Stand-up comedy

George Carlin performing in 2008

Stand-up comedy is an art form that involves a stand-up comic and an audience. Comics perform on a stage and deliver humorous and satirical monologues, sometimes incorporating physical acts (act outs). These performances are typically composed of tightly crafted sets or acts, and often include varying degrees of live crowd interaction (crowdwork). Stand-up comedy consists of one-liners, stories, observations, or shticks that can employ props, music, impressions, dialects, magic tricks, or ventriloquism.

Performances can take place in various venues, including comedy clubs, comedy festivals, bars, nightclubs, colleges, casino showrooms, or theaters. During the COVID-19 pandemic, comics performed using video conferencing tools, on social media, on rooftops, parking lots and other open-air locations.