Always Be Opening
Comics often open our sets by addressing what the audience sees. It helps make the audience comfortable by saying out loud what they may be thinking. The hilarious Marcella Arguillo is 6 foot 2 inches, so when she gets on stage she immediately makes a joke about how the top of our refrigerators are so dirty. I’m 5 foot 2 inches and never even thought about what is going on at the top of my fridge. She gives us her perspective of the world, from up high, while making us laugh and connecting with her audience at the same time. Also, she says what everyone is thinking “damn, she’s tall!” When I get on stage I will address what I’m wearing, my haircut, whatever drink I brought on stage - something about me that the audience is already looking at. It is a moment of connection and recognition. I know what you are looking at so let’s talk about it. Acknowledge it. Get it out there. Then we can move on to the rest of the set. This isn’t just comics being full of ourselves, there’s a science behind it! A study at the University of York found that a first impression can be formed from a glance at a person's face that lasts 33 to 100 milliseconds. Yes, you read correctly, not seconds, milliseconds. So when a comic gets on stage, before they have put their drink down or picked up the microphone many audience members have already formed an impression. Talk about pressure! For the more discerning audience members, impressions may take a little longer than milliseconds because they are based on more than what the eyes see. According to the Institute for Organization Management (IOM), 55% of first impressions are based on what we see, 38% on how we hear someone speak, and 7% on the words they say. These are all things a stand-up comedian needs to consider when performing. When I was a newer comic, I would try to dress differently to see audience reactions. In doing this, I learned that it did make a difference if I showed up in my business clothes or sweat pants or jeans. For me, since I am not comfortable in fancy clothes, the audience could feel that, so whenever I wore fancy clothes, I could feel a shift in the audience. They were uncomfortable because I was uncomfortable, and the last thing I want to do as a comic is make the audience uncomfortable (other comics may differ on this). Now, I mostly wear jeans and a t-shirt because that is the look I feel most myself in. It makes me feel confident and it gives the audience confidence in me.
In the end, stand-up comedy is all about creating a shared experience, and it starts the moment you step on stage. By acknowledging what the audience sees and feels right away, you break down the barriers between you and them, allowing for a genuine connection and isn’t that what we are all seeking?
