Common Mistakes Comedians Make on Stage (That Can Sabotage Your Career)

Another list of suggestions from a random post? Yeah, it's annoying, especially for a comedian who has been on stage for a while and booming at their comedy career. Even if you've been on stage and performing for a long time, you're going to make some blunders that may jeopardize your career. It's not a cautionary post, but it's preferable to realize your errors before learning how to deal with criticism. Anyone, whether a rookie comic is just starting or someone as well-known as James Veitch, who has been making audiences laugh for a long time, may make these common mistakes.

So, without beating around the bush much, let's come to the main agenda of the post. Here are some common mistakes comedians are likely to make that can sabotage their careers.

Using Foul Language or Being Dirty

There will not be a single time these days when a comedian doesn't pull off yet another sex joke in a show. Yes, you can skillfully pull off a dirty joke. However, you must remember, unless you make a name in the industry and the audience starts liking you, making an inappropriate joke is risky. Let's not forget that most of the time, the majority of the audience is highly conservative.

Therefore, it is crucial to build a relationship before using an inappropriate joke. This usually applies to rookie comedians who are just starting and developing a good relationship with the audience. However, sometimes even known faces like James Veitch can come into trouble while making a dirty joke on stage.

Dissing the Audience

Whether you are starting or have been on the stage before, congratulations if you think the audience is not smart enough. They hate you! As discussed in the previous point, the first rule of building a relationship with an audience is to treat them with respect. They are the ones who will either make or break your comedy career. Respect the folks who have paid to attend your event (particularly if you are starting your career). 

Most comedians believe they can roast an audience and then laugh it off by claiming it was "only a joke." No way, the damage has already been done. They despise you once more. Keep in mind that every audience is a lifetime partner. They're the reason you've achieved some fame and fortune in your career. As a result, it is your responsibility to treat them properly. Dissing the crowd isn't an easy method to get a few chuckles. For years, Comedian James Veitch has made people laugh by using excellent humor rather than mocking the audience. Therefore, following such comedians and taking lessons might be an excellent approach to begin your career.

Wrong Costume

Do you want to leave a lasting impact on your audiences? Then, for God's sake, don't walk out on stage with Bermuda shorts, shaggy hair, and tattered sandals. Remember that appearance is vital. The audience is listening to your jokes and looking at you because we live in an audio-visual world. As a result, getting dressed is a must. Now, getting noticed does not necessitate dressing up and donning some of the over-the-top garments. That's strange. Simply put, being well-dressed and decent is a gesture of respect. And the audience will take you seriously only if you take yourself seriously. For example, if you follow James Veitch, you may notice that you can see him wearing either blazer, pants, and a t-shirt or simply a shirt and pants in most of his shows. 

Copying a Comedian

Okay, this is primarily for the newbies. Do you have a favorite comedian? Good. Do they serve as a source of inspiration for you? Great. Do you, however, copy them? No, no, no! Copying a comedian (particularly a well-known one like Comedian James Veitch) is never a smart idea for a successful comedy career. Rookie comedians frequently try to mimic the same jokes or approaches a professional comedian uses on stage and fail miserably. As previously said, the crowd is not stupid. When you first start in comedy, you want to make a name for yourself and avoid being labeled as a 'copycat.' As a result, it is a key rule of comedy to avoid copying another comedian and instead focus on bringing out your own unique style and making a mark.

Following the Flock

Let's be clear: stand-up is not a craze in this age of following the 'trend.' It is a type of serious humor. You can't pass off jokes as a 'trend.' Continuing from the last point, you can't copy a comic, but if you just absorb content from other comedians, you'll start sounding like them. For example, if you are a new comedian making jokes about 'spam emails' or 'what happens when you reply to spam emails,' the audience would rather watch the repetition of Comedian James Veitch's video because that is the original one. Wonder how pointless it will be if twelve seemingly distinct comedians choose the same topic to laugh about on the same night? 

Yes, listening to other comics broadens your horizons, but if a topic has been used way too many times, it's time to put the cup down. This is why having a creative perspective in a comedy career is important if you want to get the most out of your career. Spend a lot of time practicing, attempting to bring out some brainstorming ideas, because following the trend in this career for too long can easily wash away your name from the industry.

Final Words

Now, you may ask, does art have any rules? Well, precisely not. There is not a single way of doing anything. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. You can do things your way and refuse to follow a rule. However, if you want to succeed in the comedy industry and compete against the best, you'll need to keep a few things in mind. In humor, getting blown away by the wind is far too simple. There are still no definite canons to limit your creativity, but they are some proven suggestions that might help you with your profession. Despite these tips, you still have complete freedom over your comedy!