A Comedian’s Handbook That's Not About Jokes
Comedy Resources #10
I feel privileged that I got to grow up in the era of David Letterman’s late show and Adam Sandler’s class of SNL. But it wasn’t until I was in my 40s probably that I realized how much that shaped me. I used to watch them do comedy and just think they were born with it. It never ever ceased to amaze me how one person could walk on stage and effortlessly transform the mundane crap of everyday life into pure laughter. The only tool they needed was a microphone.
Again, I assumed this was an innate gift, a form of genius that they just inherently possessed. Now I know that’s not the case. But it doesn’t make me appreciate them any less. In fact, now that I know much of the “science” behind joke writing and comedy, as it were, I might appreciate them even more. Because, at the end of the day, they’ve mastered the craft and made it look so easy. I now realize the hard work and skill it takes to make the art look so spontaneous and effortless. I also realize, as one who has driven hours to perform for a few minutes, eaten greasy food on late-night drives home, and dealt with the money side of things, there’s way more to this than meets the eye. So, I have a greater appreciation for anyone who grinds and means it.
Recently, I got ahold of Matt Wohlfarth’s book ABC’s of Stand-up Comedy. It’s not the conversational guide I expected; rather, it’s a dense, alphabetical reference manual. For comedy? Yeah, for comedy! It’s a comedy dictionary of sorts with lots of hard-won wisdom from a life on the road, a book full of wisdom gleaned from the grind. And the most surprising takeaways for me, the lessons that have stuck with me from this book, actually had little to do with the joke-writing or performing side of comedy. Instead, they have everything to do with the grit required to live a creative life.
The first major lesson from the book is something every aspiring and young comedian needs to know: treat comedy as a serious business first and a (fun) show second. That seems backwards to a lot of folks but it’s not. I mean, honestly, I got into this just to have fun. But it’s a lot more fun and you get a lot more fun opportunities when you adopt this type of relentless focus on professionalism from the get-go. That’s because success in the world of stand-up isn’t just about being funny. There’s way more to it. It’s also about being reliable, being available, having professional business cards, maintaining professional standards, and never burning bridges with people you might have a good, mutual, and beneficial working relationship with later.
A second takeaway is that failure is a mandatory part of the curriculum. Again, I agree. Wohlfarth states it pretty plainly and without apology: you will fail! For anyone starting out in stand-up comedy, which is a difficult field, here’s Wohlfarth’s promise (which is also a warning): “You will bomb. Get used to it.” I’ve written quite a bit on this site about reframing failure in this way and, frankly, I think it’s a “must.” Failure is a career-long companion that sticks with you rather than a ghost you can get rid of early on.
A third takeaway: Wohlfarth argues that holding down a regular job while also doing comedy is not a sign of failure but a practical and artistically valuable decision. I completely agree! Jobs provide the financial stability that allow a comedian to bomb without spiraling into destitution. And here’s something I myself hadn’t ever thought of: jobs serve as a source for fresh comedy material grounded in the realities of middle-class American life. Brilliant! So much for the romanticized trope of “the starving artist”! The day job for a comedian is actually a creative asset. No need to be ashamed to talk about it with others anymore.
Perhaps the fourth takeaway was the most surprising and also the most practical: the real secrets to survival have nothing to do with the stage. There is an entire entry in this lexicon on how to find a clean public restroom on the road! Who’d have thought that would’ve made it into a comedy dictionary?! This is the stuff that non-comedians never realize comedians have to think about and deal with. At one point, Wohlfarth tells a story about his Ford Escort breaking down on a mountain pass between Portland and San Francisco. His heater core blew and he was stranded overnight. He was freezing and had to use his tube socks as gloves. The advice? This comedy book argues that joining a club like AAA is one of the best investments a comedian can make.
The value of this book is that it really humanizes stand-up comedy. It’s not painted as a mystical calling like I used to think of it when I was younger, but as a craft that demands immense discipline, some savvy business sense, and a deep resilience. It reveals that the life of a comedian is built on pretty much the same principles that define success in any challenging career. And these lessons in professionalism and perseverance actually apply far beyond the stage! That’s why, the sooner a comedian can learn them, the better.
“ESSENTIALS OF COMEDY” COURSE BUNDLE: For a limited time only (through 2/15/26), you can purchase “The Joke Writer’s Lab” course and “The Comedian’s Memory Lab” course as a bundle. Just click on one of the courses below, scroll down, and click the “Add all to cart” button.
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.
JOKE MEMORY COURSE: My companion course to “The Joke Writer’s Lab” is now live: “The Comedian’s Memory Lab.” Learn how to conceptualize, organize, and memorize your entire comedy set. This method works for 10 jokes or 100, a set that’s 3 minutes of 1 hour. You can get it HERE.