How to perform stand-up comedy
  • 1. What is the most fundamental element of stand-up comedy?
A) Being loud and energetic
B) Having a unique perspective and comedic voice
C) Memorizing jokes from a book
D) Wearing a funny outfit
  • 2. What is a tag?
A) A physical prop used on stage
B) An additional joke added to an existing joke to enhance it
C) A specific type of microphone
D) The introduction of your act
  • 3. What does 'dying on stage' mean?
A) Being booed off stage
B) Experiencing a performance where the audience doesn't laugh
C) Forgetting your entire set
D) Literally collapsing on stage
  • 4. What is a 'call back'?
A) An audience member shouting out a request
B) The club owner asking you to perform again
C) Referring back to a joke or topic previously mentioned in the set
D) A stage manager signaling the end of your set
  • 5. Why is audience interaction important?
A) It guarantees more laughs
B) It can create a more engaging and memorable experience
C) It's required by all comedy clubs
D) It shows you are better than the audience
  • 6. What is a good way to find your comedic voice?
A) Copying your favorite comedian's style exactly
B) Experimenting with different joke structures and topics that resonate with you
C) Ignoring all feedback from other comedians
D) Only telling jokes about popular current events
  • 7. What is the purpose of a comedic premise?
A) To confuse the audience
B) To distract the audience from a weak punchline
C) To establish the core idea that the joke is built upon
D) To lengthen the joke as much as possible
  • 8. What is the 'rule of three' in comedy?
A) Presenting two similar elements followed by a surprising or humorous third element
B) Having three different personas on stage
C) Getting three laughs per minute
D) Only telling three jokes per set
  • 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 bartender to serve more drinks
C) It allows the comedian to finish on time
D) It makes the comedian look more professional
  • 10. What is a 'clean' comedy routine?
A) A routine that involves cleaning supplies
B) A routine performed on a freshly cleaned stage
C) A routine only performed for children
D) A routine free of profanity, sexual references, or controversial topics
  • 11. What does it mean to 'work the crowd'?
A) Physically moving through the audience while performing
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) Ignoring any negative reactions from the audience
  • 12. What is an 'open mic'?
A) A venue where anyone can perform a short comedy set, often for free
B) A comedy show where the audience can heckle freely
C) A microphone that is always turned on
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 prove to others you're funny
C) To sell DVDs of your performance
D) To avoid paying the comedian's fee
  • 14. What is a 'punchline'?
A) The microphone you use on stage
B) The stage lighting
C) The final part of a joke that delivers the humor
D) The introduction to the joke
  • 15. What is 'self-deprecation'?
A) Criticizing the audience
B) Humorously mocking or making fun of oneself
C) Arrogantly bragging about oneself
D) Never telling jokes about oneself
  • 16. How important is confidence on stage?
A) Very important; it helps the audience believe in your material
B) Unimportant if you are nervous
C) Not important at all; humor speaks for itself
D) It is only important if you are attractive
  • 17. What is 'observational comedy'?
A) Finding humor in everyday situations and experiences
B) Making fun of famous people
C) Telling jokes based on scientific observations
D) Ignoring the world around you
  • 18. What is 'premature optimization' in joke writing?
A) Giving up on a joke too quickly
B) Trying to perfect a joke too early in the writing process
C) Writing jokes that are too technical
D) Waiting too long to refine a joke
  • 19. What should you do if you forget a joke on stage?
A) Panic and leave the stage
B) Blame the audience for not understanding
C) Make up a new joke on the spot
D) Acknowledge it and move on to the next joke
  • 20. What is the best way to handle a heckler?
A) Engage in a shouting match with them
B) Physically confront them
C) Address them calmly and humorously, or ignore them
D) Have them removed immediately
  • 21. What is a 'setup' in a joke?
A) The applause after a good joke
B) The comedian's introduction
C) The stage decorations
D) The part of the joke that provides the context and leads to the punchline
  • 22. Why is it important to be original?
A) Because all audiences hate familiar jokes
B) To stand out from other comedians and offer a unique perspective
C) To avoid being sued for copyright infringement (jokes are generally not copyrightable)
D) Because originality is always funnier than well-established jokes
  • 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 very loud and energetic
D) Humor that is morbid or depressing
  • 24. What's an important aspect of stage presence?
A) Making eye contact with the audience
B) Avoiding any movement at all
C) Only looking at the back of the room
D) Staring at the floor
  • 25. What does 'bombing' mean?
A) Winning a comedy competition
B) Throwing a fake bomb on stage
C) Having a performance where the audience does not laugh
D) Telling only offensive jokes
  • 26. What is a 'running gag'?
A) A joke that is told very quickly
B) A joke that is never funny
C) A joke that is repeated throughout a performance
D) A joke about running
  • 27. What is one of the best ways to improve your writing?
A) Writing regularly, even if the material isn't immediately great
B) Only writing jokes about topics you know nothing about
C) Only writing when you are feeling inspired
D) Never rewriting your material
  • 28. What's the purpose of a 'setup-punch' joke structure?
A) To avoid telling a punchline altogether
B) To confuse the audience with complex language
C) To bore the audience with a long, drawn-out story
D) To create tension and then release it with a surprising or funny punchline
  • 29. What is 'alt comedy'?
A) Comedy that deviates from traditional stand-up formats and topics
B) Comedy performed only at high altitudes
C) Comedy that is always politically incorrect
D) Comedy that is always clean and family-friendly
  • 30. What role does vulnerability play in comedy?
A) It makes you appear weak and unconfident
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 always guarantees laughs
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