How to Tell Your Family You’re Doing Stand-Up (And That It’s Not a Phase)
So, you’ve fallen head over heels for stand-up comedy. You’ve stood under the harsh glow of a single spotlight, told jokes to five strangers (and two of them laughed!), and now your Notes app is a graveyard of punchlines and half-formed setups.
You’ve caught the bug. And now comes the next terrifying challenge: telling your family.
If you come from a conservative, religious, or just deeply practical background, saying “I’m a comedian” can sound like “I’ve joined the circus, but without the job security.” Whether your family expected you to go into law, medicine, or “something stable with benefits,” breaking the news that you want to chase laughs in dingy bars might cause a few raised eyebrows—or full-blown interventions.
But fear not, baby comic. Here’s how to tell your family you're doing stand-up—and that no, it’s not just a phase—without triggering a family group text of doom.
1. Start Simple: Ease Into It
You don’t have to open with, “I’ve found my life’s calling and it involves jokes about airline peanuts.” Start with something like:
“I’ve been doing a little stand-up comedy on the side.”
No one freaks out over “on the side.” It sounds harmless. Like salsa. From there, you can build toward “I have a tight five on dating apps and church camp.”
2. Practice Your Delivery (Like It’s a Set)
This is your toughest crowd yet, and they’ve seen you cry over math homework and wear a retainer. So, rehearse what you’re going to say. Stay calm. If someone hits you with, “What about a real job?”, smile and say, “Stand-up is real—it’s just paid in drink tickets and character growth.”
Bonus: if you make them laugh, you’ve already won.
3. Let Them In on the Why
Sometimes, people just need to understand where your heart is. Tell them what you love about stand-up—how it makes you feel alive, how it helps you connect with people, or how it’s cheaper than therapy (but with more applause).
Show them it’s not a rebellion. It’s an expression. A craft. A calling. A glorious, messy, hilarious one.
4. Invite Them to See You Perform (Eventually)
Once you’ve got a little confidence under your belt, invite them to a show where the lighting works and the crowd isn’t just other comics pretending to listen. Seeing you in your element—making strangers laugh—can be way more convincing than any heartfelt speech.
Plus, there’s something magical about your family watching strangers laugh at your jokes. It helps them understand: This is real.
5. It’s Not About Permission—It’s About Pride
You don’t need a green light to be funny. But including your family in this new part of your life? That can be powerful. Give them a chance to cheer you on. Or at the very least, gently tolerate you while you chase your weird and wonderful dream.
Final Thought:
You’re brave. You’re creative. You’re stepping into one of the hardest, most rewarding things a person can do: making people laugh. And yes, your family might be confused at first—but that’s okay. Confusion often turns into curiosity, and curiosity can turn into support.
Stay patient. Stay grounded. And if all else fails… just remind them:
“Hey, at least I’m not starting a podcast.”
P.S. If your grandma asks, “Do you tell clean jokes?” you can smile sweetly and say, “Only the ones about you, Nana.”
Then give her a wink. She’ll love it.
🎤💖 Keep shining, baby comic.
