How to perform stand-up comedy
  • 1. What is the most fundamental element of stand-up comedy?
A) Being loud and energetic
B) Wearing a funny outfit
C) Memorizing jokes from a book
D) Having a unique perspective and comedic voice
  • 2. What is a tag?
A) A physical prop used on stage
B) A specific type of microphone
C) An additional joke added to an existing joke to enhance it
D) The introduction of your act
  • 3. What does 'dying on stage' mean?
A) Forgetting your entire set
B) Literally collapsing on stage
C) Being booed off stage
D) Experiencing a performance where the audience doesn't laugh
  • 4. What is a 'call back'?
A) A stage manager signaling the end of your set
B) Referring back to a joke or topic previously mentioned in the set
C) An audience member shouting out a request
D) The club owner asking you to perform again
  • 5. Why is audience interaction important?
A) It can create a more engaging and memorable experience
B) It shows you are better than the audience
C) It's required by all comedy clubs
D) It guarantees more laughs
  • 6. What is a good way to find your comedic voice?
A) Only telling jokes about popular current events
B) Ignoring all feedback from other comedians
C) Copying your favorite comedian's style exactly
D) Experimenting with different joke structures and topics that resonate with you
  • 7. What is the purpose of a comedic premise?
A) To lengthen the joke as much as possible
B) To distract the audience from a weak punchline
C) To establish the core idea that the joke is built upon
D) To confuse the audience
  • 8. What is the 'rule of three' in comedy?
A) Only telling three jokes per set
B) Presenting two similar elements followed by a surprising or humorous third element
C) Having three different personas on stage
D) Getting three laughs per minute
  • 9. Why is timing crucial in stand-up comedy?
A) The delivery and pause before the punchline impact the audience's reaction
B) It allows the comedian to finish on time
C) It allows the bartender to serve more drinks
D) It makes the comedian look more professional
  • 10. What is a 'clean' comedy routine?
A) A routine only performed for children
B) A routine that involves cleaning supplies
C) A routine performed on a freshly cleaned stage
D) A routine free of profanity, sexual references, or controversial topics
  • 11. What does it mean to 'work the crowd'?
A) Ignoring any negative reactions from the audience
B) Engaging the audience and adjusting your set based on their reactions
C) Only telling jokes that you think are funny, regardless of audience response
D) Physically moving through the audience while performing
  • 12. What is an 'open mic'?
A) A comedy show where the audience can heckle freely
B) A microphone that is always turned on
C) A venue where anyone can perform a short comedy set, often for free
D) A comedy show with no cover charge
  • 13. What is the benefit of recording your sets?
A) To analyze your performance and identify areas for improvement
B) To sell DVDs of your performance
C) To avoid paying the comedian's fee
D) To prove to others you're funny
  • 14. What is a 'punchline'?
A) The microphone you use on stage
B) The introduction to the joke
C) The final part of a joke that delivers the humor
D) The stage lighting
  • 15. What is 'self-deprecation'?
A) Never telling jokes about oneself
B) Humorously mocking or making fun of oneself
C) Criticizing the audience
D) Arrogantly bragging about oneself
  • 16. How important is confidence on stage?
A) Not important at all; humor speaks for itself
B) Very important; it helps the audience believe in your material
C) Unimportant if you are nervous
D) It is only important if you are attractive
  • 17. What is 'observational comedy'?
A) Making fun of famous people
B) Ignoring the world around you
C) Telling jokes based on scientific observations
D) Finding humor in everyday situations and experiences
  • 18. What is 'premature optimization' in joke writing?
A) Giving up on a joke too quickly
B) Writing jokes that are too technical
C) Waiting too long to refine a joke
D) Trying to perfect a joke too early in the writing process
  • 19. What should you do if you forget a joke on stage?
A) Blame the audience for not understanding
B) Acknowledge it and move on to the next joke
C) Panic and leave the stage
D) Make up a new joke on the spot
  • 20. What is the best way to handle a heckler?
A) Address them calmly and humorously, or ignore them
B) Have them removed immediately
C) Engage in a shouting match with them
D) Physically confront them
  • 21. What is a 'setup' in a joke?
A) The part of the joke that provides the context and leads to the punchline
B) The applause after a good joke
C) The stage decorations
D) The comedian's introduction
  • 22. Why is it important to be original?
A) Because all audiences hate familiar jokes
B) Because originality is always funnier than well-established jokes
C) To avoid being sued for copyright infringement (jokes are generally not copyrightable)
D) To stand out from other comedians and offer a unique perspective
  • 23. What is 'deadpan' humor?
A) Humor that is only funny to dead people
B) Delivering jokes with a straight face and no emotion
C) Humor that is morbid or depressing
D) Humor that is very loud and energetic
  • 24. What's an important aspect of stage presence?
A) Avoiding any movement at all
B) Staring at the floor
C) Making eye contact with the audience
D) Only looking at the back of the room
  • 25. What does 'bombing' mean?
A) Having a performance where the audience does not laugh
B) Telling only offensive jokes
C) Winning a comedy competition
D) Throwing a fake bomb on stage
  • 26. What is a 'running gag'?
A) A joke that is told very quickly
B) A joke that is never funny
C) A joke about running
D) A joke that is repeated throughout a performance
  • 27. What is one of the best ways to improve your writing?
A) Only writing when you are feeling inspired
B) Never rewriting your material
C) Only writing jokes about topics you know nothing about
D) Writing regularly, even if the material isn't immediately great
  • 28. What's the purpose of a 'setup-punch' joke structure?
A) To create tension and then release it with a surprising or funny punchline
B) To bore the audience with a long, drawn-out story
C) To confuse the audience with complex language
D) To avoid telling a punchline altogether
  • 29. What is 'alt comedy'?
A) Comedy performed only at high altitudes
B) Comedy that deviates from traditional stand-up formats and topics
C) Comedy that is always clean and family-friendly
D) Comedy that is always politically incorrect
  • 30. What role does vulnerability play in comedy?
A) It always guarantees laughs
B) It should be avoided at all costs
C) It allows you to connect with the audience on a deeper level, making your jokes more relatable
D) It makes you appear weak and unconfident
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