In a world of stress and pressure, it’s important to find a healthy release. For me, it’s stand up comedy. I love stand up. Bill Hicks, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Chris Rock, Mitch Hedberg, Russell Peters, Dave Chappelle are some of my favorites. Go and check out YouTube for great stand up.
For the last couple of years, I have been the host in Shanghai for ChopSchticks - founded by Richard Robinson in the late 90s - and have been lucky to see first hand how stand up comedians operate and what motivates them. My admiration for stand up has increased. It’s not just about the jokes. The best ones know how to adapt to an audience. The headline acts can turn around even a quiet night and get people rolling with laughter. The main skills is the timing of delivery. The punchline or punch word need to be done precisely. It is an art.
I recommend you go visit a comedy club at least once every couple of months. Laughing for an hour is really good for you. If you are in China come to ChopSchticks. Check out the web site here.