I tried stand-up comedy. Here's what it taught me about presenting.

In 2022 I did something that had always been on my bucket list.

I tried stand-up comedy.

During lockdown I signed up for a comedy course that led to a few gigs, and a headline comedy slot at a Toastmasters convention.

But in April that year, things got real. I landed a gig alongside actual, real-life, professional comedians.

TV credits, Netflix specials ... The lot.

I shared the stage with people like Fiona Allen (Smack the Pony) and Esther Manito (Netflix star). And then there was me ... Just the guy who tries to make his mates and colleagues laugh.

Did I bomb? No.
Did I smash it? Also no.

The truth is that I was alright. Some jokes landed well, some fell flat. A few laughs, a few polite smiles. One solid punchline was a hit. But overall, bang average.

But what I did walk away with was a crash course in next-level public speaking.

Here's what stand-up taught me ... Lessons that have sharpened every presentation since.

1. You must perfect both your content and delivery.

In business, you can deliver a great voiceover to a poor slide deck and the job’s a good 'un. Likewise, you can mumble through a presentation but if your slides are on-point you can still land your message.

However, in stand-up comedy, if your material is poor - the outcome will be poor. Ditto for the delivery ... Flat vocal performance, or mistiming, can make the jokes fall flat.

Stand-up taught me that to maximise your chances of success you must focus on both content and delivery.

2. Be ruthlessly concise.

A typical stand-up routine might be a 'tight 5' of just 5 minutes in length. During that time, the audience isn't going to sit there and let you go off on a tangent or use tonnes of descriptive, flowery language. Shorten the sentences and get to the punch lines quickly.

The world of business is no different. Use fewer words, cut the jargon, sharpen the set up, and get to the point as quickly as you can.

3. It's not life or death. Nerves won't kill you.

Stand-up comedy audiences have the highest expectations when it comes to the quality of public speaking. It can create nervousness, or stage fright, like no other.

Furthermore, being on stage with top class comedians, in front of a paying audience, makes you examine the concept of nervousness. And you know what, it only exists in your head. The stage has never opened up and swallowed anybody.

Once you've faced a stand-up audience - and the nerves it can generate - I promise that you'll never be nervous again when making a presentation in a business meeting.

Comedy is public speaking in 'hard' mode

Stand-up is public speaking on expert difficulty. But that's the point. If you can make it through five minutes of comedy without dying on stage, you'll walk into your next work presentation with swagger.

So if you want to level up your speaking skills? Try comedy.

Worst case, you get a great story.
Best case, you become a sharper, braver, more engaging speaker.


Hate public speaking? Let’s fix that.

If you want to start your journey to banish your fear of public speaking and presenting, improve your confidence, and boost your career prospects, then check out the online masterclass here at Better Public Speaking.