2nd Gig in my Hometown in front of family/pals

Hi all,

I've been a big fan of stand-up for a long time and have always enjoyed performing (acting/presenting). Recently, at the start of the year I went to watch a friend of mine do his first gig and he did really well, that then inspired me to give it ago myself. I spent a few months writing and performed my first gig in Lichfield last month. It went ok, the audience laughed more at me messing up than some of my gags and my delivery was off etc (everything you'd expect from a first gig).

Anyway, my friend has recently organised a comedy night in my local town and invited me to perform. I couldn't pass up the opportunity as there isn't an abundance of open mic nights that close to me and I know how important it is to just get up there as often as I can.

However, my friends and family will be at the gig. So I feel that it's a little added pressure and everything I've read people talk about it being detrimental to invite people you know.

What are your thoughts on this? Also, any other advice you have for somebody doing gig 2 is much appreciated.

Thanks,
Adam

For my first 2 gigs, I had family and friends in the audience. I hate public speaking and get really bad nerves (that led to me quitting stand-up after only half a dozen gigs), so having them there helped me rather than hindered me.

So for me personally, there was less pressure rather than more, as I was playing to a semi-friendly crowd which really helped.

My third gig was in front of 10 people, half of which were the other comics onthe bill, and my fourth gig was as the last man on at a gong show in front 300 very drunk people. All ver different experiences, but all useful in their own way.