Stand-Up Comedy Quotes

“Humor is therapeutic. Even if you have no intention of ever getting up on a stage, learning how to turn negative, painful life experiences into comedy routines will give you a new perspective on life. Once you can laugh at something, you can stop crying.”
― Judy Carter, Stand-Up Comedy: The Book

“You can’t and won’t be able to make everyone love you. You must go onstage with a passionate desire and the intent to communicate your thoughts and feelings, not just to make people laugh.”
― Judy Carter, Stand-Up Comedy: The Book

“you shouldn’t give an audience what they want. Give them what you want. Most comics will go down to the audience level to make it work, when in fact what you should be doing is bringing the audience to your level.”
― Judy Carter, Stand-Up Comedy: The Book

“Excuse #2: “I’m Shy” Well, so am I. Most stand-ups are very shy in their personal lives, and going onstage is a great outlet. You shy people have a lot of stuff to let out, and the stage gives you an arena in which to vent your repressed criticisms of the world.”
― Judy Carter, Stand-Up Comedy: The Book

“When a singer sings, he acts out his feelings. Good comics don’t simply tell jokes, they act them out with a very specific emotional attitude. Attitude is the heartbeat of an act. Material cannot be emotionally neutral. Your subject matter has to disgust you, pain you, thrill you, because audiences don’t respond to words, they respond to feelings.”
― Judy Carter, Stand-Up Comedy: The Book

“Why put together a stand-up comedy routine? Especially if you’re not planning a comedy career? Because in the very process of creating an act you can become a funnier, wittier, and more confident person in your professional and social life. Sooner or later you’re going to find yourself having to speak in front of people, and if you’re like most of us, public speaking isn’t at the top of your to-do list. Whether you are speaking to the PTA, the PTL, or the PLO, why not get some laughs? Humor is a powerful tool. In business, ideas presented with humor gain more support, and after five, the person who gets more laughs gets more dates.”
― Judy Carter, Stand-Up Comedy: The Book