As a comic, everyone has to do bad rooms and open mikes. Enter the backhanded compliment. I love them. When a comic sucks and he/she approaches me, “How did I do?” You had great ideas! (Translation: You had no punchlines.) “What did you think of my set?” You had awesome stage presence! (You took your bombing like a man. The crowd hated you, but you kept your shit together, in spite of NO laughter. Good work.)
I have received these also. One chick told me after the show – “I loved your joke about dancing! The other guy sucked!” I didn’t do a dancing joke. I am the other guy. Please don’t wreck on the way home! (Oh God, please wreck…).