I love stand-up comedy. Acting for over 20 years has given me the opportunity to stand on popular comedy stages and work with other professional comedians who were childhood idols. Successful shows confirm what I always knew but couldn’t express in high school. I have something special inside that makes people laugh. There’s no college degree for it and my parents don’t fully understand it, but I know it has the potential to be great.
This kind of self-discovery is a wonderful journey the first time it is captured. It often strikes the first time you walk into a comedy club and feel the energy of laughter. You know in your heart “Yes! Yes! That’s what I’ve been talking about.”
And so begin the first attempts at stand-up comedy.
The first three years of stand-up comedy are considered the first years of apprenticeship when the pay can be as low as gas money or it can be zero. In major cities, comedians are often required to have “traedores” (friends piggybacking to watch their shows). Imagine the feat and effort of taking your friends to a comedy club to see your budding act. Surviving the “carrier” stage is not for the squeamish.
Earning a prized spot in a successful comedy club will produce your first paycheck. The average salary for an emcee is $25 to $50 per show. However, due to the high influx of comedians in recent years, it could be as low as $12 per show. Let’s not forget to keep our day jobs.
Next is the highlight (middle act) directly in front of the headliner. Now pay raises to $75 per show or $100 per show. This could be seen as a healthy work week, but ideally this process should be repeated for 52 weeks per year. To keep up that pace, a working comedian needs to “hit the road,” which will take valuable dollars out of a paycheck in terms of gas money and eating out.
The prized headlining venue averages between $100 and $150 per show. This is a good number that can continue to rise as fame and popularity become established for a seasoned comedian. The ideal paid headliner is found when a comedian has caught up with him and also acts in sitcoms, TV shows or movies. Now he or she fills the seats!
Rise to stardom is a dream for most creative people who make it to the stand-up comedy stage. It is best to pursue this dream with your eyes wide open. Although unpredictable and unstable, the ascent is an adventure. If you have the gift of humor, I recommend you pursue this career. But in the meantime, keep your day job!