Laugh your way to the bank, literally

Teshakir Kaur Somal

As a career, stand-up comedy in India is fast gaining popularity. Comedy live shows are being held across the country and giving young talent a chance to prove their worth. Well-established comedians like Zakir Khan, Vir Das and Sorabh Pant have already become a household name. They are role models to several aspiring comedians. 

From stand-up comedy shows on television to live shows in restaurants and comedy clubs, the genre of entertainment is offering many opportunities. Also, the audience today is more informed and open to jokes, both political and non-political. Contrary to the present scenario, the career option suffered from limited scope and irregular income some years back.  But the tables have turned now, and it has become a launch pad for several artistes. Vir Das has featured  in several Bollywood movies. Kanan Gill bagged a role in Sonakshi Sinha-starrer Noor.

Expanding its borders

Standup comedy is no more limited to the metropolitan cities. The smaller towns are adding their own bit to make it a constantly running show. Cites like Udaipur, Chandigarh and Kanpur have recently started open-mic events. People enjoy attending comedy gigs as much as they like to go for movies. With shows being held in regional languages, the entertainment platform is increasing its audience base. 

There are many platforms to showcase talent. A few popular ones being: 

Live comedy: Comedians share a platform of a comedy club to tell their jokes or book a venue to perform. Also, there is another option of corporate shows, which are privately booked. 

YouTube: YouTube promises larger audience for stage performances, but at the same time it can get negative publicity if the content is weak. “One must go for YouTube when they have sufficient material of about 40 minutes.” says Sorabh Pant, a famous comedian. It also puts pressure on the performer to get the same number of views each time. 

Getting in

The best way to do comedy is consume a lot of it to learn what people appreciate. 

The next step is to write jokes. Beginners might start with five minutes of entertainment and extend it to 30 minutes.  One should explore open mics, which are currently being run across the country.  “Get a tight five minutes of material and keep doing it till you’re getting longer spots.” suggests Aadar Malik, a comedian. Open mics can also be set up by a small group of people having similar interests. 

The key to make a mark in the industry is to be consistent by getting stage time as often as possible. “I have been on stage for 11 days continuously,” adds Sorabh Pant. Parwinder Singh, another popular comedian makes sure to get on stage at least five days a week.

“One should always begin doing stand-up comedy as a part-time career and slowly make a stable career out of it. Usually, shows are held in the evening, so one can easily manage between both.” guides Kautuk Srivastav, a stand-up comic artiste who performs regularly at corporate shows.

Age no bar

Though most places have the policy of taking above eighteen  participants, but there is no upper limit. One can start performing at any age. Radhika Vaz, a Mumbai-based comedian, says, “I started in my late 30s. I love comedy for the reason that your joke makes or breaks you. It has nothing to do with how you look or dress up.” 

Know the bucks part

The comedy industry is growing richer by the day. Much-celebrated comic artiste Daniel Fernandes adds, “Top of the league comedians have made more money in the last seven-eight years than they could have in their lifetime by working in the usual nine-five job.”

Generally, a performer earns Rs 7,000-8,000 for a performance of 30 minutes at a bar gig. Comedians can even earn upto a lakh for corporate shows.

Skills and Challenges

Being funny is the biggest skill you must hone. Learning things patiently will help you get on the right track. One must be observant as well. Recall and narrate the funny instances with your colleagues or friends. Take their feedback first and then take the plunge. Considering the fact that there are well-established comedians in the business, it can get difficult for new comedians to get spots initially. It can be a challenge to bring refreshing content for the audience.

Sorabh Pant on age

“Comedy is all about point of view. An older woman will come with a different perspective than a young man. It’s not like cricket — when you’re old, you’re out.

A few tips by Daniel Fernandes 

“Treat comedy like you would treat a relationship. Your first open mic is your first date with standup. Practice it a couple of times, see how it goes and then let your relationship grow. If it’s for you, you will eventually fall in love with it to commit for the rest of your life. Be patient and understand that you will never get best at it. Just keep getting better and that is enough.”