Humor U: Standup comedy club brings laughter to BYU

Humor U is one of the three comedy clubs on the Brigham Young University campus, best known for its student run standup comedy.

The club meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Maeser Building auditorium. The group is open to students interested in comedy.

Usually we spend some time writing material, then we pitch it to each other, and we help each other develop our jokes to the best that they can be, Maxwell Pierce, a BYU student and Humor U club member, said.

Humor U also hosts free live performances each month, giving audiences a chance to enjoy their work. In recent semesters, the club has experimented with new ways to spread the word and new event formats in hopes of helping more students get involved.

Most recently, the club held its first-ever BYU Talks, a twonight event on March 6-7 where members presented humorous slideshow-style skits on a variety of topics.

Many of the clubs members including the presidency perform in the shows. Several said they joined because someone invited them to a meeting or performance.

Annie Waite, a BYU geography major and Humor Us president, said she joined after a friend encouraged her to try it out.

I quickly realized how low the bar really was, Waite said. Comedians tell jokes that don't always land and they make mistakes, and I think that was actually very inviting for me to then come in with no experience.

Waite said that because she naturally tries to make people laugh in conversation, stepping into the clubs environment felt like a natural fit.

For many members, taking the leap to perform for the first time is both nerveracking and rewarding.

Overcoming that hurdle of doing the first show and listening to people actually laugh at the jokes that helped my confidence and helped me overcome a lot of my stage fright, Emily Perry, a BYU student majoring in editing and publishing, said.

For many students, Humor U becomes more than just a place to practice jokes its a space to grow and connect with others.

Students who participate come with different hobbies, interests and personalities, which helps make the club unique and inviting for anyone who wants to be involved.

I would hope that they see how much fun we have and how much friendship there is in the club, because it is also a social space too, Waite said.

Even if you're a shy person like me, who's not necessarily outwardly confident, you can do something like this, Perry added.

Whether someone has always been interested in comedy, enjoys watching stand-up or has friends encouraging them to try it, Humor U offers a space to get involved.