Two nights ago, I performed my first ever standup set.
Here are 17 life lessons I learned from this experience ⤵️
Here are 17 life lessons I learned from this experience ⤵️
1/ DELIVERY MATTERS
• What worked in your head may not land on performance night
• What worked on paper may not
• What worked in rehearsals may not
Getting up on stage is the only remedy to figuring out what actually works.
This is the same for important convos.
• What worked in your head may not land on performance night
• What worked on paper may not
• What worked in rehearsals may not
Getting up on stage is the only remedy to figuring out what actually works.
This is the same for important convos.
2/ VISUALIZATION HELPS
That said -- you still have to think things thru, write it down, and rehearse it in your head.
There's no substitution for practice and preparation... even though it might all go to shit the moment you deliver.
That said -- you still have to think things thru, write it down, and rehearse it in your head.
There's no substitution for practice and preparation... even though it might all go to shit the moment you deliver.
3/ HOPE FOR THE BEST, PREP FOR THE WORST
You can prep for all the contingencies, work out alternate paths, but you're still going to get punched in the face.
And you need to be ready for that.
Be ready to think on your feet.
You can prep for all the contingencies, work out alternate paths, but you're still going to get punched in the face.
And you need to be ready for that.
Be ready to think on your feet.
4/ PRACTICE AMONGST FRIENDS
I had the best teacher and classmates for seven weeks.
We gave each other feedback, support, and critiques.
Our teacher created a beautiful safe space for that.
His encouragement kept us first-timers going.
I had the best teacher and classmates for seven weeks.
We gave each other feedback, support, and critiques.
Our teacher created a beautiful safe space for that.
His encouragement kept us first-timers going.
5/ HAVE A WRITING PARTNER
My friend and I wrote material together... even tho we did separate sets.
Our writing sessions became "the safe space before the safe space"
Because we 100% trusted each other, we could experiment with really bad jokes (and über non-PC ones)
My friend and I wrote material together... even tho we did separate sets.
Our writing sessions became "the safe space before the safe space"
Because we 100% trusted each other, we could experiment with really bad jokes (and über non-PC ones)
6/ TRUTH IS EASIER THAN LIES
90% of my set was based on true stories from my own life.
I had the most difficulty writing "made-up" jokes
Eventually, I'd like to be able to "lie" more... but for this first set, I just stuck with "what I know".
Which leads to...
90% of my set was based on true stories from my own life.
I had the most difficulty writing "made-up" jokes
Eventually, I'd like to be able to "lie" more... but for this first set, I just stuck with "what I know".
Which leads to...
7/ GO EASY ON YOUR FIRST TIME
Don't make your first performance (whether it be stand up, a sales call, cold email, w/e) harder than it needs to be
Accept the fact you'll do this again, and again, for hundreds, if not thousands of times
Find the fastest path to DOING it
Don't make your first performance (whether it be stand up, a sales call, cold email, w/e) harder than it needs to be
Accept the fact you'll do this again, and again, for hundreds, if not thousands of times
Find the fastest path to DOING it
8/ DOING > PRACTICE
The only way you get good at anything is DOING it.
All the courses, cohorts, books, practice, and rehearsals mean nothing... until you do the thing.
Doing the thing reveals a LOT of stuff you can't prep for
It's playing with real money
The only way you get good at anything is DOING it.
All the courses, cohorts, books, practice, and rehearsals mean nothing... until you do the thing.
Doing the thing reveals a LOT of stuff you can't prep for
It's playing with real money
9/ DELIVERY > CONTENT
I don't think my jokes were *that* clever or novel.
I think my delivery (rehearsed, memorized, and practiced)... "saved" some of the jokes.
Like marketing, sometimes, the hype/delivery can overcome an "OK product".
I don't think my jokes were *that* clever or novel.
I think my delivery (rehearsed, memorized, and practiced)... "saved" some of the jokes.
Like marketing, sometimes, the hype/delivery can overcome an "OK product".
