Stand-up comedy has always terrified me and left me wondering, “How do they do that?” Someone is actually choosing to put themselves out there in front of a live audience. It’s all your own original material and failure is shown directly in front of you, not behind closed doors.

So why would anyone do it? Because it’s also one of the few performances that anyone can take a shot at and be discovered based solely on talent. Stand up comedians come in all shapes and sizes. How do you get started?

1. Write five minutes of original material you find funny. Practice in front of family and friends to get their reactions. Embarrassing stories that you have lived through can sometimes make the best jokes.

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Nobody automatically becomes the next Oprah Winfrey or Ellen Degeneres. There’s no auditions scheduled for newcomers to host on network television in the best time slots. So where did the big money maker hosts come from? They definitely earned it from the ground up. Here are 2 common ways that TV hosts get started:

Comedy: It’s a natural progression to go from stand-up comedy to hosting, since many talk shows start with comedic monologues. This fits perfectly for hosts such as Jay Leno, Ellen Degeneres, Jon Stewart (seen here in 1996), and Conan O’Brien. All are known for their witty zingers and ability to make the audience laugh!

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What’s one of the best ways you can stand out from the competition? Take a risk! Think outside the box and try something new in your show business career. Act in a one-man show, do stand-up comedy, or try improv! When you try something new you’re bound to become more comfortable as an actor. So, get yourself out there & take a risk!

Click here for more tips on how to challenge yourself!