too drunk, too tired, too chatty, too cold, too corporate, too weirdly seated, too “we just came from a funeral but didn’t want to waste the babysitter.” Experienced comics don’t magically avoid bad crowds. They’ve just dealt with more bad crowds than you and learned how to make them better by failing. 

So don’t ask, “Am I funny?” Ask: What worked? What didn’t? What can I adjust? And how do I get more reps so one bad crowd doesn’t become my entire self-image?

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Should I Quit Stand-up Comedy?

Recently, a former student emailed asking, “I took a different comedy class (scheduling, sorry!) and the instructor told me my jokes felt ‘old-fashioned’ and wouldn’t work with audiences. Now I’m wondering… does that mean I should just quit?”

A student at one of our packed class graduation shows. (This student is not the one who emailed me.)

My answer: One comedy teacher not liking your jokes does not mean you should quit comedy. (Even if that teacher were me — which it wasn’t. I try to focus on what’s working and how to make it stronger.) All this means is: one comedy teacher didn’t like your jokes. Which is annoying, yes. Possibly useful, perhaps. A divine verdict from the Council of All Laughter? No.

That said, if someone says your jokes feel “old-fashioned,” it’s worth asking what they actually mean. Do they mean the references are dated? The rhythm feels too setup-punchline in a way that sounds written instead of spoken? The premise feels like it belongs to a different era? Or do they just mean, “This isn’t my taste,” but with more confidence and less usefulness?

The better question is not, “Should I quit?” The better question is: what am I really trying to say here, and what is the funny part? Once you know that, you can usually update the joke without betraying yourself. Sometimes one word, one reference, or one sharper angle makes the same idea feel more current. You’re not getting a comedy facelift. You’re just changing the lighting.

And sometimes the answer is: don’t hide the old-fashioned part. Use it. If your style is a little retro, formal, theatrical, cranky, wholesome, vaudevillian, whatever — great. Make that part of the joke. Let the audience know you’re in on it. “I know this sounds like it was written on a telegram, but stay with me.” Now the thing that sounded like a flaw becomes part of your point of view.

So no, don’t quit because one class didn’t click. Quit only if you genuinely don’t enjoy it anymore. But if you still like writing, performing, figuring out what makes people laugh, and occasionally humiliating yourself under fluorescent lighting for personal growth, then keep going. Find the version of your style that works in front of today’s audiences — not because someone told you to become someone else, but because the goal is to become the funniest version of you.

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What Happens in a Stand-Up Comedy Class?

If you’ve never taken a stand-up class, it’s easy to imagine one of two things:

  • either it’s terrifying
  • or it’s just people trying to be funny with no structure

It’s actually neither (if the class is good).

Here’s what really happens.

Week 1: Getting Comfortable + Finding Ideas

You don’t walk in and perform.

You start with:

  • exercises
  • prompts
  • identifying what’s already funny about your perspective

Most people realize they already have funny life stories — they just need shaping

Weeks 2–4: Writing + Feedback

This is the core of the class.

You:

  • write short bits
  • try them out
  • get feedback
  • refine them

You learn:

  • how to tighten jokes
  • how to structure setups
  • how to make things hit harder

Weeks 5–6: Performance + Polishing

Now it becomes about:

  • delivery
  • timing
  • stage presence

You start putting together a real 5-minute set

The Graduation Show

At the end:

  • you perform in a real comedy club
  • in front of an actual audience

This is the part that changes everything

What Surprises People Most

  • how supportive the room is
  • how quickly they improve
  • how fun it becomes

And also, “I can’t believe I actually did that”

Who It’s For

  • complete beginners
  • people curious about stand-up
  • people who want to try something new
  • people who have dabbled in comedy a few times and want to get better, faster

NYC Comedy Class Format

  • 6 sessions
  • small group
  • Manhattan location
  • graduation show
See upcoming stand-up comedy classes

Final Thought

You don’t need to be funny to start.

You just need to start.

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Can Stand-Up Comedy Improve Public Speaking?

Short answer:
👉 Yes — dramatically.

Longer answer:
It’s one of the most effective (and uncomfortable) ways to get better at speaking.

Why Stand-Up Works So Well

Most public speaking training focuses on:

  • posture
  • eye contact
  • filler words

Stand-up goes deeper.

It forces you to:

  • organize your thoughts clearly
  • say something that must hold people’s attention
  • handle real-time feedback

1. You Learn Structure

A joke is basically:

  • setup → expectation → surprise

That’s the same structure as:

  • a story
  • a pitch
  • a presentation

You learn to get to the point faster

2. You Get Immediate Feedback

In most speaking situations:

  • people nod politely
  • or stay silent

In stand-up:

  • they laugh
  • or they don’t

There’s no ambiguity.

