When it comes to how to dress for a comedy show it depends on if you are going to watch or going to perform. Everyone wonders what to wear to a stand up comedy show. Casual dress is acceptable for both. A comedian should try to dress nicer than the crowd or at least at the level. Sandals and shorts are generally discouraged for guests or performers. At a comedy club the apparel of the crowd is less important. As long as you are comfortable and not distracting you are fine.
Comedians should always try to dress the part. Stand up comedy clothing varies by comedian. When we think of comedians we think of Jerry Seinfeld in a suit, Eddie Murphy in an all leather jump suit, or Louis CK in a black t-shirt and jeans. All of these are acceptable clothing for performing stand up comedy. There are however some clothing items that are not acceptable on stage.
A comedian should dress to be comfortable while not distracting from their material. that being said here are things you should avoid wearing on stage.
- Dirty, wrinkled, or ripped clothing.
- Baggy, ill-fitting clothes.
- Gym clothes.
- Flip-flops or sandals.
- Tuxedos – there is such a thing as overkill.
- Shorts.
As long as your cloths are clean, well fitting, and help bring across your comedy style and comedic voice you can wear whatever you want. Just keep in mind if you wear wild colors or over the top costumes your act better be able to grab the audience as much as your clothes will.
What to Wear On Stage
Stand up comedy is one of the toughest gigs in entertainment. A comedian stands before a room full of strangers from all different walks of life, and must get at least two-thirds of that crowd to laugh. It is very easy for some jerk to ruin the show, even unintentionally. Unlike most many contemporary night clubs, a comedy club needs to keep a high degree of order to deliver an enjoyable show. Stand up comedy is theater without a fourth wall.
There are many schools of thought on what is appropriate to wear on stage and the answer really depends on your act. Kevin Hart and Jerry Seinfeld won’t dress the same because their acts are different. No matter your act you should be aware that your clothing makes a huge impression on the crowd. If you talk about being a slob and dress in a suit it makes it less believable but if you talk about looking down on people and wear a suit, well we can all believe you.
Stand-up used to be exclusively suit and tie for both comic and audience for the most part of early comedy. In 1970’s comedians like George Carlin changed it up and wore common fashion styles of the day on stage. Street clothing is now the norm, but that is no excuse to look unkempt or weird. Here are some suggestions to look sharp and classy at a comedy club:
- Clothes that are well fitting and in good repair.
- A clean pair of jeans, khakis or dress pants.
- A clean single color t-shirt, bowling shirt, polo/golf shirt, or button down shirt. Word of logos can be distracting.
- A full suit may be appropriate but most likely not needed, unless you are Jerry Seinfeld or John Mulaney.
In other words, dress within your brand, but not in a way that is distracting. If your act is solid, you want your jokes to speak for themselves. And leave the unnecessarily loud clothing to the tourists watching you.
Why What You Wear On Stage Matters
The first thing the audience notices before you ever say a word is how you are dressed. You want the audience to know that you are taking the performance seriously by the way you are dressed.
Ultimately, you don’t want your clothing to be distracting. Unlike other art forms, comedy requires the audience’s attention. Any time the audience is thinking about anything else you’re going to lose them and their laughter. Their mind might wonder off for only a few seconds, but if you say a piece of important information in your setup they won’t get the punch line. So if your shirt has a clever phrase on it that audience members will be trying to read while you do your setup you can bet they will miss the punchline and you will lose laughter. You should be funny, not your clothing.
Another unwritten rule of dressing for stand up is “Don’t wear shorts on stage.” Comedy clubs want to put on a professional show and they tend to look down on even brand new comedians who walk on stage wearing shorts. If you’re walking on stage at a comedy club always wear pants.In the same vein no one should see more of your boy then your arms, hands and face. If they see anymore of you on stage they will not be thinking about what you are saying but rather looking at your feet or hairy legs which again negates laughter.
How to Be a Comedian: Dressing The Part
Whenever you are performing it is always a good idea to dress one-step above the audience. Ideally, you want to be dressed a little better than the audience is dressed. But don’t dress up too much. The only thing more distracting then someone wearing a wrinkly shirt and shorts with hair that looks like he just crawled out of bed is a guy dressed in a tuxedo and top hat. Both are distracting in equal but different ways.
Try to always be the best version of you on stage. If you’re a mess on stage, it’s fine to dress like like a messy person but make sure your dress matches your stage presence. What you wear reflects yourself and the club, so always remember to respect the stage.
If you wear a hat on stage you should know that it will cover part or all of your face. Comedy stages do not accommodate for hats and the lights will cast a shadow on your face. Having a shadow on your face can make you lose the ability to be expressive and cause a loss in laughter.
Dressing provocative or sexy is always a bad bet. If you want to get dates wear that to the dance club not the comedy club. If you have cut off shirts, low cut tops or shirts that have phrases on them they should be avoided being worn on stage. Do you want people ogling your body and shirt slogan or do you want them focusing on your jokes?
This goes for sports teams, political slogans or anything that could polarize and audience. Unless the clothing is part of your act, something polarizing or political could make the audience not be willing to even hear you out.
Dress like you’re going to work, because you are. Sure, some people roll off their couch and go to perform on comedy shows. But if you were going to work wouldn’t you think about what you’re wearing beforehand? Then why don’t you when you’re going there to perform? As they say, dress for the job you want, not the job you have.
Find a look that works for your style and comedic voice, and stick to it. Comedians always talk about finding their “voice” but what about your look? Much like your comedic voice, your look can change throughout our career. However, once you find a style that compliments your set and makes you feel comfortable, you will find that you can be yourself on stage and make the laugh come easier.
Comedy should be treated lie a job or career because if you want to make money it should be your focus. Dress properly for your comedy career, it doesn’t have to be a suit or and expensive outfit but it should’t be your pajamas or gym gear. Earn the audiences respect with your clothing and you will earn their laughter.