1. Don't take pre-written stuff onto the stage
2. Don't chat with audience members that you know.
3. Cohesion. Move from one subject to the other smoothly. If you just say "Chavs, eh?", it just sounds awkward
4. If something feels like it's not working, wrap it up. Don't just stop the story half way.
5. Swear for comedy effect only.
6. There's nothing wrong with jokes. Stories are fair enough, but only if they're funny and work. Next time, get some jokes on stand-by. Like the typical one-liner.
7. Slow down the pacing. The bit where you describe the driving instructor is a funny chain of words, but you rushed through them; slowing down means the audience can hear you, and if there's a joke being said, they need to be able to hear it.
(__, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:18, archived)

1. nerves
2. nerves
3. nerves
4. nerves
5. nerves
6. ...
7. nerves
( Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:20, archived)

1. Constructive criticism
2. Constructive criticism
3. Constructive criticism
4. Constructive criticism
5. Constructive criticism
6. ...
7. Constructive criticism

My first gigs were shit, then I was told how to improve them. If I wasn't told, I wouldn't have improved.
(__, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:22, archived)

This
My arse could have made a noise that rivalled a dog whistle I was that nervous.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:22, archived)

How many were in the audience

(__, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:23, archived)

50-60.
Is that a lot?
( jim_bob can herd cats., Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:24, archived)

How many didn't you know?

(__, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:27, archived)

50-60 is a lot. My first gig only had about 30 people
Try small. Try like, a table of friends. Whenever I get a new stand up idea, I usually go through it with friends or I do a truncated version on YouTube to seek response, and *then* I put it in my act.
(__, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:29, archived)

Right.

( jim_bob can herd cats., Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:38, archived)

About 40 of them.

( jim_bob can herd cats., Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:35, archived)

I hate public speaking, so I know how you feel,
it was bad enough when I had to give talks at Uni in front of 5 or 6 people.

But this is why I don't attempt to do stand up comedy!
Maybe I will do one day, though. Sometimes I imagine myself doing it.
( Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:30, archived)

8. Wear a big spinning hat

( glued eel /questions/questionsyoudliketoask/post1648081, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:22, archived)

9. Finish on a song

( Druid, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:23, archived)

This, actually

(__, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:24, archived)

10. set off some fireworks

( manolith hooray for me, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:34, archived)

Thanks for that!
Oddly enough the guy who signed me up suggested I do more. And I was bloody nervous. Perhaps a dose of valium before I go on stage would be a good idea.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:24, archived)

Another tip..
You seem to be into the "story telling" comedy. If you do, there is nothing wrong with exaggerating things for comedy effect. Rhod Gilbert's stand up about luggage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGAD1uTR1SY) is only about 15% true. Make things funny, and they become funny
(__, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:26, archived)

Bloody hell...
Good advice there.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:29, archived)

^all these
also don't get drunk before.

Also stuff like this helps alot.
www.laughinghorsecomedy.co.uk/comedycourses/twodaycourse.htm Doesn't teach you how to be funny, just polishes and gives you tips.

But sometimes, some people aren't that funny. Not everyone (in fact hardly anyone) can do stand up comedy. Otherwise everyone would be doing it.
( Donkey Gums @mattcomedy, Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:24, archived)

Ooh!
I'll have a closer look at that.

/Edit

Edinburgh? Interesting! I was planning on buggering off up there for a few days.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Tue 7 Jul 2009, 11:25, archived)