do you find that smiling to an audience and laughing along makes the audience laugh more.

psychologically we know smiling is contagious (as is laughter) but in terms of a stage performance, does it really add that much? or is a drier delivery more preferable?

just a thought whilst I consider my own style

i guess it depends on your style? not that I've performed, but it'd seem weird if, say, Michael Redmond was doing his stuff with a big grin on his face.

Well I think it depends on your audience, I have noticed at gigs with a receptive audience who are up for it that comedians enjoy themselves more, obvious I know but if the audience are being receptive then your confidence grows and its hard not to smile and laugh along with them, I remember the first time I performed as Julio and the audience laughed so loud at one of my jokes that I could not stop myself from laughing along with them, I wish I could keep re-living that moment its one of my favourite in life so far, however I performed to a room full of comedians with no audience other than performers the other day and although I didn't bomb I can't say I particularly enjoyed that experience and it was the first time coming off stage not feeling great, but looking back I should have just done my set the best I could rather than being a diva about it, but you live and learn.