Stand-up comedy is the ultimate of narcissism. As practitioners of the art, we demand that you not only see us and hear us, but that you pay careful attention and, most importantly, assure us that we did well.

“Getting your name in lights,” as cliché as that sounds, is the ultimate ego stroke for a stand-up comic. Sure, standing ovations are awesome (and always welcomed), but only the people in the show can see that. Your “name in lights” tells the entire world that, just for this one night, you have worth. Well, at least it tells the part of the world that isn’t blind and/or illiterate.

It is especially nice when