What Are Important Qualities for Stand Up

Well, first to be funny. That's the most important thing. LOL. Also to be a good writer, actor and having a good work ethic helps. So many things that are important qualities in other jobs are important in comedy.

One you don't hear a lot about is the ability to listen. I have said this before but being a good comedian requires listening. Listening to what the crowd is saying or not saying (with their laughter), listening to what is working (and not working) to shift and work with what the crowd is liking, or what you think is liking.

Recently I did a show at a club I have worked at over a dozen times. It feels like home there now but the crowd that night was "being weird". When I talked to the other comedians, we all agreed they were a little slower but when I listened to my set that I recorded, I realized they were just slower and I was not giving them time to laugh. In this situation, the crowd was older. Much older. For later weekend crowds, crowds are slower, just because they are a little intoxicated. This was no different, except they were older and slower. I didn't listen. #standup #careerchange #formerlawyer