Going to try my hand at stand-up pretty soon.
Anyone have any tips? Anything I should be warned of?
( Grokthought wouldn't pay that for Chinese 5-Spice, Mon 4 May 2009, 6:24, 7 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

The usual
Move around the stage area
Project your voice
Engage your audience
Use your facial expressions
Laugh at your own jokes
Try not to piss your trousers
Most of all, enjoy yourself and, if you think you're any good, don't be put off by a few bad performances or lack of reaction from your audience. Even the best fall on their arse occasionally.

Personally, I'd run around torrent/Youtube looking at other acts - not just famous comedians but amateurs too. Make a list of what you like about their performances and think whether you can incorporate anything into your act/persona which will complement your performance.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Mon 4 May 2009, 7:31, Reply)

i would agree with No3l ^
be funny and confident. steer clear of recycling other folks material. saw a guy in bristol about 5 years ago who seemed to have swallowed every cd and video of bill hicks. if i wanna listen to bill hicks then i'll put on a bill hicks cd. the guy was so very annoying.
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Mon 4 May 2009, 8:00, Reply)

^ the part about being funny is the main thing, for those who cannot keep up or may have missed that.
( enoughblueskyforsailorstrousers, Mon 4 May 2009, 8:26, Reply)

Yeah, there is that.

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Mon 4 May 2009, 8:35, Reply)

Hecklers...
You need to be able to put them down but not be too rude about it.

My favourite heckler comeback is from Harry Hill:

You sir may heckle, but I am safe in the knowledge that when I get home I have a chicken roasting in the oven.

Genius. How would a heckler come back on THAT?
(dozers, do fuck off ur a nob m8, Mon 4 May 2009, 10:14, Reply)

wee
The point made about not pissing your pants on stage is as valid as being funny in my opinion.

Have a couple of heckles at the ready, take some friends along and get them to promise to laugh, and have faith in yourself.

Good luck ;)
( SeasonTicketless is too often the statue, and rarely the pigeon., Mon 4 May 2009, 11:05, Reply)

Pissing can have its uses.
Don't piss yourself - but remember Arnold Brown (I think - the irony of my not trusting my memory on this is not lost on me). When someone on the front row fell asleep at a gig, he undid his trousers and pissed on him...
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Mon 4 May 2009, 11:09, Reply)