When you hear the word “comedian,” what comes to mind? Perhaps an image of a man with thick glasses and a long nose who tells jokes in front of an audience.
Or maybe it’s a woman who makes us laugh by somehow managing to be funny while also being incredibly attractive.
But what about when we hear the word “humorist”? Do you picture someone else with thick glasses? Maybe someone who wears khaki shorts instead of jeans?
If so, then this article is for you, as we see the comparison between these two personalities; Humorist vs. Comedian: What is the difference?
Responsibilities of Humorists Vs. Comedians
Humorist
Humorists are largely writers. They look for humor in natural situations, which people usually take for granted. Many have gone on to work in radio, while others may regularly write newspaper articles for syndication, like Dave Berry.
Some humorists often augment their work with oral presentations at colleges or conventions. They are rarely seen in comedy clubs because they are not conducive to the humorist’s finer work.
Duties
- Use the written word to use humor as they see it
- Create radio scripts, newspaper articles, or novels using humor
- Perform some of their work for the audience
- Preview work before publication or performance
Comedian
Comedians perform in front of an audience and use humor to elicit laughter. Comedians usually work with some kind of gimmick, whether it’s props, a way of dressing, or creating a character.
They take their own life events and somewhat distort them for humor and laughs with a punchline.
Duties
- Make jokes about life events or everyday situations
- Find humor in politics or world events
- Practice gags using props or costumes
- Stay in the know about events and what people find fun
- Collaborate with other comedians, directors, and writers
Humorist Vs. Comedian: What Is the Difference?
Humorists and comedians work very hard at their craft. Humorists find the humor in something and use it to tell a story that can be addressed in a story, screenplay, or article.
Their writing will normally deal with larger themes, and the humor comes in realizing irony or over-exaggeration.
On the other hand, Comedians work to create jokes that will bring instant laughs. Comedians want you to laugh at their lines and sometimes every third or fourth line in their shows.
They will use lines, props, costumes, and an emotional face to create laughter.
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Humorist Vs. Comedian: Job Description Difference
Humorists are more likely to comment on everyday life rather than focus on a particular event or topic. Their jokes are usually sprinkled throughout an article or speech, but the main focus is on the story itself.
Comedians tend to make jokes about topics that they know will get laughs from their audience members.
For example, when comedian Jerry Seinfeld told his friend, “What do you want? A joke!” he was referring back to an earlier joke where he’d said that comedians should be able to make people laugh about anything, as long as it’s funny.
Comedians are more likely to poke fun at pop culture, political events, and current affairs. Humorists focus on everyday life. Comedians may use current events as a starting point for their jokes.
At the same time, humorists might choose an iconic moment from pop culture history or an obscure fact about themselves to use as the spark for their material.
Humorists often use irony, sarcasm, and other forms of wordplay to make their point. This can be a more subtle form of humor than comedians because it doesn’t rely on loud or outrageous statements.
For example, a humorist might say, “My husband left me for the mailman! That’s right, and he left me for the mailman!”
A comedian might say: “I don’t want no more kids! They’re too much work. Kids are too much work all around.”
The difference between these two jokes is that one is funny and the other isn’t funny; however, both have an underlying message about how we treat our loved ones.
Comedians and humorists can sometimes use humor as a way of getting across a serious message. For example, comedian Sarah Silverman has used her comedy routines to criticize Israel and promote anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.
In one routine, she loosely paraphrases Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf with lines like “If you don’t like Jews, then fuck off back to Poland where they belong.”
In contrast to these examples are comedians who choose not to make political statements and avoid any kind of controversial topic or issue altogether by choosing instead honed-in personal stories that focus on the simple absurdity of life in general.
A humorist’s jokes are usually sprinkled throughout an article or speech, but the main focus is on the story itself. Humorists tend to be more subtle than comedians, who prefer a less direct style.
They may use puns, wordplay, and irony as tools for humor and dramatic situations or characters in their stories.
If you’re a comedian, your entire career is built around making people laugh. You are paid to entertain and make people feel good about themselves through laughter.
Comedians often work in clubs and bars where they can interact with the audience on stage and off of it, like in stand-up comedy routines or host game shows. In addition to being funny on stage, many comedians also have their own TV shows.
These programs allow them to bring their unique brand of humor into homes across America daily. As a general rule, humorists tend to take longer to get to the punchline of their jokes.
Comedians are likelier to get back on track with a quick-witted joke or two before getting into the main routine. Both types can be funny in their own way and do well at making people laugh.
Humorist Vs. Comedian: Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a Humorist with a bachelor’s degree can make $33.42 per hour for all writers, with a 9% job growth from 2020-2030.
On the other hand, a comedian with nothing but a high school diploma can make $17.96 per hour for all entertainers, with a 15% job growth.
FAQ
What Is An American Humorist?
A humourist (British) or humorist (American) is a person who uses Humor in public speaking or writing but not mainly to elicit laughter.
Humorists are different from comedians, who are show business entertainers who aim to make an audience laugh.
How Would You Describe A Comedy?
A play, film, etc., of a light and humorous nature with a happy or cheerful ending; a dramatic work whose central motif is victory over adverse circumstances, resulting in a successful or happy conclusion.
How Do You Say, Humorist?
Break the “humorist” down into sounds: [HYOO] + [MUH] + [RIST]; exaggerate the sounds until you can produce them consistently.
Why Is It Called A Comedy?
The Greeks and Romans limited their use of the word “comedy” to descriptions of plays with happy endings.
Aristotle defined comedy as the imitation of men worse than the average (whereas tragedy was the imitation of men better than the average).
What Are The Three Characteristics Of Comedy?
Characteristics of comedy. There are as many characteristics of comedy as strategies for making someone laugh.
Common characteristics of comedy include its use of language that ranges from the vernacular to puns and puns, its use of taboo subjects, and its use of paradox and juxtaposition.
What Are The Main Features Of The Comedy Of Humor?
A comedy of Humor is a dramatic comedy that focuses on a character or series of characters, each exhibiting two or more overriding traits or “humor” that dominate their personalities, desires, and behaviors.
What Is The Closest Synonym For The Word Humorous?
Synonyms for “in a fearful tone”: apprehensive, apprehensive timid, showing fear and lack of confidence.
Has Any Comedian Ever Won An Oscar?
Arkin has cornered the market for playing sage-like characters with a dry wit and a big heart. And it probably all started with his Oscar-winning role as Grandpa Sunshine for BSA. This is a career’s best work and less-is-more acting in all its resonance.
Who Invented Humor Comedy?
Humorous comedy is a dramatic genre most associated with late 16th-century English playwright Ben Jonson.
Who Is The First Comedy?
The 11 extant plays of Aristophanes represent the earliest set of comic drama; what is known of Greek ancient comedy is derived from these plays, the earliest of which, the Acharnes, was produced in 425 BC.
Conclusion
Humorist Vs. Comedians: While these two have many similarities, humourists and comedians have some differences, as stated in this article.
If you want to become a great comedian, then practice makes perfect. With that said, though, we do recommend listening to great comedians like David Letterman, who never seems comfortable with his job yet always puts on a great show.
People love having fun, and making them laugh is a triple bonus, so whether you choose the job of a humorist or comedian, we hope this article has given you a head start.