As comedians, we’re constantly crafting and refining jokes, and in today’s social media-driven world, it is expected of us from producers, bookers, fellow comics, and even prospective attendees to share our stand-up content online. But posting stand-up jokes can also be risky—it might “burn” material that you’d want to keep fresh for live shows, or it might give away a punchline that works better in person. So, what do we do?
Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of posting stand-up content online, along with some recommendations for what to post (and what you might want to keep under wraps).
Posting Jokes vs. Keeping Them Fresh for the Stage
When you post a joke online, you’re effectively giving it to the world. It’s no longer an exclusive part of your live set, and it may not hit as hard with audiences who’ve already seen it on social media. Plus, as people share, remix, and retweet, it can quickly lose its impact. This is known as “burning” material—when a joke is overexposed, making it less effective in live shows.
On the flip side, posting jokes online is a fantastic and often necessary way to build your brand, reach new audiences, and show people what you’re capable of. It truly is a content creator's economy. The key is finding the balance between sharing enough to keep people engaged without giving away your best material. Fortunately, there are ways to do both.
Pros | Cons |
Increased Visibility: Expands your audience reach globally. | Material Exposure: Jokes may lose their freshness if fans see them online before live shows. |
Engages Fans: Keeps your audience engaged between live shows. | Risk of Theft: Other comedians may copy or adapt your material. |
Builds Personal Brand: Showcases your style and personality to attract bookings. | Out-of-Context Misinterpretation: Short clips may lack context, leading to potential backlash. |
Promotes Shows: Serves as a teaser for upcoming performances. | Overexposure: Frequent posting may make your material feel less special. |
Attracts Industry Attention: Can lead to opportunities with managers, bookers, or agents. | Quality Control: Poorly edited or low-quality clips may harm your image. |
Engages Algorithms: Social media favors video content, increasing your discoverability. | Audience Pigeonholing: Clips might typecast you into a particular comedic style or theme. |
Feedback Opportunity: Provides insights into what jokes resonate with online audiences. | Online Criticism: Risk of negative comments or trolling. |
Connection with New Fans: People who can’t attend live shows can still become fans. | Platform Dependence: Success may become tied to algorithms or trends you can't control. |
Crowdwork Clips
Crowdwork clips are perfect for posting online because they’re unique, spontaneous, and unlikely to “burn” material. Each interaction with an audience member is a one-time experience, so sharing these clips doesn’t reveal any polished material you might want to save for live sets. Crowdwork also gives audiences a glimpse into your personality and stage presence, which can draw people in and make them want to see more of your work live.
Crowdwork clips tend to perform well online because they showcase improvisational skill and the spontaneity of live comedy. It’s also a great way to engage with new followers who may be interested in your personality and style.
Write One-Off Themed Jokes
Similar to crowdwork clips, which are of-the-moment and related to an unrepeatable interaction with an audience member, themed jokes are a great way to capture a temporary moment with sometimes a high-reward payoff both onstage and online.
If the show has a theme, such as being highly political, super edgy, entirely clean, storytelling of a certain variety, organized around a specific holiday, fundraiser shows, festivals, etc. I try to come up with a few tags on those topics or themes in between longer or more honed "A" or "B" bits. Sometimes they get a big laugh, in which case, it's super relevant to the show and also easily burnable material online. And if they don't, I didn't put my set at risk by having one to three one-liners not land, and am able to rely on the rest of my more polished material.
Seasonal Content
Jokes about seasonal events—holidays, pop culture trends, or even election cycles—are ideal for posting because they have a short shelf life. People enjoy jokes that are timely and relevant to current events, but once the season or event has passed, these jokes lose their impact. By posting seasonal material, you’re capitalizing on the moment and giving your audience a reason to laugh in real-time.
For example, if it’s Halloween season, sharing a clip with a clever take on trick-or-treating or costume culture can be a big hit. Because the joke is time-bound, you don’t risk diminishing its value for future live sets, where it might feel out of place or dated.
Regional Content
If you have a joke that’s hyper-specific to a certain city, venue, or regional culture, posting it online is a good way to reach a local audience without “burning” material for your broader shows. Regional jokes often have limited appeal outside of a specific area, so they’re perfect for engaging your local following without overexposing content that you might want to keep for a national or touring audience.
For instance, if you’ve got a joke about Denver’s obsession with kombucha or New York’s subway chaos, sharing it online can resonate with people who know that culture intimately. But if you take that joke on the road, it may not land the same way with out-of-town crowds, making it ideal for social media rather than live performances.
Short Shelf-life of Relevance
Sometimes, jokes are simply not built to last. If you’ve got material that’s on the verge of becoming outdated—like commentary on a pop culture moment or a passing trend—it can be a smart move to post it online rather than retire it completely. This way, you’re not letting good material go to waste, and you’re able to use it to entertain your online audience in a timely way.
For example, if you wrote jokes about a viral TikTok trend or a recent scandal, those bits might not hold up a month from now. Posting them allows you to capitalize on the moment while it’s fresh, without worrying about losing a long-term piece of your set. When a joke is on the brink of irrelevance, social media can be the perfect outlet.
C-Side Material or “Testing Grounds” Jokes
If you’re developing a new joke but aren’t quite sure if it belongs in your live set yet, consider sharing it online as a “B or C-side” piece. These are jokes that didn’t quite make the cut for your main act but are still entertaining and worth sharing. Posting B-or C-side material lets you experiment with new ideas without feeling like you’re giving away your best work.
Online platforms are also great for testing reactions to new material. If a joke gets good engagement, that’s valuable feedback. If it doesn’t, you haven’t risked bombing in front of a live audience. Just keep in mind that audience feedback online doesn’t always translate to the stage, so use it as a guide rather than a definitive answer.
Behind-The-Scenes Content
Social media audiences love authenticity, and behind-the-scenes content is a great way to keep them engaged without giving away polished jokes. Share clips of your writing process, snippets from the green room, or stories that aren't quite good enough on stage but are good enough for a silly moment talking to the camera. This way, you’re connecting with your audience and giving them insight into your journey without revealing any final product.
Behind-the-scenes moments allow your followers to feel like they’re part of the creative process, help other artists resonate with your work, and can build loyalty and anticipation when seeing you perform live. Plus, it’s a way to remind people that there’s always more to see if they buy a ticket and catch you on stage.
Final Thoughts
The decision to post stand-up jokes is ultimately a personal one. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and the best strategy depends on your style, goals, and audience. The key is to use social media as a tool to showcase your voice while keeping your live performances fresh, exciting, and full of surprises.
If you liked this post or found it helpful, please share it on social media, because apparently all our careers depend on us doing that for each other.
Thanks for reading!
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