12 Traits of Successful Comedians, Pt. 2
Evaluate Yourself (Comedy Mindhacks #70)
In yesterday’s post, which was “Pt. 1” of this 2-part post, I gave the first 6 traits of highly successful comedians. This was based on content created by Lukas Stangl over on LinkedIn about a year ago (see here: “12 Traits of High-Performers”). In this article, I’m going to talk about the remaining 6 traits and, once again, this is more of a “Note to Self” than anything. But, if you’re reading, I hope it helps you, too.
Self-motivation: This really is crucial! Why? Because, in stand-up comedy, no one is coming to save you. There’s no boss, no promotion ladder, no annual review, no call-in-for-help hotline. So, you have to find ways to motivate yourself and, even more, keep yourself motivated. A big part of that may come simply from knowing and articulating “why” you’re doing stand-up at all? Because, like most things, if you don’t know why you’re doing this, you’ll throw in the towel pretty quickly when it keeps demanding things from you. So, find your “Why?” and then dig into your “How?” Last year, I set a few goals and hit them all. This year I set goals, too. They help give shape to my “Why?” and “How?” They help keep me motivated even when I feel like I wanna take a break.
Proactive Attitude: This definitely ties into the previous point but is also different. Having a positive attitude is the difference between waiting to be “discovered” and just getting busy building something. As Andy Dufresne says to Red in Shawshank Redemption, “Get busy living, or get busy dying.” Book shows. Create shows. Start a podcast. Write daily on a blog. Create opportunities for yourself instead of resenting the people who do. Create opportunities for yourself instead of waiting on people to hand opportunities to you. Be proactive. Not reactive or just active.
Strong Communication: When it comes to stand-up comedy, it should be pretty obvious that this is required. Of course, it’s needed on stage, but it’s just as important off-stage. Listen to comics better than you and analyze how they talk. Learn how to pitch, network, host, and collaborate without sounding desperate or delusional. Have the same sense of professionalism that you’d want people to have toward you.
Health Consciousness: Okay, this might seem odd to include in the list, but it might also be the most underrated trait here. It might also be the one I’m worst at. Late nights, bad food, and fleeting adrenaline rushes are just some of the ways this job quietly wrecks people. Comedians who don’t take care of their bodies eventually pay for it with burnout, bitterness, or both. I’m not going to preach too hard here, but this is one I really need to focus on.
Adaptability: Parents always say, “I just want my kid to be happy.” I’ve said for years, I don’t really care if my kids are happy. There are way more important things than happiness, which is temporary, comes and goes, and is often just an illusion. What I want for my kids are more reliable traits like respect, work ethic, and adaptability. And to be able to adapt in stand-up comedy, well, it’s a must. When the joke that killed last week suddenly doesn’t work tonight, you don’t panic, you adapt. You adjust. You move on. You learn. In some ways, comedy punishes rigidity. You have to adapt to bookers, other comedians, new lineups, new venues, new equipment, and so on. If you can’t adapt, there’s no way you’ll make it in stand-up.
Time Management: For many, this is the silent killer. Comedy takes up so much time. Social media alone, with all the different platforms, eats away at the clock. Then you have writing jokes, driving to shows, waiting to get on the mic, stage time, driving back home, and so on. Everyone has the same amount of time but not everyone uses it to the best of their ability. And figuring out how to manage time so it doesn’t manage you can be super tricky. While most comedians I know don’t like daily schedules, having some semblance of a routine can be helpful.
So, there are 12 Traits of Highly Successful Comedians. These, I think, are worth taking a few minutes to ponder and reflect on. If you’re a comedian, where are you excelling and where are you deficient? If you’re not a comedian, where and how do these traits show up in your life? Start the new year off right, engage in some self-analysis so you can experience greater success in the days ahead. Again, Happy New Year!
JOKE WRITING COURSE: By the way, if you have any interest at all in learning about your persona, how to write some jokes, or doing stand-up comedy, check out my online joke writing course, “The Joke Writer’s Lab,” HERE.