Solo performances

Shi said there is still a lack of comedians in China capable of performing solo onstage.

However, Mao Dong, 31, has been doing so for the past two years.

He names his act Mostly Harmless, and his jokes address young white-collar workers' concerns such as how to handle relations with parents who hold traditional values, achieving a work-life balance, and dealing with taxi drivers and deliverymen.

Mao said: "When you're onstage, you expose your negative emotions and vulnerability to your audience. This is important to me, as I can show another side of my personality when I have a microphone in hand, which I don't usually reveal in everyday life."

Inspired by Western standup comics, Mao became involved in open-mic nights five years ago, when he started a clothing business in Shanghai.

"The business didn't go well at the time and I was on edge," he said.

"I was thinking that all the anxiety and pressure could push me in another direction, where I could really focus. However, I lost my self-discipline after quitting my job, and the lease on the apartment I rented was also about to expire."

The turning point for Mao came when a standup comedy open-mic competition was held in Shanghai.

"I won the competition and felt that I could perform this type of comedy. My confidence came flooding back," he said.

In August 2018, Mao arrived in Beijing, and two months later he landed a job with a leading Chinese internet company. A comedy club also offered him the chance to perform part-time standup.

In December 2018, he embarked on two jobs, working from 10 am to 6 pm in an office, while performing in front of an audience from 7 pm to 9 pm.

"Performing onstage, you have to express yourself, which includes describing your anger and problems," Mao said.

"Different from other art forms, standup comedy attaches great importance to self-expression, so it gives you a sense of pleasure and fulfillment that other forms can't."

Mao is usually booked for five or six performances each week, including a solo show and gigs where he shares the stage with other comics.

"Creating jokes is not a challenge for me, but I'm worried that after delivering the punch lines I've written, the jokes will flop with audiences," he said.

However, such awkward moments are rare occurrences for Mao, who values his audiences highly, viewing them as friends, not fans.