How to perform stand-up comedy
  • 1. What is the most fundamental element of stand-up comedy?
A) Being loud and energetic
B) Memorizing jokes from a book
C) Having a unique perspective and comedic voice
D) Wearing a funny outfit
  • 2. What is a tag?
A) An additional joke added to an existing joke to enhance it
B) A physical prop used on stage
C) A specific type of microphone
D) The introduction of your act
  • 3. What does 'dying on stage' mean?
A) Forgetting your entire set
B) Being booed off stage
C) Experiencing a performance where the audience doesn't laugh
D) Literally collapsing on stage
  • 4. What is a 'call back'?
A) A stage manager signaling the end of your set
B) An audience member shouting out a request
C) Referring back to a joke or topic previously mentioned in the set
D) The club owner asking you to perform again
  • 5. Why is audience interaction important?
A) It's required by all comedy clubs
B) It shows you are better than the audience
C) It guarantees more laughs
D) It can create a more engaging and memorable experience
  • 6. What is a good way to find your comedic voice?
A) Copying your favorite comedian's style exactly
B) Ignoring all feedback from other comedians
C) Experimenting with different joke structures and topics that resonate with you
D) Only telling jokes about popular current events
  • 7. What is the purpose of a comedic premise?
A) To confuse the audience
B) To establish the core idea that the joke is built upon
C) To lengthen the joke as much as possible
D) To distract the audience from a weak punchline
  • 8. What is the 'rule of three' in comedy?
A) Having three different personas on stage
B) Getting three laughs per minute
C) Only telling three jokes per set
D) Presenting two similar elements followed by a surprising or humorous third element
  • 9. Why is timing crucial in stand-up comedy?
A) It makes the comedian look more professional
B) It allows the comedian to finish on time
C) The delivery and pause before the punchline impact the audience's reaction
D) It allows the bartender to serve more drinks
  • 10. What is a 'clean' comedy routine?
A) A routine only performed for children
B) A routine that involves cleaning supplies
C) A routine free of profanity, sexual references, or controversial topics
D) A routine performed on a freshly cleaned stage
  • 11. What does it mean to 'work the crowd'?
A) Physically moving through the audience while performing
B) Engaging the audience and adjusting your set based on their reactions
C) Only telling jokes that you think are funny, regardless of audience response
D) Ignoring any negative reactions from the audience
  • 12. What is an 'open mic'?
A) A comedy show with no cover charge
B) A comedy show where the audience can heckle freely
C) A microphone that is always turned on
D) A venue where anyone can perform a short comedy set, often for free
  • 13. What is the benefit of recording your sets?
A) To prove to others you're funny
B) To analyze your performance and identify areas for improvement
C) To avoid paying the comedian's fee
D) To sell DVDs of your performance
  • 14. What is a 'punchline'?
A) The final part of a joke that delivers the humor
B) The introduction to the joke
C) The microphone you use on stage
D) The stage lighting
  • 15. What is 'self-deprecation'?
A) Criticizing the audience
B) Arrogantly bragging about oneself
C) Never telling jokes about oneself
D) Humorously mocking or making fun of oneself
  • 16. How important is confidence on stage?
A) It is only important if you are attractive
B) Not important at all; humor speaks for itself
C) Very important; it helps the audience believe in your material
D) Unimportant if you are nervous
  • 17. What is 'observational comedy'?
A) Finding humor in everyday situations and experiences
B) Making fun of famous people
C) Telling jokes based on scientific observations
D) Ignoring the world around you
  • 18. What is 'premature optimization' in joke writing?
A) Trying to perfect a joke too early in the writing process
B) Waiting too long to refine a joke
C) Writing jokes that are too technical
D) Giving up on a joke too quickly
  • 19. What should you do if you forget a joke on stage?
A) Acknowledge it and move on to the next joke
B) Blame the audience for not understanding
C) Panic and leave the stage
D) Make up a new joke on the spot
  • 20. What is the best way to handle a heckler?
A) Engage in a shouting match with them
B) Have them removed immediately
C) Physically confront them
D) Address them calmly and humorously, or ignore them
  • 21. What is a 'setup' in a joke?
A) The part of the joke that provides the context and leads to the punchline
B) The comedian's introduction
C) The stage decorations
D) The applause after a good joke
  • 22. Why is it important to be original?
A) Because all audiences hate familiar jokes
B) To avoid being sued for copyright infringement (jokes are generally not copyrightable)
C) Because originality is always funnier than well-established jokes
D) To stand out from other comedians and offer a unique perspective
  • 23. What is 'deadpan' humor?
A) Humor that is only funny to dead people
B) Humor that is morbid or depressing
C) Humor that is very loud and energetic
D) Delivering jokes with a straight face and no emotion
  • 24. What's an important aspect of stage presence?
A) Avoiding any movement at all
B) Making eye contact with the audience
C) Staring at the floor
D) Only looking at the back of the room
  • 25. What does 'bombing' mean?
A) Having a performance where the audience does not laugh
B) Throwing a fake bomb on stage
C) Telling only offensive jokes
D) Winning a comedy competition
  • 26. What is a 'running gag'?
A) A joke that is told very quickly
B) A joke about running
C) A joke that is never funny
D) A joke that is repeated throughout a performance
  • 27. What is one of the best ways to improve your writing?
A) Only writing jokes about topics you know nothing about
B) Writing regularly, even if the material isn't immediately great
C) Never rewriting your material
D) Only writing when you are feeling inspired
  • 28. What's the purpose of a 'setup-punch' joke structure?
A) To create tension and then release it with a surprising or funny punchline
B) To avoid telling a punchline altogether
C) To confuse the audience with complex language
D) To bore the audience with a long, drawn-out story
  • 29. What is 'alt comedy'?
A) Comedy that is always politically incorrect
B) Comedy that deviates from traditional stand-up formats and topics
C) Comedy performed only at high altitudes
D) Comedy that is always clean and family-friendly
  • 30. What role does vulnerability play in comedy?
A) It allows you to connect with the audience on a deeper level, making your jokes more relatable
B) It makes you appear weak and unconfident
C) It should be avoided at all costs
D) It always guarantees laughs
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