Many years ago, during my first Course in Christian studies, the response to a piece I had written on humour included "You can't write about humour without some jokes". Well I did, and I'm going to again.
Four comics were on the bill. I cannot remember all their names, so I won't mention the ones I can't remember. The warm up act was also the organiser, and she was singing as we arrived. Once we had settled in, found a drink from the bar, and a seat well away from the stage, we were ready for the first guy. They were all guys - don't women do comedy?
The first guy was called Simon, but I can't remember his second name. His jokes were pornographic for most of his set, and his language was extremely crude. Sadly the jokes were not that funny. One or two good laughs, but the constant repetition of sexually explicit jokes gets as boring as everything else that is endlessly repeated. Towards the end of his set he produced a banjo. He could play acceptably well, but his material didn't allow him to go beyond that. The material from then onwards was much funnier, and on balance I enjoyed his act.
Then there was a 'short' break, to ensure that bar sales were maintained.
The second guy was not a comedian. I don't recall laughing at his act at all. He was eventually asked to leave the stage. He 'suffered' significant heckling, and didn't handle that well either. The mood of the evening had changed.
Another short break - for some the temptation to get drunk was overwhelming. This was true of one table in particular.
The third guy - Brian Gittings - has the 'discovered by Ricky Gervais' tag line to live up to. As I personally find Ricky Gervais cringe-worthy rather than funny I was not expecting much. He got through his act. On another night it may have worked, but by the mood of the evening he was never going to succeed with the subtleties he was trying to display. Pretending to be bad at something to get a laugh means you have to be very good at it. Take Tommy Cooper as an example - he could do magic, he just chose not to. OK, his act was based on bad experiences of tricks going wrong, but he polished it well. He was reasonably funny, especially the scene to Gold (by Spandau Ballet) - a proper belly laugh at last.
Takings must have been down at the bar - another short break.
The fourth guy - an American - from Kansas (I think?). Well he had the headline spot for the night, but I don't get American humour. Then he called himself Uncle Rex - OK for the twenty somethings, but to someone older than him! He had been watching, and listening, he had assessed his audience - 'tough crowd' now. He also suffered much heckling from this one particular table, but he did what good comics do best - used them to get laughs. He pointed out that they had no women. Then during a joke about dating girls, he was interrupted. He restarted his story with "Well in the heterosexual world guys ..." Howls of laughter from the audience. He did some juggling - with a hammer, machete and sickle, and made Americans the subject of his humour. I really enjoyed the act. He turned the whole evening around.
I've had live comedy spoilt for me by Bill Bailey. My expectations are now so high, I'm sitting there saying 'make me laugh', and expecting to be still laughing at the last joke, as I start laughing at the next one. There are some simple things that last nights comics could learn:
- No looooong stories without a laugh in them (Ronnie Corbett stories must have Ronnie Corbett asides)
- Get the audience involved and helping early - they will feel part of it.
- Don't insult hecklers - use them - they are funny
- Rude words and swearing are only funny (a maximum of) once. - Get over them and get on with the comedy.
Now, to be fair, I have to talk value for money:
- Tickets to see Bill Bailey are EXPENSIVE, and you have to travel to London. Food and drink in the theatre is even more expensive.
- Tickets for Stock Brook are STG 8.00, and its a 10 minute drive. The bar at Stock Brook isn't the cheapest in Billericay , but ...
Will I go back - to see Bill again - definitely. To Stock Brook comedy nights - probably.
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