To get on stage and tell jokes is hard. Damn near impossible. But you know what’s harder? Yep, you guessed it – freestyling. The art of going off the cuff and grabbing the moment. It’s an easy concept to grasp, but it’s the hardest thing to do.

When we invest time in creating that incredible set, we perform. We perform the hell out of it. We dedicate ourselves to our sets – damn near become slaves to it. The problem with this is that eventually that set might not work. The crowd may not be feeling it. Simply put, shit ain’t working.

The average comic will go down in flames with their set even though they know they’re bombing. Stupid, stupid, stupid. We all have bad sets – sometimes we eat ass on stage. That’s fine. Comes with the territory. The difference is a good comic did everything he/she could to save the night. Every crowd isn’t yours. sometimes the bastards don’t even like the way you look. This is where the art of freestyling comes in.

Do like Eminem and seize the moment. Command attention and do what it was that brought you to the stage in the first place – be quick-witted and inventive. I think a comic truly finds his voice when they get up stage, leave the fear behind, take hold of the reigns and wild out. Let your ability to think on your feet shine through and leave the material behind. This is what freestyling is and how many of us find our voice.

The times I feel most accomplished on stage is when I react to the moment and engage with the crowd. I’ve learned that whatever I’m thinking about is fine. Say what the hell you feel and deal with the consequences after you say it.

As comics, we have an amazing ability to think fast and (in some cases) be intelligent about it. Use it. Enjoy letting every crazy thought ooze out your head onto your awaiting crowd. You’d be surprised how many times you actually make them laugh and in the process create new material. Freestyle.

I’m out.