“ADHD Helps Me Stand Out as a Stand-Up Comedian”
I've always enjoyed being in the limelight. When I was a kid, I would often speak from the pulpit at church, and I was eager to read aloud in class. I loved having the chance to say something funny or significant in front of people. As a high school student, my confidence in front of crowds, ability to handle pressure, and outgoing personality led me to become the captain of the debate team. I even had the opportunity to argue in front of the state's school board.
After departing from my small hometown and settling into the city life, I started to develop an interest in comedy clubs. I swiftly began performing, frequently in an improvised manner, and within a short period of time, I secured a spot on a nearby all-women comedy performance.
I never thought that having ADHD would be a disadvantage as a comedian. In fact, I see it as an advantage that helps me excel on stage - that amazing platform where lively, imaginative people like us take control and really stand out.
Put ADHD To Test: Quick Thinking In Stand-Up Comedy
Performing in front of many people who are paying close attention to you while standing under bright lights can be challenging. There are endless possibilities for mistakes to occur, such as forgetting your punch lines, mixing up your lines, managing outspoken audience members, improvising with the crowd, and unintentionally transitioning to new topics that were not planned for. This frequently happens to me. It requires a lot of courage to handle such situations.
Although practicing and rehearsing a set repeatedly is an integral aspect of stand-up comedy, the key to perfecting your craft is being able to handle unexpected situations on stage. As a performer, you cannot afford to make mistakes since you only have one chance to ace your live set. This skill of adapting to unforeseen circumstances in real-time is what separates the seasoned comedians from the novices. So, while memorizing your lines and timing is important, being able to improvise in the moment is ultimately what makes or breaks a stand-up comedy set.
Check out: Laugh Out Loud! Using Humor to Help Manage ADHD
Every time I perform, I slyly trick the audience into believing that I am completely composed and in control. However, the truth is quite the opposite! To compensate for any slip-ups I may have on stage, I keep a well-organized bullet-pointed list that I can reference when necessary. If I forget a joke or mix up my lines, which could potentially disrupt the order of my set, I can immediately glance at my notes and quickly connect the random topic I stumbled upon to my next joke. My list also serves as a reliable tool to help me move onto the next part of my set if a joke doesn't land well with the crowd.
My ADHD brain functions at its highest potential during these moments. By giving myself the freedom to move around and come up with ideas in an instant, my performances seem more genuine, clear, effortless, and conclusive.
One of the main reasons why I love crowd work is because there's always a fresh group of people to interact with, which provides me with countless chances to make them laugh. I have numerous options to choose from when it comes to teasing the audience. Should I poke fun at someone's oversized footwear? Or should I comment on the strange words they chose to respond to my query? Perhaps I could even rib them for sporting a scarf in the heat of summer or donning shorts on a chilly winter day. The possibilities are truly endless, and I can't wait to start cracking jokes!
What do you think about those individuals who disrupt comedians' performances by heckling? As a comedian, I make every effort to avoid belittling anyone, but I'm only human! To handle such situations, I divert attention away from the heckler with amusement and continue the performance until security eliminates the problem. No worries, this is something I'm skilled at!
Take a look at: My Ability to Laugh at My ADHD Is Both a Blessing and a Curse
Outsmarting The Competition
One possible explanation for my preference for live shows is that they allow me to showcase my true identity and be acknowledged for who I am. There are times when I feel most authentic when presenting or performing in front of spectators. This may be due to the fact that my mind is unconstrained when I am on stage, which is often considered inappropriate in everyday situations.
ADHD And Stand-Up Comedy: Moving Forward
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