Comedy is subjective, which has allowed a large array of different comedic styles and tastes to pop up over the last few hundred years. Although some may feel like the only type of comedy is classic stand-up: there are tons of options to choose from.
Don’t pin yourself down! Consider trying a couple of these to see which suits you the most.
Musical Comedy
Musical comedy has been something that weaves in and out of popularity since the early 1900s. The two largest names right now are Weird Al Yankovic and Bo Burnham. Both have unique takes on musical comedy, from Weird Al’s fun parody comedy to Bo Burnham’s introspective musical comedy.
This type requires you to be able to carry a lot of different hats, from being able to sing to comedic timing, possible instrument skill, and charisma: if you can pull it off, it’s a great choice for anyone.
Surreal Comedy
Surreal comedy is something that’s becoming more and more common as we go forward into 2022. A recent show that’s a great example of it is “I Think You Should Leave,” a Netflix show by SNL alums that allows them to delve deeper and deeper into bizarre and inexplicably funny situations that toe the line between horror and comedy in a hilarious and strange way.
Impressionist Comedy
The best impressionist comedians are able to move their faces and mannerisms like props. Impressionist comedy is making a huge return, with greats like Bill Hader able to change their expression and voice perfectly to mimic whichever celebrity they’re taking on. Although this is an extremely physical type of comedy, it’s worth the work to get the fantastic response the average audience gives!
Improv Comedy
Improv comedy is one of the most classic types of comedy, with its most impressive part is being able to create comedic moments with ease and skill. Although this is an incredibly popular form of comedy, many don’t realize the amount of skill and work that goes into it. Not only do you have to be able to carry a joke and loop it around by the end of your bit (which carries a large punch), but you also have to be able to make sure you’ve tailored your jokes to how your audience is reacting.
Sketch Comedy
Sketch comedy, like SNL, is a very popular form in modern times. You can see people performing this type of comedy anywhere from TikTok to live shows, and it always puls an impressively sized audience.
With sketch comedy, it’s important that the writing is incredibly good before anything else. You can have subpar props and terrible costumes, but if your writing is perfect, that’s all that matters. Usually, this takes more than one comedian or performer to put on a show.
Pick What Type of Comedy Suits You Best
Don’t be afraid to try multiple different types of comedy before you settle on which one’s for you. Although it can take time to perfect any skill, it’s incredibly fun to try new ones.
Talha Ali is your tech generalist, covering a wide spectrum of topics within the ever-evolving world of technology. With a curiosity for the latest innovations, industry trends, and breakthroughs. Whether it’s hardware, software, emerging technologies, or the intersection of tech with daily life, Talha’s articles provide readers with a well-rounded perspective on the dynamic landscape of the tech industry.