What Everyday People Can Learn from Stand-Up Comedy
Besides "what's the deal" with airplane food.
I’ve recently been onboarding a number of new presentation coaching clients and one of the questions on our intake form is “Who is your favorite comedian?”
I’ve received some great responses: Wanda Sykes, Bill Burr, George Carlin, Nikki Glazer, and many more.
Regardless of which comedian they pick, I encourage them to watch a clip and look beyond the jokes. Pay attention to the rhythm. The body language. The way they read the room.
I’ve spent years studying, performing, and analyzing comedians and have discovered so many great lessons (and techniques) that apply beyond the stage.
Now, I don’t think everyone should be a stand-up comedian (the world only needs so many people making jokes about “men are like this, women are like that”), I do believe everyone can learn from what comedians do well.
No, I’m not talking about drinking heavily and sleeping until noon (though, hey, you do you). I’m talking about the skills that make comedians effective at their craft—skills that can also make you more likable, persuasive, and engaging in your everyday life.
Here are a few lessons from stand-up comedy that you can apply, even if the only stage you ever perform on is the one in your living room...
1. Timing Is Everything
Great comedians know that humor isn’t just about what you say, but when you say it. A well-placed pause can make a punchline land better than a rush to the finish. In everyday life, this means allowing space for your words to have impact.
Whether you’re delivering a joke, making a point in a meeting, or just responding to a friend, a beat of silence can add emphasis and make your words more powerful.
2. Find the Funny in the Mundane
Comedians don’t just talk about extraordinary experiences. In fact, some of the best comedy comes from everyday annoyances—long commutes, waiting in line, trying to remember your passwords.
The lesson? There’s humor all around you, even in life’s frustrations. Instead of just complaining, comedysplain. (Does that work as a portmanteau? Maybe? I can’t decide.)
3. Know Your Audience
A joke that kills in one room might bomb in another. Comedians adjust their material based on who’s in the crowd. In everyday life, that translates to reading the room. What’s funny at happy hour with the coworkers you like might not be as funny in a tense meeting with clients you can’t really stand.
Your relationship with the audience, along with what they need and what they expect, has a huge impact on how any message is received, humor included.
4. Practice Makes You Funnier
People think comedians come up with brilliant jokes on the spot, but most jokes have been tested and refined over dozens (if not hundreds) of performances. This means two things: 1) If your first attempt at humor doesn’t land, don’t give up; and 2) If you find a joke that works, don’t be afraid to use it again.
Just, you know, not in every conversation and not over and over again with the same person (unless it’s an inside joke about wine with your wife, right Pretzel? Right?!?).
5. Laughter Builds Connection
At the end of the day, stand-up comedy isn’t just about being funny—it’s about connecting with an audience. People remember how you make them feel, and humor is one of the most powerful ways to create positive, memorable interactions.
You don’t have to be a comedian to use humor to build relationships, defuse tension, or just make someone’s day a little better.
Overall Lesson: Watch More Stand-Up?
You may never step onto a comedy club stage, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use humor like a pro. A little timing, self-awareness, and confidence can not only make you funnier, but also more engaging, persuasive, and enjoyable to be around.
Which means you have my permission to watch more stand-up comedy. It’s not procrastination or vegging out, it’s research for living a happier life.
Now, what comedian should I watch?
(an)drew
PS. Want help turning your next presentation into something people actually enjoy? Let’s talk. Schedule a discovery call.
I love watching other speakers, including comedians, for all of the reasons you list. Steal like a creative!
All of the above tips also apply to story telling, which is much more accessible to aspiring writers. I would encourage all to go to a story telling event (often free at bars) and get up the gumption to join an open mic night. The big payoff for story telling, similar to comedians - is connecting with the audience and receiving external validation from their response. I believe that external validation is a key confidence builder. Much more direct and honest than the parade of rejection letters from a gate-keeper editor. As an interesting side note - Mark Twain is the best example of the synergy between public story telling and writing.