A technique I developed quite naturally to help me make smooth transitions was to use a word or phrase from the next routine in the preceding one.

When you take a pause before delivering your punch line, you will be using silence as a creative entity in itself.

Don't try to give a funny opinion; give your opinion in a way that will be funny.

In addition to listening to the audience's laugh, you want to listen to their silence. Is it bored or interested silence? The silence is quieter and filled with energy when they're interested. You can hear a pin drop. When they're bored, you can always hear it.

You must study their deliveries, their use of their bodies, their timing, and their use of audio and vocal effects.

An aspiring comedian must be determined to get to his or her true feelings on a subject and convey that to the audience. Figure out what you're feeling or interested in because the goal is to get the audience interested in what you're interested in. Good stand up comedy is drawing people into your head.

Originality is never embraced as quickly as the commonplace.