I used to be an actor and drama major, so as a high school English teacher, I often joke that I do five shows a day.
Back in Los Angeles in the late 80s, I had a friend who was a stand-up comedian. He’d take me to all his gigs, and we’d hang out in dark clubs, laughing and talking with the other comedians—some of whom would become household names within a decade. It was an electric time.
What I didn’t expect was that those nights in the clubs—those moments watching comics work a crowd—would end up being some of the best teacher training I’d ever receive.
Here’s why: comedians often perform multiple shows a night. Same material. Totally different audience energy. Sound familiar?
Every class period has its own rhythm, its own mood, its own crowd. Great teachers, like great comics, learn to read the room, ride the wave, and adjust in real time.
That’s the magic of what we do in the classroom. That’s the art. You might have the same material each period, but your ability to adjust to the rhythm of the current audience can set you apart and help show your students who you really are as a person.
The ability to anticipate, adapt, and even incorporate what your students give you—emotionally, energetically, behaviorally—is one of the most underrated skills in teaching.
Want to see it in action? Watch a Netflix comedy special. Scroll through a few TikToks of your favorite stand-up. There’s wisdom there.
And as a bonus, it’s a lot of fun.
I’ll always be grateful to those comedians for teaching me to be a better teacher. TZT