Before we discuss the unconventional ways to get better at stand-up comedy, you may be wondering what the typical advice is for getting better at stand-up. There are tons of tips out there, but the main ones are 1. Perform as much as possible 2. Write as much as possible 3. Study other comedians. That’s pretty much it. Most of these other ways to get better aren’t typical things you’d think of to improve at stand-up.
Lead an interesting life
Gain new experiences that have the potential to lead to new jokes. Try new activities and foods. Meet new people. Travel to new places. If all you’re doing is going to comedy shows and open mics, chances are, your life experiences are getting kind of stale.
Push your comfort zone
For most people, doing stand-up pushes the limits of our comfort zones. Find other ways to push your comfort zone, so you can get comfortable being uncomfortable. This could really be anything. Do something you’re not good at, go on a ghost tour, have a heart to hear conversation with someone, take an ice bath, go cliff diving… really anything that is uncomfortable or scares you will expand your comfort zone and will make stand-up seem like a piece of cake.
Study the dictionary and thesaurus
You want to avoid tossing around words that no one in the audience knows the meaning of. However, you do want to have an above-average vocabulary to be able to effectively communicate your thoughts. A thesaurus can be a great tool to spice up your verbs and adjectives to make your jokes pop more.
Perform in other ways
I believe that simply the act of performing in front of people in some way can translate into more comfort on stage when doing stand-up. So perform improv, at a music/poetry open mic, do toastmasters, speak at a city council meeting, give a toast or a eulogy, act in a film, be in a play, or really anything related to performing can boost your on-stage confidence in general.
Get your mind in shape
I consider stand-up to be a mental sport, so any way you can reduce your stress levels or boost your brain power is good for stand-up. So mediate, do brain training, learn a second language, or really anything that benefits your brain’s sharpness or ability to deal with stress.
Hone other talents
Maybe you’re excellent at juggling, playing an instrument, singing, magic, gymnastics, painting, knitting, or hacky sack. These talents aren’t funny in and of themselves, but you may be able to include some other talent you have into your act as a gimmick or even the basis of your performance. These might not fit with your comedic style, but they’re things to consider.