We’ve all been there – sitting between sets at the gym, watching the social dynamics unfold around us. What started as a simple people-watching session turned into an unexpected epiphany about the surprising parallels between physical fitness and comedic performance.
So, here’s the story.
I was at the gym yesterday, people-watching between sets, as one does. This guy was rotating between three machines like he was speed-dating gym equipment. One set here, one set there, no commitment.
And I thought – he’s a gym f*ckboy. If he can’t commit to one machine, how can he commit to one person?
I chuckled. Wrote it down. Gotta test it on the stage. But it got me thinking.
Stand-up comedy is basically going to the gym in disguise.
Put in the Reps
You can hire a trainer. Buy the fancy supplements. Even follow 12 different fitness influencers on TikTok.
But at some point… you gotta pick up the weight.
Same with comedy. I can hire a coach, take a writing course, binge every Netflix special, but if I don’t get on stage, none of it matters.
There’s no shortcut. No magic formula. Just reps.
Don’t Rush the Process
No one hits the gym once and walks out looking like The Rock.
No one does one open mic and becomes Chappelle.
You show up. You suck. You keep going.
Progress is invisible – until it’s not.
Consistency is Everything
Miss a few gym sessions? You feel it.
Miss a few mics? You feel that too – in your timing, your rhythm, your confidence.
Whether it’s your punchlines or your push-ups, it’s about showing up.
So yeah, turns out writing jokes and lifting weights are weirdly alike.
Both are slow. Both are painful. Both make me question every life choice I’ve made.
But hey – that’s growth, right?
Conclusion
The next time you’re grinding through another set of reps or bombing on stage for the hundredth time, remember the gym f*ckboy.
His lack of commitment serves as a reminder that real growth – whether physical or comedic – comes from dedication, consistency, and the willingness to embrace the uncomfortable process of improvement.
Sometimes the best material comes from the most unexpected places, and sometimes the most profound truths are hiding in plain sight between gym sets.