Greetings, fellow comedians! In today’s digital age, more comedian’s like yourself are rocking the virtual stage on Plauzzable. Whether you're a complete newbie or a veteran comedian, mastering the art of online performing is essential. Let's explore some best practices to help you shine in your virtual performances.
1. Prepare Your Set:
Just like an in-person show, thorough preparation is key. Organize your jokes, create a clear outline, and ensure your words and jokes flow logically. Having them in some sort of logical order helps to memorize them. Be economical with your words and keep your audience engaged. The more we ramble, the more our audience drifts off into their own thoughts, to the bathroom, or to get another drink at the bar. Don’t do a set you’ve never done before in front of a paying audience. They didn’t pay for you to riff, ramble, or hmm, well, uh...flounder.
2. Test Your Technology:
Technical glitches can derail your performance. Test your microphone, camera, lighting, and internet connection well before the event. Familiarize yourself with Plauzzable in advance! Of course, we recommend logging in 10-15 minutes before showtime to ensure everything is working since your last login. Remember, browsers like to surprise us with last minute updates. And who knows what your kids did with your audio settings while they played video games after school.
3. Optimize Your Environment:
Choose a quiet, well-lit space for your performance. Ensure your background is tidy and uncluttered. Don’t let that dirty pair of underwear steal your thunder. Don’t have that ideal space set up? Consider using virtual backgrounds or physical backdrops that enhance your professional image. Check out our tutorial on how to change your virtual background.https://youtu.be/v5DfJ6dOU98
4. Engage from the Start:
Capture your audience's attention right from the beginning. Start with a strong joke and get your first laugh fast. If your host just introduced you, don’t waste time with a “hi my name is” unless it’s a setup for a joke.
5. Maintain Eye Contact:
Look directly at your camera or slightly below it when speaking to simulate eye contact with your audience. This creates a more personal and engaging connection, even in a virtual setting. Of course, you can scan the audience in-between jokes so you can get a read of the room. If you nailed the first tip in this list, making eye contact should be fairly easy. ;-)
6. Pace Yourself:
Timing is everything! Speak at a moderate pace and articulate your words clearly. Give your audience time to absorb your message. Pauses can be powerful; use them to emphasize key points. Speaking too fast or too slow can cause the audience to lose focus and/or interest and miss your amazing punchline.
7. Crowd work:
So much to discuss on the art of crowd work, but we’ll keep it brief this time. Interactivity can help bring some much needed energy into the virtual room. At the same time, if you’re not skilled in crowd work, it can turn the room on you within seconds.
8. Minimize Distractions:
Eliminate potential distractions, such as notifications or background noises. Silence your phone, close unnecessary tabs, and let those around you know you're in a virtual event. People walking behind you, a flushing toilet, or your mom yelling “dinner’s ready” can really ruin an otherwise fantastic joke. Of course, one or two of them might get a few unexpected laughs.
9. Adapt to Technical Challenges:
Despite your thorough preparation, technical issues can arise. Stay composed and have a backup plan in case you encounter problems. Address any issues gracefully and professionally. If you’re worried about how to handle it all, get a co-host! It can take a lot of pressure off to know you have support.
10. Practice and Feedback:
Practice your set multiple times. Record yourself and review the footage to identify areas for improvement. If possible, gather feedback from peers or mentors. Good news: We have the ability to record on Plauzzable. Check out this handy tutorial video. https://youtu.be/2BlF-pOH6_E
In the world of virtual events, performing now involves a blend of polished content, technical finesse, and engaging delivery. By embracing these best practices, you'll captivate your audience, leave a lasting impact, and create meaningful connections, even through the digital screen. So, step confidently onto the virtual stage, and let your jokes be met with laughter from audiences worldwide!
Written by
Plauzzable