Athletes will do a different sport or exercise to help their main sport. This is cross training. Dancers will strength train. Football players will do yoga and swimming. Cyclists will cross country ski. This cross training theory can help you as a stand up comedian, too! There are definitely activities you can do that will help you grow your skills as a stand up. Here is my list:

Improv

Acting

Puzzle Games

Word Games

Karaoke

Dancing (Maybe just me)

There is some other random advice in here, too! I also included a little bonus clip of my husband stumbling in on my mic check. 

Do you have a question for your Comedy Mom? E-mail us at [email protected]! You can also find us on instagram at @comedymompodcast! Your question might end up the next episode! 

This Episode is a little adversarial. It might hurt some feelings. 

Being A Big Fish In A Small Pond Doesn't Mean Sh*t. 

There. I said it. It's so easy in a small scene to feel like a big deal.  Comics with big heads and big egos make big mistakes. Bookers don't need you. You are replaceable. 

So, don't lose your hustle. Still go to open mics. Still write. Still work on getting better. Being a big fish in a small pond won't really open doors for you in the next big scene. But your work ethic will. 

Bombing happens to all of us. I talk about the rough sets I had recently and my advice about how to handle a rough set both on and off stage. 

"Pouring salt in my sugar won't make yours any sweeter

Kacey Musgraves, Biscuits

It's easy to get distracted in comedy. This episode is all about my mantra, "Stay On Target." Put your blinders on and focus on what you have control over. Don't get stuck in a mindset of scarcity. Laughter is not a limited resource. There's enough for everyone. I promise! 

It's that time of year! If you have "Try Stand Up Comedy" on your list of resolutions like I did in 2015 this episode is for you. Your first open mic is like an amusement park ride. Go into it ready to see what it feels like to tell jokes in front of an audience. Keep your expectations reasonable and remember not to confuse edgy with funny! 

 Also, listen to Episode 1: How To Get Started In Stand Up. This Episode gets into the nitty gritty of what your very first open mic will (hopefully) be like! 

Got a question for your Comedy Mom? E-mail me at [email protected]! Or find me on instagram under @comedymompodcast! I'd love to answer your question! 

Comedy is a game of tenacity. We all lose our confidence. It's about getting back on stage again. You can do this! 

I honestly thought about calling this episode "Why All Bookers Are Assholes." 

Don't even stress about whether you are getting booked if you are less than two years in. Some Bookers have rules about "time served." It won't matter how well you land with an audience at an open mic. Your stats could be amazing and they still won't book you until you have a couple years under your belt. Especially in bigger cities.

I refer you to previous episodes:

E2 - Basic Rules of Stand Up Comedy

E3 - What the F To Wear

E4 - What Makes A Good Set

E6 - What I Look For As A Booker.

If you listen to these four episodes and are confident you are hitting all of these marks then it's time to talk to the Booker. Any Booker should be happy to honestly communicate with you about what you can do better. Take this feedback openly and without being defensive. This feedback is important. 

I recorded this episode on December 4th. The time of year I sit down and start thinking about my goals for the upcoming year. This episode is all about how to set goals that are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. In the end, as comics, the trajectory of our career is dependent on the decisions of others. Avoid making goals that depend on someone else's permission or approval. Focus what you can control. They will help you grow as an artist! 

If you have a question for Comedy Mom you can e-mail her at [email protected]. Or just slide into our DM's at @comedymompodcast on Instagram! 

I sat down with my MoM after Thanksgiving to talk about her perspective on the whole thing. The parents of comics have an interesting vantage point on our material. Plus, if you pay enough attention, you can learn what the "Boomers" are looking for comedy and why clean comedy can help you with that generation. 

This interview was recorded in their home, on my phone. You may hear my step-father and husband chatting in the background. Maybe some noises from my kiddo, too. It's an honest, kitchen table, conversation between mother and daughter. Enjoy! 

Jessica is a staple in the Bend comedy scene! We talk about her first open mic, advice for new comics and dating life! We were going to record this live, but the weather took a sh*t on Central Oregon. So, we are both cozy in our own homes! 

You can find Jessica on Instagram at @therealjesstaylor! 

Got a question for your comedy mom? E-mail us at [email protected]!