Stand-Up Comedy

Inspiration & Exploration

Stand-up comedy looks effortless when it works — which means a ton of work went into it. Start by watching comedians who write smart, observational material: Trevor Noah, Nikki Glaser, or John Mulaney on YouTube are great starting points. Notice how they set up a premise, build tension, then land the punchline. Pay attention to timing — the pause before the punchline is often funnier than the joke itself. SLC has a real comedy scene: check out Wiseguys Comedy Club in Salt Lake and the Utah Comedy Festival. Write down three things that happened to you this week that felt absurd or unfair. Those are your seeds. You're ready for the next step when you can explain the setup-punchline structure and name two comedians whose style you want to study.

Tools & Techniques

Comedy writing has real techniques behind it, and learning them makes you funnier faster. Study the "rule of three" (two normal things, then a surprising third), "misdirection" (leading the audience one way, then zagging), and "callbacks" (returning to an earlier joke with a twist). Look up "joke structure for beginners" on YouTube — channels like Comedy Biz and Standupshots break it down clearly. The book "The Comic Toolbox" by John Vorhaus explains why things are funny at a level that actually helps you write better material. Start a joke journal — just a notebook where you write any funny observation before you forget it. You're ready for the next step when you can identify the technique behind five jokes you love and have ten observations written in your joke journal.

First Creations

Write your first five-minute set and perform it — even if the only audience is your bathroom mirror or your dog. Aim for six to eight jokes built around one theme from your own life: school, your family, your neighborhood, something that drives you crazy. Write each joke in full sentences, then perform it out loud and time yourself. Record yourself on your phone — cringe at it, but watch it back. Notice where you speed up when you get nervous, where your energy drops, where a joke lands differently than you expected. You're ready for the next step when you've written and performed a five-minute set at least three times and have notes on what needs fixing.

Style Development

Now perform in front of real humans. Start small: a few friends, a family dinner, a class. Pay attention to which jokes get laughs, which get polite smiles, and which get silence. Silence is information, not failure — it tells you what to rewrite. After each performance, immediately mark your set list with what worked and what did not. Try rewriting your two weakest jokes: change the wording, move the punchline, try a different angle entirely. SLC has open mics for teens — check Utah Open Stage and local events through Wiseguys for youth-friendly opportunities. You're ready for the next step when you've performed for a live audience at least twice and rewritten at least three jokes based on real reactions.

Refine Your Craft

This is where good comedians become great ones. Study how to develop a "persona" — the version of yourself you play onstage — and how it shapes every joke you tell. Learn crowd work basics: how to respond to unexpected reactions, how to recover from a joke that bombs without panicking, how to adjust your energy to different audiences. Study how professional comedians structure a full set: opener, middle, closer, and why the order matters. Watch specials with the sound off and study body language and stage movement. You're ready for the next step when you can perform a ten-minute set with a consistent persona and handle at least one unexpected moment without losing your footing.

Portfolio Piece

Write and perform a polished ten-minute set at a real venue or organized event. This is your showcase — every joke should be tested and rewritten at least twice. Open strong, build in the middle, and end on your best material. Record the performance on video. After, create a "set report": which jokes hit, which missed, audience demographics, and your takeaways. Submit a clip to a student comedy competition, perform at the Utah Comedy Festival youth division if available, or organize a comedy night at your school. Share the recording with a comedy mentor or post it somewhere you can get real feedback. You're ready for the next step when you have a recorded ten-minute set you are proud of and have shared it with at least one person outside your immediate circle.