Im new to the forum so i figured i would start off with the topic of bombing since this is my first post.  Every Comedian that has ever been able to say ” yea im a comedian” has stood on stage and had the thought ” Nothing…. Fuck…. next line…. Shit… they r suppose to be laughing right now” Its just a part of doing what we love to do… those who can accept bombing and look at it as a way to improve there act will learn from it.  I find that talking to other comedians about the times weve bombed is far more common then boasting about the times weve killed. its something that we all share so feel free to post your experiences with bombing and what u learned from it

EverydayComic

I’m glad you posted this. I just recently went through my first bomb and ya it was miserable haha. It was at the improv comedy club in front of like 400 people as well. Until you have made 400 people go awkwardly silent, you have not lived.

I am always nervous whenever I tell a new joke that it is going to bomb. Always. But that is what made this time so rough. It was all proven material that I thought was really strong and that had gotten me really good reactions in the past. Everyone always told me as a comedian you are going to bomb at some point, but I think that until you do, you don’t take those comments seriously. You always think “well maybe you guys bomb, but I’m funny”. I had made it through 6 times on stage with nothing but good reactions so I think it hit me really hard at first. I had to get back on stage at a local open mic the next day just to try and move on.

I feel like once you don’t get that first laugh on your opener it can be super hard to dig out of that hole. Especially, in a short set. Anyways, I feel like my confidence has taken a big hit for better or worse and I’m just gonna have to try and move on. Any advice?

first off to have the opportunity to be infront of 400 ppl your 6th time on stage is a damn good accomplishment so congrats. Ya u went through the worse kind of bombing… bombing with material that got u laughs in the past.  I was listening to an interview with louis CK and he was talking about how he thought he had the greatest material and he would be famous as soon as ppl heard him for the first time. Truth is it took him a long time to craft his stand up.. he was so devastated after bombing that he didn’t go on stage for i think he said 6 or more months. i think u did the best thing u can do after a bad set. shrug it off and look forward to your next set.  if your jokes have gotten u laughs in the past then stick to them maybe your timing was off or the crowd was expecting you to do bad idk but respect to you for getting on stage the next day

I had a paid gig back in January.  About 15 people I knew came out and paid the $10 cover and did the 2 item minimum.  I was the first comedian on the set list.  The MC (the owner of the club) warmed the audience up, and killed as he always done.  He also riffed on the front row, who happened to be my friends.  I had about 30% new material and really wasn’t confident if I knew it, and when I got on stage…....I didn’t know it!!!!  I did some VERY weak riffing with some people, and I could tell in their eyes they knew I was in panic, and I basically walked off stage after 2 minutes.  I left the stage with dead air, while the MC/owner was back in the bar.  I walked through the door of the back bar with sweat on my brow and he gives me this wide eyed look as to say “WHAT ARE DOING IN HERE!!!  He ran on stage, did some riffing and called the next comic.  He was very caring and asked if I wanted to get backup…I refused.  Needless to say I didn’t get paid that night, but had about 5 Jack and cokes to forget my horrific experience.  I hope this make you feel a little bit better.  That was defiantly a “bottom” for me in my stand up career.  Hopefully it NEVER happens again.

I dont know if this will help or not but I listen to Jim Norton a lot and he really “own’s” bombing. If he bombs he he really knows how to work off that. I’m not a stand-up(I dont have the guts to be) but I would think if you acknowledge the bombing sometimes you can work with it. Jim bombs from time to time on Opie and Anthony and he is the first one to acknowledge it and tears it up! Anyways keep getting on stage on you’ll do great.

Sometimes the randomness of stand up can be maddening. I’ve hosted at legit clubs and crushed 4 shows in a weekend, then a week later I can’t get a laugh out of a 20-person bar crowd.