"Stand-up" Life
A "Stand-up" Performance
Recently, a friend invited me to watch a "Stand-up" comedy show. "Stand-up" translates directly to "standing comedy" or "one-man comedy" in Chinese, and it features solo performances that present comedy. Using humorous language and unique observations, mastering the rhythm of "releasing the burden," and incorporating live improvisational interactions, it entertains the audience!
Some people might think this is the same as a "talk show," since both involve performing through speech. However, talk shows don't necessarily focus on humor; they more often revolve around a specific topic, and may involve interviews or discussions between two people or a group.
I personally believe that an excellent "Stand-up" performer requires powerful skills, because without any props or support from other actors, relying solely on their mouth, standing alone on stage, to trigger laughter and resonance from the audience below is no easy task!
Due to the difficulty in finding parking, that night I stood in the cold wind outside the theater for a long time. Only when I finally saw my friend appear did we enter together. While waiting, I watched wave after wave of people arriving, proving that good things attract people no matter how remote the location. I wondered how many audience members this theater, far from the city center, could accommodate?
The performer that day was from Hong Kong and quite famous! The long queue showed how popular he was. Before the main act appeared, two warm-up performers took the stage, but due to their inclusion of many "off-color elements," I personally couldn't find the humor... Finally, when the main act officially began, with rotating spotlights and entrance music, amidst the cheers, I clearly felt the audience's emotions surge. What followed was an hour of continuous waves of laughter. My friend said, "Although it was only an hour, it felt like two or three hours!" It was like drinking concentrated coffee. Surprisingly, the performer didn't even take a single sip of water!
Being Able to "Stand" on Your Own
I don't know many comedians, but I "follow" this performer mainly because his English pronunciation is very clear, like listening to Broadway musical vocals, making it easy to understand. For me, as a non-native English speaker, this is quite important. Additionally, the stories he tells can connect with personal life experiences and cultural backgrounds. Although exaggerated, they are also true. Sometimes they even reveal inner human comparisons, vulnerabilities, and struggles, bringing both laughter and tears.
Whether tragedy or comedy, drama originates from life and rises above it. Regarding watching plays, some say making people laugh is harder than making them cry. To achieve high-level comedy is indeed a great challenge, but at least one thing is certain: stand-up comedy can be wildly successful even without resorting to "dirty jokes"!
This live Stand-up performance confirmed that the condition for confidence is accepting, affirming, and appreciating oneself. In the language of traditional Chinese comedy, there's a term "za gua" (hitting the target). Performers usually follow an unwritten rule of only targeting themselves or their family members. Simply put, only you can mock yourself.
For example, in this show, the performer mentioned that his girlfriend's clothing size is M, but she always insists on wearing S, which is unnecessary self-deception. Because he knows his girlfriend's size is the same as his, both "women's M"! When it comes to body type, appearance, race, values, etc., if used to comment on others, self-proclaimed humor can easily be received as prejudice, personal attacks, or even discrimination. This technique of intentionally breaking "rules" or "assumptions" to achieve "comedic effect" must be handled carefully. However, when applied to oneself, there's no such problem. Especially for performers who express themselves through language, good looks might be a bonus, but true charm definitely comes from a unique style and an interesting soul.
Continuously Updated Excitement
In our busy daily work and life, having the opportunity to laugh heartily is a luxurious enjoyment. I was initially worried that if all the comedian's jokes that night had been heard before, wouldn't it be a big loss? Fortunately, this time "paying for laughter" did not disappoint. For a creator, the worst fear is running out of ideas and having to rehash old material... How can one keep inspiration flowing endlessly? 2 Corinthians 4:16 says: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." Thus, possessing a fearless and constantly renewing vitality is the foundation for delivering excellence!
An association comes to mind: in various life situations, we also encounter many different "standing performers," although they may not necessarily be presenting comedy. For example, teachers in classrooms, bosses in various industries, doctors during consultations, and pastors or preachers delivering messages during Sunday worship, and so on.
Of course, we also have opportunities to become "standing performers" facing an audience. If every performer is dedicated and loves their stage, refining their life experiences, distilling the essence, presenting excellent content with appropriate rhythm, and cherishing every performance, I believe the audience will never doze off in the middle.
And even after the show ends, the audience will still savor the experience endlessly!