I did a show last night at Two Dollar Radio Headquarters, not a radio station, but a bookstore/coffeeshop/bar, because names are goofy in 2018. The show was actually call Unicorn Level Comedy Hour, because with a three year old daughter, I need more unicorns in my life. It was a great crowd and made me realize further what crowds work in comedy, which do not.
Good – Small group of friends, 3-5 people. Bad – Huge group of friends getting together for the first time in a few months. Small groups pay attention, look at each other when a joke hits close to home. Huge groups start telling stories and it’s over. Every time a gaggle of eight or more sits in the front row, you are in trouble.
Good – Old weird people. Bad – Old drunk weird people by themselves. Old weird people give good feedback by occasionally giving weird input, since they are, well weird. Usually yelling something like, “Hey, I like English literature!” or “That’s the kind of porn I like!” randomly. Old weirds drunk and alone yell that every single joke. It goes from “Hey, this is kind of helping my joke” to “Oh God, please let the ceiling fall on this guy.”
Good – Friends of one of the comics. Bad – Friends of the bar staff. Friends of comics usually pay attention. Friends of the bar staff hope they get free drinks and black out. Plus the latter are always there, so they feel entitled and wouldn’t shut up if you were giving away the location of Blackbeard’s treasure onstage.
Good – People having some drinks. Bad – Blackout Billy, the guy who thinks he’s funnier or the bar’s number one regular. My favorite interaction with a drunk ass who thought he was funnier was when I ran an open mic. He started heckling, then paid me $20 to go onstage. He did about 90 seconds, bombed and left the bar. The whole time the sign up sheet was still open…for free. Best $20 I ever made. The bar’s number one regular, though, thinks he (or she) is the sun of the heliocentric tavern world and will refuse be interrupted. I had a guy heckle me at a cancer benefit once – just before the show he was loudly talking about slow pitch softball. By all means, please tell us more! Comedy? Meh. Stories about sacrifice fly balls and Texas shootout doubleheaders between First Lutheran Church of Christ and Terry’s Radiator and Clutch? HELL YES!