Comments on: The Do’s and Don’ts of Comedy Club Etiquette

By: Etiquette of Comedy « Salt On Your Wound

Etiquette of Comedy « Salt On Your Wound — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:33:48 +0000

[...] Now, we should consider the issue of etiquette. Specifically, if you do not find a joke funny, is it acceptable to get up and walk out? West Chester University asks that theater patrons “please remain in your seat until the end. The end means the end of the curtain call. If you are ill or bored and must leave before the show is over, leave as quietly as you can and at an interval if at all possible. It is extremely discourteous to the actors to head for the door before the performance is entirely ended” (http://www.wcupa.edu/oca/venue/asplundh/etiquette.asp, accessed 6 September 2011). The website eHow’s article on theater etiquette supports the “extremely discourteous” claim, saying: “Walk calmly to the exits following the performance. Making a mad dash to the door during the curtain call is an insult to the actors” (http://www.ehow.com/how_2155170_observe-theatre-etiquette.html, accessed 6 September 2011). I searched far and wide for something more specific to a situation where a person has been offended by a comedian, but found only commentaries about heckling. Jack Kroeger of Punchline Magazine says, “Any comedian of any type would certainly tell you that audience members don’t get the right to potentially ruin everyone else’s night because they’re not having a good time or are irked at a specific moment, especially since the option to walk out is always there” (http://www.laughspin.com/2011/05/11/punchline-magazine-analysis-is-it-ever-ok-to-heckle-a-comedian/, accessed 6 September 2011). In addition, Brett of ArtofManliness.com advises, “Do Not Interrupt the Comedian: The common excuse for this is “I’m helping the comedian.” Comedians are professionals, they do not need help. That “help” just derails the show and wastes everyone’s time, same as heckling. Exception: If a comedian directly engages you in conversation, you are a-ok to respond. Some of the best comedy happens this way, and can make for a memorable experience. Be ready to let it go when the bit is over” (http://artofmanliness.com/2008/08/07/the-dos-and-donts-of-comedy-club-etiquette/). [...]

By: Ian Millard

Ian Millard — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:08:54 +0000

A good article, and many good points.
One more rule, that applies to any performance.

The rest of the crowd came to see and hear the performer on stage. Nobody wants to hear from some self-important egotist in the audience.
As hard as it is to accept, YOU are not the star of the show. The person up on the stage – the one who’s putting it on the line – they are the headliner.

I have been to dozens of live stage shows and comedy clubs. The worst experience is having some thoughtless jerk yapping on, as though anybody cared about them and their opinions.

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:52:06 +0000

I think I will put this link on back of my cards the next time I have a set printed to give out after shows!!! There really are some mouth breathers in the audience’s I’ve seen that could use the tips!!!

By: Brian McKim

Brian McKim — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:11:39 +0000

Mike Bates asks, “…what’s the advantage to going to a comedy club as opposed to, say, watching Jim Gaffigan or Rita Rudner (but never Dane Cook) on Comedy Central? What am I missing?”

Surely you’ve listened to music on the radio and wondered what it might be like to go to a concert. Right?

Hmmm… perhaps we assume too much. Anyone who poses the above question is either 8 years old… or 80 years old and therefore might actually have never attended a live musical performance.

The difference between watching a comedy performance on television (even a large-screen, hi-def unit) and seeing the comedian perform live is so staggering as to make them two totally different experiences that really can’t be compared. We say this not because we’re comedians ourselves.

We can recall the first time we ever attended a live comedy show. It was in a venue that held, at most, 80 people. We sat perhaps 15 feet from the stage. We recall looking up at one point and noticing that the next act was standing within half an arm’s length of us as he waited to be introduced. It was one of the most exciting and revelatory experiences we had ever had to that point.

There are few other live entertainment experiences like going to a comedy club. It is the way standup should be experienced. We hope you come out to a club sometime, Mr. Bates. You’ll not regret it.

By: Mario

Mario — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:55:17 +0000

The worst are groups of guys that go on bachelor parties.

They always think they should chime in. Its fucking horrifying. We have a great club in colorado (the Comedy Works) and it seems any time I go, there is some group of 12 frat boys there trying to participate in the act.

By: Granata

Granata — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:39:32 +0000

Speaking of Dane Cook, he’s one of those guys who seems to depend on profanity to make things amusing. I must admit, however, that his kool-aid bit is really funny!

By: Mike Bates

Mike Bates — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:16:36 +0000

I have to say, I’ve never been. Aside from beer (which I suppose I can get at home too), what’s the advantage to going to a comedy club as opposed to, say, watching Jim Gaffigan or Rita Rudner (but never Dane Cook) on Comedy Central? What am I missing?

http://www.the-common-man.com

By: Manic Rage

Manic Rage — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:54:59 +0000

A few years back I remember going to a Comedy Club in the UK [In the city of Manchester] and the comedian asked if there was any students in the crowd to which my friend replied with a ‘hoot’. This ultimately only highlighted exactly where we were, but also made the jokes somewhat funnier when aimed at your friends.

But heckling is a no-no. Especially in the UK.

Always being polite to a bouncer is the only answer. Otherwise it is the difference between getting in the club OR not. Be a Gent. That’s the only way it is in the UK, for any club.

A Comedy Club is there to enjoy the show, and even if you don’t like the comedy on show – enjoy the night out! The food! The company of your friends!

By: Shanel Yang

Shanel Yang — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:50:30 +0000

Great post! I’ve seen so much of the items listed on the “what not to wear” list on Sunset Blvd. comedy clubs, that part just shocked me a little. : )

By: Granata

Granata — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:42:56 +0000

I’ve only been to a comedy club once and I can’t say the experience was my cup of coffee. Maybe it’s the culture or maybe it was just that one club but everybody there, including the comics, seemed like giant d-bags whose only requirement for humor be that the f-bomb be dropped as many times as possible while making light of cheating on your wife.

Jim Gaffigan came to town recently and played the Civic Center. I would enjoy a show like that more. Jim’s got a clean act, plus it’s not at a bar or club which helps.