But Am I Funny To Strangers?

Oh sure, your friends/family/co-workers have all said you're funny.  They may have even suggested you become a Stand-Up Comic!

And they've seen you perform onstage and say: "You are really funny!"

But in the back of your mind you wonder:

"Am I funny to strangers?"

We assume this is the test for whether or not we should even pursue our comedy careers.  After all, if I'm only funny to people who know me then I must not be very good.

BUT THIS IS A MISTAKE.

You are looking at it all wrong. 

The GOAL is to build an audience (or fan base) not simply to be funny to strangers.

What's the difference?

• A FAN will follow your career. 
• A FAN is excited to see you perform.
• A FAN will pay money to see you.
• FANS will get you work.
• FANS will make you a PROFESSIONAL COMIC.

Many Comics start with zero fans by performing in secret, not wanting to reveal themselves.  This is needlessly difficult and usually results in the comic spinning his wheels... until finally giving up.

But it's smarter to stack the deck in your favor.

HOW?

SIMPLE: Utilize your premade fan base: your friends/family/co-workers! Get them to come to your shows and bring one or more of their friends.

You will get more laughs with your fan base than any random crowd.  This will make you funnier to your friends and friend's friends. 

NETWORK with your friend's friends and turn them into your FANS. 

Then watch your fan base GROW.

It is a lot of work to get your fans to come to see you, over and over.  They'll demand new material constantly (something I'll discuss in a future post).  You must strategically decide which shows to invite them to.  But don't confuse that with never inviting them.  As hard as it is to get your fans to come and see you, it's a Heck of a lot harder to get strangers to come.

There is one BIG secret to getting strangers to laugh.

Turn them into FRIENDS.