So you survived your first standup comedy open mic. Congratulations. Whether you killed it or you bombed or (more likely) something in between, you are no longer a standup comedy virgin. You got up there and showed the audience you have a right to be on that stage. Congrats. Now what?

Well if you want to keep performing comedy there are a few things to keep in mind.

How good are those premises?

An interesting premise might already get a laugh or a reaction before you even get to the punchline. Notice how people feel when you reveal the setup- do they care about your premise? Pay attention to what the audience finds interesting. I hate sandwiches. Meh. Sandwiches are evil. Now we are talking.

Keep the premise simple. The most important thing you say should be in the first sentence. You will lose the audience if you take too long to make your setup clear. Get your setup done with as much clarity and as few words as possible. It’s harder than it sounds, but this is the honing process.

How good are those punchlines?

The funny stuff should always come at the end. The joke, surprise, the wordplay – make sure you say it last and HOLD when the audience laughs. It sounds obvious, but make sure you understand your own punchline. What is the funny part of what you are saying? Get there quick! The more sudden and surprising your punchlines are the better they will be received.

A punchline is often found on your opinion on the topic, especially if it is an unexpected opinion, a fresh take.

Should I memorise all my open mic jokes?

Maybe. It can be helpful, but it can also hurt. What is important is staying loose and having fun. Maybe it doesn’t make sense to memorise jokes word-for-word, before you even know if audiences will find them funny. On the other hand, papers in your hand can be distracting for you and the audience. Usually it is a good idea to have some material memorised and if you feel like you need to keep notes, keep them to a minimum, a few key words so you don’t forget, but not a word-for-word text because no one wants you to read to them. Once your know a joke or a bit is working, it is much better to memorise it.

Stay with the audience.

Comedy crowds have a fun time when they feel like they are watching a show that is just for them. Audience interaction is important. Notice how they react to you and what you are saying. You want to talk with them, not at them. The audience wants to believe that they are influencing your performance, that they are part of the show that night. If you deliver your jokes like a memorised monologue, it is not the same feeling as when you are talking to them and really performing.