Great comedy often looks effortless on stage, but building a career requires reserves of perseverance and a capacity for hard work.
The smaller line-up shows (typically featuring several comedians, each performing for a few minutes) may be unglamorous and often take place in locations ill-suited to comedy. But they serve an invaluable role in helping comedians get comfortable on stage and refine their work. While a writer or visual artist may get their 10,000 hours before ever entering the public sphere, comedians simply have to do the work in public to get good.
