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Comedian

Comedians entertain people by performing comic routines.

Tasks & duties

Comedians may do some or all of the following:

write comic material for their performances
tailor their act for different audiences
learn and rehearse their act
perform their act in front of an audience or on television or radio
write comedy for print media, radio or websites
publicise, promote and produce their act

Specialisations

Comedians may focus on a particular skill to distinguish their act, such as ventriloquism, puppetry, singing, music or magic. They may also invent a persona that requires a specific accent, props and style of dress.

Skills & knowledge

Comedians need to have:

performance skills
excellent communication and people skills to ensure the audience understands their material
the ability to deal with a range of people
knowledge of human behaviour
public relations skills, especially if they spend a lot of time in the public eye
knowledge of marketing techniques
excellent research and writing skills for finding and preparing comic material
business skills if they are self-employed

Some comedians may need good general knowledge and up-to-date knowledge of current events and popular culture, so they can relate well to their audience. If a comedian has a routine that is based on a persona, they may need physical comedy skills.

Entry requirements

There are no specific entry requirements to become a comedian as skills are gained on the job.

Secondary education

There are no specific secondary educational requirements, but drama and English may be useful.

Training on the job

Courses and evening classes in stand-up comedy are sometimes available, particularly around comedy festival time in April/May.

Comedians learn by assessing their own performances and may attend workshops or training sessions in theatre sports, stand-up comedy, acting or writing.