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Comedy: Cleaning Up Your Act – Comedy Doesn’t have to be Dirty to be Funny

Defining clean comedy can be quite a challenge, since 'clean' is relative. As a general description, clean comedy is basically an act that doesn't involve offensive themes and language or subjects generall considered obscene or disturbing.

Is it clean enough?
Of course, defining what is offensive and what isn't will depend on your audience. Some audiences will have no problems with mean acts, namecalling, violent themes and sexual content, but some audiences might find certain jokes distasteful.

Clean comedy need not be boring. On the contrary, many comedians have built successful careers as clean acts. Dirty jokes aim to shock and surprise and can be brutal in their humor while clean jokes can nudge the audience towards humor without grabbing at their hair, so to speak.

Where do I tell my jokes?
If you think you'll miss out on certain gigs because your comedy act is clean, you're not looking hard enough. Clean comedians are quite in demand in corporate and collegiate events, where they are either the main act or the host. And the pay isn’t shabby either. Some bookings for the experienced clean comedians start at $1000, with some even going to as high as $10,000.

It's also not true that comedy clubs shy away from clean comedy acts. The most number of comedians who get more work are those with clean routines. There are plenty of clubs and booking companies who advertise their openings specifically for clean comedians.

Another place where you can tell your jokes is through your writing. Clean, original jokes are also in high demand for radio and TV. If you can write well, you could even moonlight as a gag writer or start a career as a sitcom writer.

How do I learn how to be funny without being dirty?
Watch the experts and try to stay away from cable TV when you do. Better stick to network TV programs which regularly host clean comedy acts, especially on late-night shows. Not ALL of it may be clean, but since TV shows are edited, you'll get the feel of it.

Practice your routine on a test crowd – your mom and dad, your sisters, your friends, people who can give you honest feedback. They can honestly tell you whether your act is clean or not. Of course, it will help if they're not too acclimated to harsh jokes.

Test run your jokes at a comedy club. This is the best way to know whether your joke is clean or not. If some jokes elicit adverse reaction, then remove them from your routine.

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