The comedy world is huge and has a lot to offer everyone, especially in Canada. Canada, in particular, contributed to comedy, and several famous comedians, such as Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, and Catherine O’Hara, originated from the country. The country is also famed for its humor, which uses wit, sarcasm, and humorous observations of daily life.
If your goal is to perform stand-up, write jokes, or act in comedies, there is a bright welcome for any comedian in Canada. Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal are considered major cities for comedy owing to the number of comedy clubs, theaters, and festivals located in these areas.
This article will help you understand how to become a comedian in Canada, how to build up your practice, and how to find gigs in the industry until you can establish yourself.
Keep reading.
Cultivate Your Comedy Skills
If you are planning to start doing comedy on the stage, then it is recommended that you find your comedic voice. There are many types of comedies you can attempt and discover which one works for you. You may like observational humor, jokes from your mouth or other people’s mouths, jokes within story-telling, or character jokes. This will help you learn all the various types and modes of comedy and what makes you laugh.
As with any art form, good comedy begins with a good script. First, list down the ideas in a notebook to write jokes or routines. Then, try out your content with friends and relatives to see what triggers your reactions and what does not. Let me remind you that comedy is rather relative, and not all gags will be funny to everyone.
Get Your First Performances
If you want to level up with your peers quickly, get to the stage as soon as you are ready. The first way to achieve this is through open mic evenings. These are the best ways to start performing in front of a live audience. Some of the events are meant to be staging grounds for new comedians to present their material.
Search for open mics around you and register to join one. Target to entertain the audience for 5-10 minutes with your best. Remember that every comedian begins from somewhere. Hence, do not get discouraged by a rough set but rather take it as a way of learning.
Secondly, Improv comedy means acting on a stage without a script and is perfect for enhancing your confidence on and off the stage. Some of the places in Canada include cities that have either improv groups or theaters where classes or performances are provided. Being a member of an improv group also allows you to mingle with other comics.
Third, comedy competitions offer exposure and credibility. It also pays to search for competitions within the area or across the country and try to join them. Win or lose, it is always very useful, and in many cases, the judges will even provide you with their feedback.
Network and Partner
Go out and support your regional comedy performances. Seeing other comedians in action can help you generate new content. More importantly, networking with other comedy enthusiasts and performers is usually encouraged.
Partnerships are important in comedy since you rely on other comedians to perform sketches with, write for, or produce for. It may create new avenues for your professional development and transform you into a better comedian.
Protect Yourself as You Grow
As you grow in comedy, you become a valuable asset to fans, the industry, and marketers. Hence, your health, safety, and general fitness matter a lot. Sustaining an injury from an accident, malice, or negligence of your host or promoter can end your career. Hence, besides having a manager, also engage the services of a reliable legal practitioner to review your contracts and protect your interests.
Glady, in any city in Canada, there are many legal firms you may work with. For instance, Merchant Law cover personal injury law in Calgary to prosecute clients’ rights and ensure they have the support needed to get back on their feet. If you sustain a fracture or worse injury, your lawyer will take up the matter with the event organizers and the insurance company to ensure you are fully compensated.
Promote your Content Online
Nowadays, it is advisable to use digital platforms, especially social media such as Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook, to share your comedy and reach your audience.
A professional website can also serve as a networking tool to market a comedy career through a bio, schedule, and performance clips, and contact information. Ensure that you have created simple ways for fans and industry professionals to locate and interact with you.
Last but not least, developing working relationships with club owners, bookers, marketers, and other related people in the industry is cost-free. This will ensure that they think of you each time they plan a big comedy event, maintain your fame, and expand your business.