3. You Build Real Confidence

Confidence doesn’t come from:

  • affirmations
  • or “visualizing success”

It comes from doing something hard repeatedly and feeling yourself improve at it.

Stand-up forces that.

4. You Learn to Handle Pressure

Bombing (not doing well on stage) is:

  • uncomfortable
  • but incredibly useful

Once you’ve survived that a work presentation feels easy

Who This Helps Most

  • professionals who present
  • people who feel nervous speaking
  • people who want to be more engaging

Where to Start

You don’t need to “be funny.”

You need:

  • willingness
  • curiosity
  • and a structured environment

That’s exactly what beginner classes are for.

At NYC Comedy Class:

  • beginners are the majority
  • classes are small
  • you build toward a real performance
Register for a stand-up comedy class

Final Thought

Public speaking teaches you how to talk. Stand-up teaches you how to be heard.

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Fun Classes for Adults in NYC (That Are Actually Worth It)

New York has a million “fun classes.”

Pottery. Cooking. Wine tasting. Candle making.

Some are great. Some are… you paid $85 to make a mug that looks like it lost a fight to a schnauser.

If you’re looking for something genuinely fun — not just “Instagram fun” — here are a few categories that actually deliver.

1. Creative Classes (Best Overall)

These are the most rewarding because you:

  • make something
  • improve over time
  • and actually feel different by the end

Examples:

  • stand-up comedy
  • drawing or painting
  • writing workshops

These tend to be the most memorable

2. Physical / Skill-Based Classes

Good if you want:

  • movement
  • energy
  • something active

Examples:

  • dance
  • boxing
  • yoga intensives

Fun, but usually less social interaction as everyone is copying the instructor’s moves

3. One-Night Experiences

Examples:

  • cooking classes
  • cocktail making
  • painting nights

These are fun, but they’re more like events than experiences

You show up, do the thing, leave.

Why Stand-Up Comedy Is Different

Stand-up hits a unique combo:

  • creative
  • social
  • slightly terrifying (in a good way)
  • and incredibly rewarding

You:

  • write your own material
  • perform it
  • and get real reactions

It’s one of the few classes where you walk in one person and walk out more confident

Who It’s Good For

  • people new to NYC
  • people stuck in routine
  • people who want something social but not awkward
  • people who want to challenge themselves a little
  • people who want to improve their public speaking
  • people who wanna laugh

If You Want to Try It

NYC Comedy Class runs:

  • small group classes
  • in Manhattan
  • ending in a graduation show
Register for a stand-up comedy class

Final Thought

The best class isn’t the one that looks fun.

It’s the one you’re still thinking about weeks later.

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Best Comedy Classes in NYC (An Honest Breakdown)

If you Google “best comedy classes in NYC,” you’ll get a mix of improv schools, stand-up classes, and sketch programs that all claim to be “the best.”

They’re not all the same. And “best” depends on what you actually want.

So here’s a real breakdown — not marketing fluff.

First: Know What Type of Comedy You Want

There are three main categories:

1. Improv classes (UCB-style)

  • No writing
  • Group games
  • Great for creativity and looseness

2. Stand-up comedy classes

  • You write your own material
  • You perform solo
  • You build toward an actual set

3. Sketch comedy

  • You act in scenes with other actors
  • You write your own SNL style script
  • Some classes focus on both writing and acting, some are just one or the other

If your goal is:

  • performing
  • public speaking
  • and saying something in your own voice

Then you want stand-up, not improv or sketch.

What Actually Makes a Good Stand-Up Class

Here’s what matters (and what most sites won’t say clearly):

1. Small class size

If there are 20 people, you’re not getting real feedback.

The ideal is ~10–12 students

2. A real performance at the end

Some classes skip this or make it optional.

That’s like taking swimming lessons without getting in the water.

You want a graduation show in a real comedy club

3. Structure (not just “hang out and be funny”)

A good class teaches:

  • joke structure
  • how to come up with material
  • how to edit the material down to the best parts
  • how to perform it

Not just “say something funny and we’ll clap.”

4. Instructor who actually performs

There are classes taught by:

  • career comics
  • and classes taught by people who teach comedy but don’t perform

Those are not the same.

So What’s “Best”?

There isn’t one answer.

But here’s a simple way to think about it:

  • Want social + playful → improv
  • Want to perform + build a set → stand-up
  • Want real progress → small class + real show

Where NYC Comedy Class Fits In

Our class is built for:

  • complete beginners
  • people who want to try stand-up
  • people who want to get better at speaking

It’s:

  • 6 weeks
  • small group
  • ends with a graduation show at a Manhattan comedy club
Register for a stand-up comedy class

Final Thought

The “best” class is the one that:

  • actually gets you on stage
  • actually improves your material
  • and doesn’t waste your time

Everything else is branding.

