Live comedy is back! And it’s wonderful. But for a lot of newer comedians, it’s also terrifying. If a significant amount of your comedy experience is virtual, the idea of standing in front of a room of people might cause some anxiety. But it will also be fun and rewarding if you take the right approach and prepare for the challenge.

Yes, live comedy is different from virtual comedy, but both are comedy. Both are about using words and ideas to make people laugh. If you have jokes that worked consistently on virtual mics and shows, they should work live. Some might work right away, while others might require some thought about how to deliver it to a live audience.

Here’s are some of the big differences:

·         A live audience has less distractions. They are there for the show and no one is in the kitchen behind them making dinner.

·         The audience sees your whole body and body language matters. The audience will start assessing you from the minute they see you walking towards the stage.

·         Because the audience can see your whole body you can do act outs on stage that you cannot do virtually. You have a another tool in your tool kit!

·         You can’t have your notes hidden beside your webcam. So, you need to know your material, which can be a sort of anxiety.

·         You need to use a microphone and navigate a mic stand. If you have been doing virtual comedy without a mic this may feel uncomfortable.

·         There is no such thing as bad WIFI when everyone is in the same room.

·         Heckles, if they come, will be from real live people sitting in front of you, not from dark screens or chat boxes.

·         There is no option to mute someone.

·         After your set, if you want to hide, you need to the leave the room. You can’t just turn off your video.

·         Everyone is fully clothed.

Depending on your pre-pandemic experience you might be able to dive right back into the live comedy scene in your area, which is great. But, if you are new and nervous, there are some things you can do to manage the transition. Here are some ideas:

·         Stop using notes on virtual mics and shows. Internalize and learn your material.

·         Start standing up when you do virtual mics and shows. Even if the audience can’t see your whole body, start using your whole body in the delivery of your jokes.

·         Buy a mic and mic stand and practice your set at home.

·         Go see a few live shows/mics and watch comics navigate the room, the stage, the mic and mic stand.

·         Take a live stand-up class. This is a great way to transition to live comedy especially if the majority of your experience has been virtual. Once a week get in a room with like-minded comedians with similar experience and practice in a supportive environment. Learn from an experienced comic who can offer tips not just on your material, but also on your delivery and how you handle the mic and stand. Most classes have a showcase at the end, which gives you a goal to focus on.

You might have some anxiety about doing live comedy but remember it is going to be fun! It’s a thrill to be on stage in front of an audience delivering your material and hearing the audience respond with laughter. But it is not easy. There’s a reason a lot of people are terrified of public speaking and your desire to do stand-up comedy sets you apart from most people! Manage your anxiety by preparing and practicing, take a class, and when you hit that stage in a room full of people prepared to laugh, it’s going to be amazing.

Take away: There are multiple adjustments comics must make when they move from Zoom shows to Live shows. Its important to know them and be ready for all of them and not be surprised.