AUSTIN, Texas -- The coronavirus pandemic has forced a global readjustment among major industries, and that includes those who like to get a laugh outta people. Right now, though, stand-up comedy looks a lot different.

Austin comics taking to streaming sites in order to perform

Many have limited employment options during pandemic

Shows on Twitch are free but tips are accepted

“It’s not stand-up comedy. It is a completely different art form,” said stand-up comic and writer Colton Dowling.

In-person laughs and audience reactions look more like "L-O-Ls" in a chatroom. Organizers behind the website Comedy Wham - which is comprised of professionals who produce podcasts, album reviews, and more - gathered stand-up comics to perform six-minute sets online using the online video sharing platform Twitch.

Dowling hosts and performs in the show.

“What gasp you might hear in a show or a visual ‘no’ or something like that, you’d see in the comments, making every connection and everything that happens a one-on-one connection,” said Dowling.

This new medium redefines stand-up comedy in a way that brings the audience and the performer together. Aside from that, it's a way for performers to keep their name in the public sphere as the COVID-19 pandemic cripples many side gigs.

“If you have a flexible tour schedule - where you’re like I don’t know where I’m gonna be - the only way to support yourself financially is with a gig economy job, like Uber or waiting tables or something. If you just lost both of those jobs and neither of them were full time, like, these comedians are absolutely screwed,” said Dowling.

COVID-19 may have shaken up the world but for these performers the show must go on.

“I don’t know where this is going to go. I don’t know how deep this is gonna go or how much it’s gonna impact but I just hope that we laugh and all come together,” said Dowling.

The performers do shows every Tuesday night and Friday night. It's free of charge but they do accept Venmo tips. If you'd like to watch, head on over to twitch.tv/comedywham or search Isolation Comedy on the Twitch website.