Skip to content
ESCO occupation

stand-up comedian

Back to ESCO occupations

Stand-up comedians tell humorist stories, jokes and one-liners typically described as a monologue, act or routine. They often perform in comedy clubs, bars, nightclubs and theatres. They may also use music, magic tricks or props to enhance their performance.

2659.2.4 ISCO 2659 ESCO source
Competences
25
Groups
3
Essential
19
Optional
6

Competences and skills

25 ESCO relations
Essential knowledge 1 competence

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Cross-sector

1 competence
acting techniques

The different acting techniques for developing lifelike performances, such as method acting, classical acting, and Meisner technique.

ESCO source
Essential skills and competences 18 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

10 competences
act for an audience

Act in front of an audience, according to an artistic concept.

ESCO source
create an artistic performance

Create an artistic performance by combining elements such as singing, dancing, acting, or all of them together.

ESCO source
engage the audience emotionally

Create an emotional connection with the audience through your performance. Engage the audience with sadness, humour, anger, any other emotion, or a combination thereof, and let them share your experience.

ESCO source
follow time cues

Observe the conductor, orchestra or director and follow text and vocal score to time cues accurately.

ESCO source
perform live

Perform in front of live audiences.

ESCO source
study roles from scripts

Study and rehearse roles from scripts. Interpret, learn and memorise lines, stunts, and cues as directed.

ESCO source
tell a story

Tell a true or ficticious story so as to engage an audience, having them relate with the characters in the story. Keep the audience interested in the story and bring your point, if any, across.

ESCO source
use declaiming techniques

Speak for an audience with the expression of rhythm and vocal technique. Take care that articulation and voice projection are appropriate to the character or text. Make sure that you are heard without compromising your health: prevent fatigue and vocal strain, breathing problems and vocal cord problems.

ESCO source
work independently as an artist

Develop one's own ways of doing artistic performances, motivating oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

ESCO source
work with an artistic team

Work closely with directors, fellow actors and playwrights to find the ideal interpretation to a role.

ESCO source

Cross-sector

8 competences
analyse own performance

Understand, analyse and describe your own performance. Contextualize your work in one or various styles, trends, evolution, etc. Self-evaluate your work in rehearsals and performances.

ESCO source
attend rehearsals

Attend rehearsals in order to adapt sets, costumes, make-up, lighting, camera set up, etc.

ESCO source
follow directions of the artistic director

Follow the instructions of the director while understanding his creative vision.

ESCO source
interact with an audience

Respond to the reactions of an audience and involve them in the particular performance or communication.

ESCO source
interact with fellow actors

Perform together with other actors. Anticipate their moves. React to their actions.

ESCO source
keep up with trends

Monitor and follow new trends and developments in specific sectors.

ESCO source
manage feedback

Provide feedback to others. Evaluate and respond constructively and professionally to critical communication from colleagues and customers.

ESCO source
show professional responsibility

Ensure that other workers and clients are treated with respect and that appropriate civil liability insurance is in place at all times of instructing.

ESCO source
Optional skills and competences 6 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

6 competences
develop magic show concepts

Develop the different components (e.g. musical, visual, lighting, magic content etc.) of a magic show.

ESCO source
perform dances

Perform in artistic productions of differents disciplines such as classical ballet, modern dance, contemporary dance, early dance, ethnic dance, folk dance, acrobatic dances and street dance.

ESCO source
perform for young audiences

Perform on a level accessible to children and young adults, whilst also censoring unadvisable content.

ESCO source
play musical instruments

Manipulate purpose-built or improvised instruments to produce musical sounds.

ESCO source
practice humour

Share humourous expressions with audience, eliciting laughter, surprise, other emotions, or a combination thereof.

Scope note
Humourous expressions may take the form of jokes, oneliners, slapstick, stories, or other forms.
ESCO source
sing

Use the voice to produce musical sounds, marked by tone and rhythm.

ESCO source

Cross-sector

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.