A Ridiculously Easy Thing You Can Do TODAY To Be A Better Stand Up Comedian [FREE POST]

Ladies and gentlemen, try the chicken--and also the carrots

I know I said it’s “A” ridiculously easy thing you can do, but technically, OK, fine, it’s 7. Stay with me.

In a fascinating article about the general health of comedians in Psychology Today (Greengross, G. 2013, November 11. The dark side of stand-up comedy), the author explained some of the challenges that comedians battle against in an effort to stay healthy. As a comedian and/or comedy lover, I don’t have to explain to you what those difficulties are, but it’s interesting to see it written out, none-the-less:

“…comedians’ lifestyle and work environment make it difficult for them to stay healthy. Stand-up comedy is a very stressful job with little job security and little pay in many cases. Comedians travel a lot, and they need to be very disciplined in order to stay healthy. On the road, it is much harder to eat healthy. Comedians do not often have the means to buy or cook healthy foods, and rely mostly on fast food restaurants. Money is an issue here. To eat healthy in good restaurants costs more, and since many comedians get paid very little, it is not surprising they choose to eat unhealthy, cheap food.”

For years, I’ve been pretty pissed off about the state of food here in America, specifically at the loads of overly processed slop we are being told is food. In my years of reading and studying about it (mostly in an attempt to try to get healthier, myself), I’ve since learned that some reasons our food supply consists of monumental piles of
insta-garbage coincides greatly with the poverty level, but I will rant about that another time.

Regardless, comedians aren’t exactly known for their athletic prowess (or even their ability to do one push up, hello!). According to the same article referenced above, in fact, most comedians’ (at least, most comedians in 2013, the year that article came out,) average BMI (no, that doesn’t stand for B.elly laughs a MI.nute) is 30.5, indicating borderline obesity.

According to Harvard Business Review, studies show that the consumption of fruits and veggies as part of each of our day’s meals isn’t only physically healthy, it’s also good for our brains. In fact, when people ate up to 7 servings of fruits and veggies per day, they were happier, more engaged and more creative. The article said, and I quote, “If you’re serious about achieving top workplace performance, making intelligent decisions about food is essential.”

Since stand up is a brain-based activity, this link is, well, a no brainer.

According to the CDC, here are some of the benefits of eating healthy that, in my opinion, directly relate to comedic performance (and how they relate):

• May help you live longer (more years, more sets)

• Keeps skin, teeth, and eyes healthy (who wants to stare at a comedian that looks like the crypt keeper?)

• Supports muscles (in case a heckler decides to get physical)

• Boosts immunity (because butts in the seats bring germs as their plus ones)

• Strengthens bones (comedians stand a lot)

• Lowers risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers (obvious)

It’s not exactly rocket science, but there’s a simple truth in that if you want to be a great stand up comic (or a great anything, really), you can start by eating 7 fruits and vegetables a day.

Fresh is best, but canned, frozen and even dehydrated work, too. Here’s the USDA’s seasonal fruits and vegetables guide, so dig in, then go kill that crowd.

Today’s inspo:
- The Dark Side of Stand Up Comedy | Psychology Today
- If I lived in L.A., I might crash this for research purposes only | X
- Read 2024’s Oscar nominated scripts here | Final Draft

Bye, babe.