3 Ways to be a Stand-up Comedian: The Comedy Cartel Style

Last July 21 2016, I had a chance again to watch Comedy Cartel, a comic gang that aims to promote point of view comedy in the country, at Bar 121 at The Fort, BGC. As far as I can remember, it was my fourth  time to witness their show but I believe this is my first time to watch them perform in an Open Mic Show. 

According from Sherwin Cunanan, one of Comedy Carter’s veteran comedians, it is in an open mic show that great jokes are being born and bad ones being aborted. It is like a dry-run for them to test if their new sets will be effective or not. 

I was overwhelmed with the number of comic that performed that night. I don’t know them personally but based on their sets I believe they came from different fields. There’s a motivational speaker, a student, an athlete, and a business man. This goes to show that everyone can be a stand-up comedian just as long you want your audience be entertained by your ridiculous lines. 

Mr.Tim Tayag,one of the pioneers of Comedy Cartel in the Philippines.

Since it was my fourth time to watch them, I want to discuss the things I had observed on how to be an effective comic. 

1.      Be Relevant by being Relatable

Mr. Chip Balbuena of Comedy Cartel

Cracking a joke that is relevant to your audience is the first thing you should consider. This is possible by being brilliantly creative to make fun of the everyday encounters or dilemmas of people. 

Say for instance, the clever Chip Balbuena cracked jokes about the commute life of people from the metro. He mentioned about people who usually take an MRT ride are like wild zombies that would do whatever it takes to fit in inside the train. Somewhat, it is true since the current situation of an MRT ride is that terrible and chaotic that we became mad monsters. Imagining the situation is what makes it funny: people acting and looking crazy in a public place. Just clever!

Certainly, being able to relate with your audience is a big factor in making them laugh.

 2.       Be Natural by being Personal

Ms. Michelle Defensor of Comedy Cartel

Probably, the most difficult part of performing on a stage is acting naturally. This is possible by throwing lines that is all about you and what you do.

Say for instance, Cris Bacula, a professional athlete, crack a joke of his personal encounter while he got lost from his usual warm-up run. He asked a taxi driver about directions back to his hotel. Then the driver responded that it is too far from their current location. Then he became ridiculously cynic. He thinks that the driver is telling him this so he could ride the cab. So the smartest thing to do is just follow the cab while his running and run fast as he can so the driver can’t charge him. Perhaps, it’s funny because he was able to explicitly exaggerate the scenario in a convincing way.  Just crazy!

Also, the alluring Ms. Michelle Defensor, crack a joke about her being in a rich political family, she mentioned that they are rich not because their family entered the world of politics but because they are real rich even before they entered politics. What makes it funny is the way she gracefully nailed her joke.
Definitely, being natural is the way to go.

3.       Be Funny by being with Comedy Cartel

Performing is indeed an art since you get to express yourself in front of your audience. Yet, being a comedian is also a science since it follows a certain structure and tricks to make a joke funny. 

Say for instance, Mr.Patrick Cruz, their manager, mentioned before that they do mentor upcoming comic to improve their jokes and performances. He further said that he envisions Comedy Cartel to have a nationwide reach by having different chapters in different areas. 

Indeed, learning from the experts is the best way to be a professional comedian.  

So I recommend everyone to catch Comedy Cartel live and cry your hearts out with their witty jokes.  

For the schedule of their upcoming shows,workshops  and bookings you may visit Comedy Cartel Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/comedycartel  

Shout out to The Big Difference Communications for inviting me for this show.