Build rapport with your audience from the moment you step on stage from "summary" of Stand-Up Comedy by Judy Carter
When you step on stage, it's showtime, and the audience is sizing you up. Are you someone they can relate to? Someone they want to spend time with? To win them over, you need to connect with them right away. You want them to think, "I like this person. I want to hear what they have to say." Building rapport is the key to getting the audience on your side. It's like making a new friend. You wouldn't walk up to a stranger and start telling them jokes, would you? You'd start with some small talk, find some common ground, and gradually build a connection. The same goes for your audience. As soon as you step on stage, you need to start building that connection. Your body language, your tone of voice, even your choice of clothing can all help establish rapport. Smile, make eye contact, and show them that you're happy to be there. Let them see your personality right away. You want them to feel like they know you, like you're a friend they're happy to see. And remember, it's not just about you. It's about them, too. Show them that you understand them, that you're on their side.
One way to do this is by acknowledging the shared experience of being in the room together. You can comment on the venue, the weather, or something that happened on the way to the show. Anything that shows you're in the same boat as them. You're all in this together, and you want them to feel that connection. When you build rapport with your audience from the moment you step on stage, you set the tone for the rest of your set. They'll be more open to your jokes, more willing to laugh, and more likely to leave with a positive impression of you. And that's what comedy is all about - making a connection, one laugh at a time.
