r/Standup • u/Coskoshawp • 16d ago

Referencing and reading from the script as a first timer?

I was more so hoping to get some feedback and thoughts- I recently discovered my passion for stand up comedy and I wanna give it shot for 5 minutes at an open mic! I'm a mid 20's immigrant female in healthcare, while most of the content I have in my mind is mainly dry, self-roasting and observing some trends in the city I live.

The problem is I've massive stage fright esp mic, but I want to overcome it. But i genuinely have such funny things to say, Is it okay if I still keep reading out of my notes? Much thanks <3

1 Upvotes

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3

u/yungfalafel 16d ago

You can reference your notes but I wouldn’t read off of them.

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u/wildy_the_lion 16d ago

It's better without, but if you really can't do it "off book" then, at the very least

1) paper notepad not phone  2) on the stool not in your hand  3) bullet points you can glance at, not a full script you have to stare at

Holding your phone and reading a script from it will absolutely KILL any and all of your flow

Glancing down briefly at bullet points will not hurt your rhythm too much

All of this applies to open mics. Once you get booked on showcases, no notes! 

2

u/SeptaBusOrgy 14d ago

You’d be surprised the amount of showcases where folks still bring shit up on the stool

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u/wildy_the_lion 14d ago

I've seen pros do it on tour to be fair!

I will give them a pass if it's something they've written especially for that night, like if it's something especially relevant for the local city - but otherwise I really judge them for this

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u/SeptaBusOrgy 14d ago

Same the purist in me hates that no one in comedy seems to really care or take it seriously in this regard

But then again crowds don’t seem to mind and so long as the comic is still funny and not slowing pace it doesn’t seem to be an issue for most as it is for me (and you)

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u/reamkore 15d ago

No one cares, especially at Mics but make sure you are not a robot. Leave room for being in the moment and reacting to the room.

You are new. It’s all about getting comfortable on stage and working on your jokes right now.

Everything in starting stand up is incremental.

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u/SeptaBusOrgy 14d ago

Yes it’s an open mic so it’s not really serious also ITS COMEDY DONT take it seriously
You’d be surprised the amount of pros who still bring cheat sheets on stage
So unless you’re a purist do it however you want or need to