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How To Seem Confident

When starting out in stand-up comedy, it’s hard to feel confident. What if you forget your material? Will the audience laugh or not? You often don’t feel in control. So here are some tips to keep in mind that might help:

– Practice your jokes and whole routine out loud. The first step to coming off confident is feeling prepared. So before you leave your house or get out of your car, say the jokes you plan on saying out loud until you feel you know it. This will help much more than you think.

– Go up on the stage looking at the audience and smile before starting to talk. Let the audience take you in for a couple of seconds before you start. Don’t focus on getting the mic out of the stand. Focus on the audience. This makes them feel like you’re there with them, instead of a puppet whose string was pulled when you start talking.

– Start with a greeting like “hello” not with the word “so” or “ummm.” If you were talking to a new person at a bar, your first word wouldn’t be “so” or “umm” – it’d be “hey” or “hi”. Comedy should feel like talking to a friend or new pal at a bar.

– Talk slower. Confident people talk slowly because they believe what they have to say is so important, people won’t interrupt. Nervous people talk a mile a minute. If you think you’re going too slow, you can still slow down!

– Sound excited about what you’re sharing. While you shouldn’t talk quick and nervously, you should still change the inflection in your voice and sound excited about your material. If your tone is “oh god here are the words that need to be said” you’re screwed.

– Look people in the eye. Or at least look at their forehead, they’ll think you’re making eye contact. People with low confidence look at the floor or over the audience.

– Look at different spots of the audience. But don’t scan nervously. Pick three friendly faces – one in the middle, one a little to the left, and one a little to the right. Pretend like you’re facilitating a four person conversation, where you want everyone to feel included as you’re talking. But not in a nervous “oh god are they still listening or are they now on their phone?!?” sort of way. 

– Take pauses in the middle of sentences, as well as after the punchline. But don’t “freeze” as you wait for laughs, laugh to yourself or do some sort of physical action that matches your bit. A lot of comedy is timing, picking your spots to pause helps increase anticipation of the funny part.

– Mental bonus: Before going up, remind yourself that you’re a funny person, and that it doesn’t matter if the crowd “seems bad” before you – that’s just because they’re waiting for you to make them laugh and you will impose your hilarious will on them.

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Repeating Jokes At Open Mics

Recently a former student emailed asking, “If I stick to one open mic and go weekly, should I focus on trying new material each time, or is it okay to practice the same set a few times, even if it’s the same audience?”

We would recommend do a mix. It’s fine to do the same set (with maybe some minor tweaks) for 3-4 weeks in a row (if you don’t have anything new you’re excited to try).

But we’d avoid doing the exact same set for months on end at the same mic.

Also keep in mind the “audience” usually changes every week, at least partially.

The main thing should be to do a short joke or two at the start that you know is funny, so you can then gauge the rest of the laughs of the set based on that. 

For example, if the joke you know usually works gets an okay laugh, then that level of laugh or higher is what you want for anything new you’re trying.

If a good joke doesn’t land at all, and then no other jokes land, then you know it was just a weird vibe.

If a good joke doesn’t land at all, and then a new joke does land, you might have a really good new joke!

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Comedy Open Mics Recommendations

Recently a former student emailed asking, “Do you have any recommendations for the best open mics for newbies?”

First, to see a current list of open mics, check out badslava.com

Our main recs for open mics are:

  1. Try something new every time. It can be a one word change or a brand new joke, but don’t do the exact same set word for word every time.
  2. Go where it’s convenient for you – aka almost no mic is worth an 80-minute subway ride.
  3. Try a mic, if you like the vibe, keep coming back and become a regular. If you don’t like it, try somewhere else. (But keep in mind the vibe might shift a little week to week.)
  4. If you can find a music mic that allows comedians, those tend to be better because the musicians are “real audience” and not other comedians.
  5. A slight laugh at a mic is usually a good sign.
  6. Have low expectations. The main benefits of a mic are:

a) practicing saying words out loud while people look at you – which makes your delivery different than when you’re talking into your hairbrush at home

b) you meet other comedians and make friends and maybe do their shows

c) you get comfortable with silence, so when you’re in front of real crowds and something doesn’t hit, you don’t panic

d) you see what material to avoid based on what everyone and their mother keeps repeating.

e) working on riffing and being in the moment and thinking on your feet

Notice how the benefits don’t include “getting standing ovations” and “feeling great about comedy” – that’s because most mics will not give you that outcome. But as long as you know in advance, you won’t be disappointed.