Things Only Struggling Comedians Will Understand

Laugh at my jokes!

You have an open mic event every week and invite everyone you know on Facebook… but no one really goes.

Finally one friend shows up! They sense the nervous tension and give you a pity-chuckle or two.

You’ve got this really good idea for a web series. You just need $2,000… and actors… and someone to shoot it… and a Costco card.

You actually pull it off and make the web series – it’s like, pretty funny.

You have SO MANY good ideas for sketches but can only afford to shoot like 1 or 2… time to pick the best ones!

Ugh, you really thought that Gangnam Style parody was going to go somewhere.

You write witty Facebook statuses and tweet about poop.

But you only have like, 120 followers.

You saved up your money and are finishing up your first round of UCB classes. Amy Poehler is definitely going to be at your show.

She’s definitely not. But maybe someday you’ll be those girls from Broad City!

That comedy show you love totally stole the premise of your spec.

You really need to polish up that 30 rock spec to complete your portfolio.

That pilot you wrote about a struggling comedian in New York is really funny and hasn’t been done before.

LA or New York? LA or New York? Whatever, just go to law school already.

People generally don’t want to have sex with you.

Making them laugh doesn’t pay for dates.

You look at applying to real people jobs but can’t get over the fact that they want people with skills other than being funny, or trying to be funny.

Your parents keep asking if the coffee shop you work at provides health insurance.

They keep telling you to just put things on Youtube and go viral.

Going viral is easy guys!!!

If this doesn’t work out there’s always that Hallmark Cards store back home you could work at that your mom manages, they provide health insurance, but only until you’re 26.

In the end, even though being a struggling comedian sucks (a lot), the gift to make people laugh shouldn’t be wasted – so never give up!