Stand-up comedy - 3 tips to boost your self-esteem and confidence in public

Are you someone who gets nervous about speaking in public?

Don't worry, you're not alone! It's a common fear that many people share. But did you know that taking the first step towards performing in front of an audience can help boost your self-esteem and make you feel more compassionate towards yourself?

By embracing these two values, you can alleviate the pressure to be perfect and even learn to make jokes about yourself. It's all about having fun and not taking yourself too seriously!

So why not start by writing a script based on events from your life and incorporating techniques to make it humorous? You might be surprised at how much you enjoy it!

The main idea here is to create a bit of mystery and keep your audience guessing by alternating between true and false information.

To get started, try writing some jokes about yourself

Don't worry about being perfect - the goal is to let your creativity flow and develop some fun ideas that might seem silly initially but could be interesting.

One helpful technique is to keep a journal with two columns: one for things you love and one for things you hate. This way, you can jot down your ideas as they come to you and keep track of them over time.

To give you a better idea of what I mean, here are a few examples to get you started:

Love Switzerland & Chocolate

Joke: I want to tell you a secret: I fell in love with Switzerland and chocolate.

That's because I have a dark side.

Love and Relationships

Let me tell you what really gets on my nerves: Love.

Are there any couples here?... You make me sick.

The first part of the joke might make the audience wonder what kind of dark topic I'm about to delve into. But then I'll lighten the mood by making a playful pun with the word "chocolate."

The second part of the joke is meant to shock and express my bitterness towards relationships and love as I address the audience directly.

The Second Tip

The second tip for stand-up comedy is to interact with the audience to take ownership of the stage.

Unlike theatre, where actors stick to their script, stand-up comedy becomes funnier when you interact with the audience by asking "embarrassing" questions. This approach lets you charm the public by playing with the stage and daring to close in on one person, improving your confidence and creating a powerful interaction.

During interactions, silence is extremely important to let people have time to laugh and understand your joke. Silence also allows you to play with body language, such as staring, and movement can be a potent tool.

I love these quotes:

"Silence speaks louder than words."

"Words have incredible power. They can make people's hearts soar, or they can make people's hearts sore.

The third tip

The third tip is standing up in front of the audience alone.
How often do you stand up alone in front of an audience?

Presentation, Speech, Engagement Party, Pitch…

There are different types of public speaking. Some require a written script, while others, like stand-up comedy, involve a speaking script that allows for more flexibility and creativity. Stand-up comedy is a great way to exercise your improvisation skills and tap into your creative side, which we often neglect.

Both types of public speaking can boost your self-esteem and confidence by helping you project your voice and find the right balance between tone, speed, pauses, and breaths to communicate clearly.