10/ GOOD ENOUGH IS GOOD ENOUGH
It's much more important to get your content to MVP and deliver than to mull over your content endlessly.
I'm a new creator despite helping them for 15 years now as a copywriter.
Just putting content out is the hardest thing I've ever done.
It's much more important to get your content to MVP and deliver than to mull over your content endlessly.
I'm a new creator despite helping them for 15 years now as a copywriter.
Just putting content out is the hardest thing I've ever done.
11/ ONLY THE FIRST 20s IS SCARY
After the first joke landed, I could look at the audience and was more comfortable "just chatting".
My first few cold calls 15 years ago was the same. It's like "dipping your toes" vs. a "cannon ball" into the pool. Do the latter.
After the first joke landed, I could look at the audience and was more comfortable "just chatting".
My first few cold calls 15 years ago was the same. It's like "dipping your toes" vs. a "cannon ball" into the pool. Do the latter.
12/ LEAN ON YOUR STRENGTHS
Standup is a combination of three things
• Jokes (content)
• Delivery (performance)
• Stage (medium)
Fortunately, I have tons of experience in front of audiences (piano, training, speaking)
This meant I could focus on writing jokes and delivery
Standup is a combination of three things
• Jokes (content)
• Delivery (performance)
• Stage (medium)
Fortunately, I have tons of experience in front of audiences (piano, training, speaking)
This meant I could focus on writing jokes and delivery
13/ THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH TIME
Standup class was on Monday
M/W/F are my workout days
This meant I was up at 4am, worked, made dinner for my fam, napped, then took 45m to get downtown for class.
I could've easily said "no" to this.
Standup class was on Monday
M/W/F are my workout days
This meant I was up at 4am, worked, made dinner for my fam, napped, then took 45m to get downtown for class.
I could've easily said "no" to this.
14/ CHASE STUPID PASSIONS
A lot of Money Twitter focuses on hustling.
It's important you hustle, esp. if you're just starting out.
I worked 7-day weeks first year of copywriting.
But by year 3, you should chase dumb hobbies to keep yourself sane.
Balance matters
A lot of Money Twitter focuses on hustling.
It's important you hustle, esp. if you're just starting out.
I worked 7-day weeks first year of copywriting.
But by year 3, you should chase dumb hobbies to keep yourself sane.
Balance matters
15/ NO SERIOUSLY, TRY NEW THINGS
One of my classmates was pregnant. Like ~8-mos by showtime.
This whole year she was traveling, taking art classes, pottery, standup, etc.
She wanted to do all the things before baby came.
One of my classmates was pregnant. Like ~8-mos by showtime.
This whole year she was traveling, taking art classes, pottery, standup, etc.
She wanted to do all the things before baby came.
16/ DEADLINES ARE THE BEST
We knew doing a 5m set was part of the deal in this class. By week 3 we had a date. That focused everyone.
Deadlines focuses you. A countdown clock forces you to "do your best" w/o worrying if it's perfect.
We knew doing a 5m set was part of the deal in this class. By week 3 we had a date. That focused everyone.
Deadlines focuses you. A countdown clock forces you to "do your best" w/o worrying if it's perfect.
17/ START WITH A NICE AUDIENCE
The audience on Wednesday night were friends, family, and fellow students. We still had to make them laugh, but we certainly didn't get heckled.
Same thing applies for business. Start with your warm list or a "lower" tier of prospects.
The audience on Wednesday night were friends, family, and fellow students. We still had to make them laugh, but we certainly didn't get heckled.
Same thing applies for business. Start with your warm list or a "lower" tier of prospects.
And that's all, folks!
Wait, what? You want to see my set?
Well, if you're an Osmosis reader, I'll def share with you. So...
1. Follow me @colinyjchung
2. Subscribe to osmosis.dev
3. Retweet the 1st tweet below
Wait, what? You want to see my set?
Well, if you're an Osmosis reader, I'll def share with you. So...
1. Follow me @colinyjchung
2. Subscribe to osmosis.dev
3. Retweet the 1st tweet below
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