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