Why Stand-Up Comedy Acts Fail to Get Laughs
Before I identify some of the major issues involved with a stand-up comedy act that is not getting laughs—commonly known as bombing on stage—let me say this:
There’s much more involved in developing and delivering a stand-up comedy act that generates noteworthy laughs on a consistent basis than meets the eye.
Not that anything about developing and delivering a powerful stand-up comedy act is difficult (provided an individual has comedy talent), but it does involve consideration and application of several important factors that most new comedians simply ignore or are completely unaware of.
One thing that must be crystal clear from the beginning is this:
If the audience does not laugh (defined here as 9+ people closely seated together near the stage), THEY ARE BLAMELESS.
In other words, blaming the audience because your stand-up comedy act sucks is exactly the same as blaming a basketball because it didn’t go into the hoop when you made a shot.
Comedy audiences are in the seats to be entertained. It is NOT their job, duty, or responsibility on any level to laugh at stand-up comedy material that simply is not funny.
Unfortunately, many new (and not-so-new) comedians take an “it’s the audience’s fault” approach to justify the absence of laughter during their set. And the second that happens…
You should know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are dealing with a genuine stand-up comedy idiot.
With that said, here are three primary reasons why a stand-up comedy act doesn’t get laughs—or worse, gets no laughs at all:
1. The Stand-Up Comedy Material Is Simply Not Funny
In other words, there is no laughter value in what the comedian is saying to an audience, no matter how well they deliver their material.
While this issue can stem from a lack of comedy talent, it’s far more common that the comedian has plenty of comedy talent but has made the mistake of trying to “write” their stand-up act in the literal sense—completely detached from how they naturally talk and express themselves.
This approach fails to capture the way a person actually speaks and physically expresses themselves. It also creates a number of significant issues that are difficult to overcome, including the next problem…
2. The Set-Ups for Jokes Are Too Long
Stand-up comedy material that generates consistent, noteworthy laughs has 4-6+ punchlines per minute—a measure known as punchline frequency.
The longer the set-up for any particular joke or bit, the longer it takes to get to a punchline.
Let me put this another way:
The longer the set-ups, the weaker the punchline impact.
And the more a comedian talks before getting to a punchline, the lower their punchline frequency per minute.
Why Does This Happen?
Much of this issue arises from the habit of writing comedy as if it were meant to be read rather than performed.
Writing for an individual reader requires more words to communicate thoughts, ideas, and observations. But in verbal communication (whether on or off stage), we use more than just words—we use:
- Facial expressions
- Body language
- Voice tone changes
Key Takeaway:
When performing stand-up comedy, expressive communication attributes DECREASE the number of words needed to convey a message, while writing INCREASES the number of words needed because only words are used.
3. Poor Delivery of Stand-Up Comedy Material
Stand-up comedy audiences are smart and can instantly tell if a comedian is:
- Ill-prepared to deliver a professional, tightly structured set.
- Trying to “sell” weak material that is simply not funny.
- Coming across as phony or insincere while delivering their jokes.
In any of these cases, the results are the same:
Greatly diminished—or even absent—laughter from the audience.
How Do Pro Comedians Avoid This?
If you observe any accomplished stand-up comedian, you’ll notice that it seems like they’re just casually talking about “stuff” that pops into their head.
Make NO mistake—almost everything a pro comedian says and does on stage is:
- Premeditated
- Well-rehearsed
- Carefully structured for maximum impact
Hint for New Comedians:
Proper rehearsal of tightly structured stand-up comedy material—specifically developed for comedy audiences—is key to appearing spontaneous on stage.
Something Else to Consider
A great delivery of substandard material will usually get more laughs than a terrible delivery of great material.
This is because expressive traits—such as tone, body language, and facial expressions—play a huge role in verbal communication and audience engagement.
Final Thought:
For more in-depth insights on why new comedians bomb on stage repeatedly, I highly recommend reviewing the 5 free lessons provided in the Killer Stand-up Online Course.
Summary of Key Takeaways:
- The audience is never to blame for a failed comedy set.
- Comedy material must be funny AND structured properly for a live audience.
- Long-winded set-ups kill punchline impact and reduce laugh frequency.
- Great delivery can elevate weak material, but bad delivery can destroy great material.
- Proper rehearsal and expressive communication are essential for stand-up success.
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