Is a career in comedy becoming more common?

Today there are many more professional comedians and aspiring comics, and many more comedy clubs that host several performances each week. Thus, a career in comedy may be less unusual and peripheral than it once was. To better understand what is going on, I used more modern tools to assess comedians’ relationships with their parents.

Why do comedians perform on stage?

Comedians’ performance on stage, in this view, comes as a defense or compensation mechanism for their melancholy lives, whereby they attempt to channel feelings of anger and anxiety into their comedy act and seek the love of the audiences.

Are comedians more preoccupied with themes of good and evil?

One study that have been conducted 30 years ago found that compared to a control group of professional actors and other entertainers, comedians were more preoccupied with themes of good and evil in their responses to interviews and projective tests.

Are comedians from a low socioeconomic stratum?

Early research showed that comedians are likely to come from a low socioeconomic stratum with approximately 80-85\% of comedians coming from low socioeconomic homes. The harsh conditions at home may explain why comedians went on to pursue their career. One of the commentators on my previous post explains why this might happen.

How competitive is stand-up comedy?

Stand-up comedy is a very competitive field with little job security. You might be considered a great comedian today, but nothing guarantees that the audience will love you tomorrow. Or next month. Each performance on stage is unique with its own interaction with the crowd.

How long does it take a comedian to live off of comedy?

It might take an average of 10-15 years for a comedian to be able to live off of comedy alone. And they have to do all of this without union support, as there is no guild for comedians.