Matt Caponera tries to push the envelope on stage.

He thinks “if you’re not living life on the edge, you’re taking up too much space.”

The sophomore communication studies major will perform in the first Last Comic Standing competition at 9 tonight at 7th St. Underground in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

With no censors or restrictions, contestants will be given approximately 10 minutes to perform their routine. There will be a panel of four judges that will rank the comedians.

Audience reaction to the comedians will impact the judges’ decisions.

The winner of the competition will perform as the opening act for University Board’s final comedy show of the semester, which will feature three professional comedians.

Throughout the show, audience members will have an opportunity to win $500 worth of prizes including Eastern gear, gift cards and iPods.

Originally, participants were required to fill out an application and perform in front of a panel of judges.

Tryouts were not necessary, however, because there were only five applicants, including two former students.

Caponera, Paul Teresi, Matthew Hagaman and Tom Bickham are the students to take the stage, with former students Eddie Cross to perform and Mike Cavazos to host.

Caponera has comedy in his blood. He grew up watching and listening to his cousin, who also performs stand up.

His first stand-up performance was last year at UB’s Open Mic Night at the Union.

He came in first place in a competition with one other student.

“I like making people laugh, and masturbating is getting old,” he said jokingly. “Maybe it (the competition) will get me laid.”

Some of his influences include Jerry Seinfeld, Conan O’Brian and Chris Rock.

Caponera’s material is inspired by everyday situations.

“If it is a real situation,” Caponera said, “the audience can relate to that and they will respond more.”

Those attending tonight’s show will be able to watch Hagaman venture onto stage for the first time.

His favorite comic is Mitch Hedberg, but Hagman first became interested in comedy after meeting Rich Mansfield, who he saw at the Funny Bone in Springfield.

Hagaman said he is unafraid of making a fool of himself, but hasn’t staged since the fourth grade.

“A non-professional show is very different than a professional one,” Hagaman said. “The advantage of this show is that there are multiple comics who are all going to have different styles and appeal to different audiences.”

Teresi will also compete for the chance to open for the final comedy show of the semester.

As a kid, Teresi would watch his favorite comedies repeatedly.

“I was a nerd,” he said. “I still am, but all that repetition made comedic writing and delivery second nature to me.”

Teresi is influenced by Frank Caliendo, Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd and John Landis.

“They really knew how to make people laugh, and it’s all about exploring different comedic techniques and having a good time,” Teresi said.

Even though he is surrounded by inspiration, Teresi said he takes forever to write stand-up.

Teresi began performing stand-up last semester at Roc’s Blackfront, and also performed in “EIU’s Got Talent.”

He does impressions of Dr. Phil, Bill Clinton, Jack Nicholson and Harry Carry.

A video of his stand-up can be watched on his Facebook profile.

“I think this is a great opportunity for Eastern’s comedic talent to get together, get to know each other and have some fun in the process,” Teresi said.