Hello, World!

Making yourself laugh is easy, making others laugh is a bit tougher.  What is even harder than that is creating something you think is hilarious, and then putting yourself out there for the world to see, and judge, and potentially not laugh at.  And while being funny may be difficult, any and every kind of comedy can be healing.  Whether it is a stand up comedy act filled with humorous impressions, an episode of South Park that makes fun of the latest social trend, or an improvisational show feeding off of an audience, comedy is meant to spread joy.  It can elevate moods, be used as a form of catharsis for the comedian, or even become a way of expressing feelings that are otherwise difficult to say or not easily accepted by society.

As a kid I was always told that I was pretty funny- not to toot my own horn, but beep beep, you know?  I would make little side comments or do goofy impressions for my family and they always appreciated it.  But the thing about being funny is that it is much harder to do for an audience larger than those closest to you, especially when they are spending money to see it happen.  Making witty comments to friends or quoting hilarious movies may bring about a few laughs, but it is a whole other story creating a sketch or a stand up act that is performed for people who paid to be entertained.  In that way, comedy is a talent that takes a very brave performer.

Famous comedians like Patton Oswalt, Brian Regan, Sarah Silverman, and Jim Gaffigan all probably started their journeys in stand up and performance comedy by simply making jokes because it felt great or made others feel great.  Their intentions were not always to make money or become famous, but to be entertaining and share the laughter with those around them.  That is perhaps the most wonderful thing about comedy- it is only successful when it is shared with others.  While people can (and do) make themselves laugh, the true mark of a good comedian is their ability to share their talent and make others feel the funny as well.

The bottom line is that I have always loved every aspect of comedy.  I find that it is not only a great way of expressing yourself, but it can also help cheer others up.  “Laughter is the best medicine” is a bit cliché, sure, but at the end of the day it is the truth, and the goal of this blog is to get that information out there.  Whether it is places to find comedy in your area, research on the subject of comedy and its effects, how to get better at writing and performing a specific type of comedy, or funny and entertaining websites to check out and funny people to see in order to get a few laughs, this is the place to be.  It is all comedy all the time here at “Get Up, Stand Up.”