Rolling with the punches

Mocking hardship

Another comic, Fan Yingning, 25, finds that performing stand-up comedy also offers an effective means to overcome negative emotions.

"I used to repress my emotions and tried to look happy and carefree, whereas now the comedy has offered me a process of catharsis where I can voice my disgruntled emotions in an amusing way," says Fan.

The graduate from the China University of Geosciences often draws from personal experience to flesh out her material, such as people's misunderstanding about her university major and embarrassing moments from her childhood.

"A broad range of experience is an important element of a good standup comic, which is often a shortcoming for young comedy performers like me," she says.

"Everything that you've learned and all the hardships you have suffered will all come in handy at some point in your life," Fan says, quoting British novelist Penelope Fitzgerald, adding that stand-up comedy helps her stay calm in the face of adversity.

For Jing Yan, who has volunteered as a ticket collector at live stand-up shows on more than 20 occasions since October, comedy also provides an emotional outlet for audience members like her.

About three years ago when work was getting on top of her, she started to attend comedy shows to help her relax. On Jan 5, Jing decided to attend a free class offered by a Beijing-based comedy club.

She and the other participants were asked to share a funny story about themselves that had happened recently. It soon became clear, the group discovered, that all the stories revolved around negative feelings such as fear, embarrassment or anger.

"See? Negative feelings are the main source of inspiration for stand-up," says Jing.

"Comedians often poke fun at the things that irritate me, which makes it easier for me to let them go and pursue my own happiness," says the 28-year-old, citing that she became annoyed by her parents' constant calls for her to get married, but one punchline that she heard from a stand-up comedian helped to allay her fears through humor.

"As a passionate fan of stand-up, I think its value lies in how many audience members have been caught up by the contagious happiness in the venue and then learned how to lighten themselves up in everyday life."