Standup comedy as an art is just as remarkable as any other artist’s profession. However, the value of this profession is often being undervalued and degraded by some bad actors who pursue it for rewards that are not worthy of the craft and, in doing so, undermine the work of other professionals in this field.

Multiple Fronts of Lapses in Delivery by Amateur Standup Comedians

While there are several areas where amateurs tend to fall short, some of these lapses are particularly noticeable and should not be areas of failure in the first place. Following are some aspects that are simply not acceptable for a professional in this field.

1. Trying to perform standup comedy without having a quality or evolving sense of humor:

Some individuals enter this domain as professionals merely to benefit from the growing demand. The truth is simple — if you do not naturally possess a sense of humor, there is little point in jumping into this career.

2. Trying to read out jokes on stage:

Standup comedy isn’t a speech. Even speeches that are completely read from paper resemble political dialogues or formal presentations that focus on facts and figures.

Speeches that truly move people or touch hearts are often drawn from experience, expressed with emotion, and delivered with genuine passion. Similarly, a standup comedian must feel the humor behind the joke and personally find it funny before presenting it to the audience.

3. Trying to interact with the audience more than necessary:

Audience interaction is an important skill in any stage performance. However, it is equally important to ensure that such interaction does not turn into an interrogation or a debate.

In the pursuit of appearing funny, some standup comedians end up roasting their audience through illogical debates and excessive sarcasm. This takes away the essence of standup comedy and turns the show into an awkward argument that can be embarrassing for both the audience and the performer.

4. Not preparing for delivery and forgetting that any stage act—especially standup comedy—is largely about improv:

You cannot expect a live performance to unfold exactly as planned. Audience responses, venue situations, or unforeseen circumstances are all part of the experience. A standup comedian must be able to handle such moments with wit and spontaneity. This ability to adapt is not optional; it is a core quality of a good standup comedian.

For a detailed account of the qualities of a good standup comedian, read this piece.

Finally, Bear in Mind:

If these four aspects are kept in mind, a performance is far more likely to feel like genuine standup comedy rather than a political speech or a personal altercation played out in public.

Standup comedy is witnessing high demand today simply because people want to spend their evenings enjoying something light — something that brings a smile to their faces and transforms the stress of the day into moments of laughter and ease.

It is therefore important for the artist to remember this responsibility and not add to the stress of attendees by delivering something that feels like a stressor rather than a stress-buster.

What points do you most relate to? Have you attended a standup comedy event before? What did you truly enjoy about the event, and what do you think could have made it even better?