Josh James on the Art of Stand-Up and the Pressure to Be Funny

The Steven Sulley Study Podcast

Steven talks to comedian Josh James about the surprising world of stand-up comedy. They discuss the challenges of public speaking, the evolution of Josh's comedic style, and the pressures comedians face in social settings.

Josh shares his journey into comedy, inspired by legends like Billy Connolly, and reflects on tough gigs that shaped his career. Together they also explores the impact of social media on comedians, the nuances of crowd work, and the differences in comedic styles among various performers.

Key Takeaways

• Public speaking can be daunting for many, but with practice and experience, it becomes easier. Josh emphasises that performing stand-up comedy is a skill that improves over time, much like any other job.

• Tough gigs are an essential part of a comedian's growth and can help to shape the performer you become

• Social media can be a double-edged sword for comedians. While it provides a platform for reaching a wider audience, it also exposes them to both positive and negative feedback.

• A comedian's style evolves over time through experience and self-discovery. The best aim to bring their own world to the stage, rather than fitting into a specific comedic category.

BEST MOMENTS

"I can honestly say I've been doing it 10 years now and it's like any job... you go through them times of it going amazing... but then you also go through times of it going terribly."

"You only get better from tough gigs. That's what I've found, you know. And persevering."

"If you think you can do better, why don't you fucking come up here and give it a go yourself?"

"I just feel like I'm being a realist... I just work hard and try and get better every day."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Steven Sulley Study

Josh James - https://www.instagram.com/joshjamesy/

ABOUT THE HOST

The Steven Sulley Study is my take on success. My view is you should have multiple focuses to be a well-rounded individual. Success shouldn’t be just one thing like money, for example, it should also consist of a healthy fit lifestyle and thriving relationships.

As a person who has made successes in life, and also made huge cock-ups, I feel I can offer suggestions and tips on how to become successful, or at least start your pursuit. My ‘Study’ has taken resources from reading and education plus being around, my perception of, successful people - and I know a lot of successful people from all walks of life.

My ‘Study’ coming from my experiences in business, investing, sales (my core background), training, boxing and education has enabled me to become well-rounded and successful and I will help you in these key areas too.

CONTACT METHOD

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