She honed the materials, and her second performance was better. Some people laughed. By the third time, almost every gag worked out, and she then received an invitation to perform from Beijing Talk Show Club.

Since then she has done more than 100 commercial shows at various venues, including bars, pubs and colleges. There is usually an audience of 50 to 70 people who come and listen to her observations on life.

"I'm after meaningful lines. Laughing is a physical reaction but I hope those in the audience laugh out loud in a heartfelt way."

As one of the few women in the lineup in Beijing she now has three years' experience, but her quiet reserve means that her onstage antics are unknown to many of those who are closest to her.

"Few of my friends know I'm a comic actress, and in fact my parents don't even know."

She is jealous of her privacy, requesting that for this article only her stage name be used, and asks show hosts not to reveal the identity of her employer, for fear that someone from the university will be in the audience and her secret will be exposed.

"In her, quietness and humor walk side-by-side," says Xi Jiangyue, founder of Beijing Talk Show Club. "That's her edge. She cracks great jokes and calmly waits for the reaction."

Xiao herself believes that her reserved nature may be a powerful ingredient that contributes to her success.

"Perhaps timidity enables me to observe life more deeply," she says.

However, as with most live performers in any genre, nervousness is a constant in her routine.

"I've performed more than 100 times, and I still get nervous at times."

An audience member once complimented her on her smooth delivery and the power of her jokes, "but you are just too nervous", he said.

"Making an audience laugh is not like doing sports," Xiao says. "It isn't relaxing; it's challenging."

Asked if she would like to be a full-time comedian and paid quite a bit more, she replies that she definitely would. The earnings from each gig she does now are modest, between 200 yuan and 300 yuan (about $38), and Xiao has her feet firmly on the ground, saying she never dreams of fame and fortune.

"I am happy doing what I am interested in, and that's enough."

For the moment comedy "just makes life a little more precious".

Related:

Grains, leaves and the power of humor