So, you think you’re funny? Are you that guy or girl that’s always cracking jokes, a riot at parties, always ready with a witty comeback or an oddball story to entertain your friends? Student or not, you might be able to make a living doing it.

Hiawatha Rutland did. The former ISU tailback and psychology major decided to put his money where his mouth was and give it a try.

“I always wanted to be an actor – do commercials, that kind of thing,” Rutland said.

“Once I got on stage I didn’t even think about being nervous. I grabbed the mic and just went with it.”

Rutland played his first real gig, a 10-minute set at the Funny Bone

in Des Moines, in 2003. Since then, the 25-year-old has been on stage in places such as St. Louis, Orlando and McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre

in Sarasota, Florida.

Even if people say it’s never easy to break into the entertainment business, it is possible to break into stand-up comedy, even here in Iowa.

“As a comic you just got to get on stage a lot, and in Iowa as a comedian you don’t have to compete with things like professional sports,” Rutland said. “If there’s a comic in town that’s pretty much it, and people are always looking for something to do around here.”

On Thursday, the Bali Satay House put on its first-ever comedy show, the “Laugha Sera,” where “The Hiawatha Rutland” was the headliner of four comics. Armed with nothing but a mic and a head full of jokes, Rutland got the crowd warmed up and won them over with bits about everything from dating to sex to middle-school dances.

“One of the best things about comedy is you get that instant feedback. If they don’t like you, you got to adjust on your feet,” Rutland said.”If they don’t laugh at the punch, go on to the next one. Make sure you have a strong follow up. Tag it, after the punchline tell a quick one-liner to go with it.”

All of the comics at the event were generally well-received. Mike James emceed the event and kicked things off, imparting some wisdom to the college-age crowd about what to expect from the dating world when they’re in their 50s.

Ben Herman riffed on real-life experiences, including his awkward times as the mall Easter bunny. Dannie T professed his love for oral pleasures and explained why fat girls shouldn’t wear halter tops by unbuttoning his shirt and showing off his own.

Rutland drew the biggest applause, with lines like “Does this make me look fat? No, those backflaps make you look fat! It looks like you swallowed a Mickey Mouse hat whole!”

Immature? Sure. Raunchy? Definitely. Flawless, professionally-honed delivery? Not quite. But if you ask Rutland, that was kind of the point.

This was about amateur comics testing out their material on a college bar crowd. And more importantly, about people forgetting their daily drudges and having a good time.

Although the show didn’t get a particularly huge draw, it was a success for the most part, said Iwan Muljadi, owner of Bali Satay.

“A few people came up to me and said we should do it again. I expect the next one to bring many more people,” he said. “Hiawatha came to me [with the idea] and said that we should have stand-up comedy here. I never thought of doing comedy here before that.”

He said the Bali Satay might hold the comedy event monthly or biweekly. Although he plans to have the same acts return again next time, he wouldn’t rule out other comics for later dates. Potential comics should come do their routine at open-mic night Wednesday or Thursday, and if they go over well, he would consider putting them in a future show, he said.

“Hiawatha was pretty good, but I think Dannie T was the funniest,” said Joshua Riley, junior in electrical engineering who attended the show Thursday. “I would definitely go see them again.”

Riley, who hasn’t been to many comedy shows enjoys comedy shows such as Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, said it’s good to see some stand-up comedy in Ames.

“I’m sure there are some good comics in Ames just waiting to be given a chance,” he said.

The Bali Satay may not be as big a name in comedy as the nationally-renowned Laugh Factory, but Rutland will tell you it’s not the size of the crowd that matters when you’re getting your feet wet.

“I’ve met a lot of comics, and they always tell you: Stage time, stage time, stage time,” he said. “Every opportunity you have to try out material, whether it’s at a party, karaoke, wherever. Be yourself, be original, that’ll get you there. Figure out who you are and what message you want to deliver.”