Be tenacious. Get as much stage time as possible.
I'm not a standup, but I play one on TV.
I'm a liberal inside a liberal's body.
I played Liddy Dole last year and met her as well. From the artful way she phrased it, I still don't know if she had actually seen me play her. She made it sound like it was good, but that's just a gift they have.
I always loved comedy but I didn't start formally until I was in college.