I recently went to a comedy show with semi-professional comedians. Everything was going great until….an unknowing heckler started chiming in. She was maybe in her 50s and it could be possible that this was her first comedy show. Not only did she disrupt the show by talking, but her phone rang for ten minutes during a set. For anyone wanting to watch live comedy and get into the scene, I have some notes. There is such a thing as comedy etiquette. What can you do to become a great audience?…..
First off there is planned material….
I want to get down to the basics. Comedians are not winging it doing an improv set (although some do). The material is meticulously planned out and timed. When you interrupt, you are stepping on the joke and messing up the timing.
“But…comics do crowd work”….
Yes. Comedians will do crowd work or have to deal with a heckler. However, they prefer to not go off script and dedicate a whole set to an audience member. If they ask someone in the crowd a question, they are willing to do crowd work.
“I am making the show funnier”….
You actually aren’t. In the case of this older woman, it was giving “barfly” energy. Meaning, it was attention seeking and desperate.
How can you be a good audience….
- Show up on time – don’t be coming in late where everyone is distracted unless it is a huge venue
- Turn off cellphones- make sure you phone is silent or off
- No talking during a set- Again, in certain settings you might need to order a drink at a bar, but beyond that zip it
- Don’t get up during a set- wait to use the bathroom and try your best not to cross in front of the stage
- Laugh- they want you to laugh and clap and be present
- Don’t sit in the front row- unless you want to be part of the show, sit further back
- Don’t wear a crazy outfit- try to blend in as best as possible to avoid getting roasted
- If appropriate, compliment- If they are standing near the exit after the show tell them it was a great set
- Don’t corner them- You have to be brief and see if the comic wants to chat. Don’t hold him or her hostage
- Don’t heckle or yell out- goes without saying. Do not interrupt the show unless prompted by the performer.
Bottom Line….
Be a respectful audience member to the comedian. Even if you do not like the performance, still be respectful. Most of the rules are not to disrupt the show and to distract the comic from the set. It is never ok to yell out. You may think you are being hilarious and “helping the comic out.” I assure you, you are not. It is attention seeking and a lack of self-awareness. Anyone who wants to “be apart of the show” should look inward and possibly take an improv class. It can give you perspective on how hard it is to perform in front of people.
Mostly Casual 