Ok, in a moment of utter madness I've entered for the London Comedy Store Gong Show. I know it's going to be feral but I'd appreciate any tips about how to approach it.
Thanks
Gong Shows
Hmm
First of all chances are you will be booed off possibly be reaching the stage. So run! And don't take it personally.
Unless you have a killer heckler put down gag, ignore them. If you have a killer put down, use it and move on.
Don't do introductions, long jokes, experiential stuff or amusing observations.
They want gags gags gags. If you're more than 10 seconds from a punchline or laugh you're done.
And above all enjoy your self.
Don't do introductions, long jokes, experiential stuff or amusing observations.
Oh dear. Ah well feck 'em. Let's see how it goes.
They're pissed and lairy it isn't QI or the Oxford Union.
Frankly memorise the first 5 pages of Russ Abbott's Knock Knock Madhouse joke book and you'll be ok.
Oh and don't be too gross or controversial.
Actually if you look f**kable you could stand there and moo and you'd get your 5 minutes.
Is it your first gig? If so then good luck and make sure you've booked in some sessions with a psychologist to deal with the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder afterwards!
Once you've got on stage you've got 10 seconds tops to grab the audiences attention, if your first line isn't funny, expect the experience to be short and painful.
If you can get them in the first 30 seconds or so then you've a chance, otherwise you'll just be dealing with 400 people screaming and booing at you, it's a bearpit, the audience are encouraged to hate for being shit you unless you prove otherwise.
There ARE plenty of friendly Gong Shows around the UK but the London Comedy Store is not one of them, it is properly brutal, I've done it 3 times and lasted the 5 minutes twice, the first time I did it though I lasted just under a minute and it's the only gig where I've felt like crying afterwards.
Try not to take it to heart though, plenty of great comics have been gonged off, mainly for being in any way different, it's not a gig where avant garde comedy gets you very far.
Have a good one and let us know how you got on.
Thanks Tony,
It's not my first gig - even I'm not that stupid. It's at the end of July and by that time I hope to have done about 50+ gigs although I've only been going really since the end of January.
I've entered it as a couple of my friends have just done it and despite getting gonged off they enjoyed it! I want to do it as a way of learning/developing being able to deal with hecklers. And because I must be stupid.
I won't let the criticism of the audience affect me in future though. I've been told how disgusting they can be, and I know several acts that I consider to be very good who haven't done well there.
I'm not going in blind. But I'm still a bit nervous about it (although if you tell the audience that I'll kill you) :-)
Oh and when you get gonged.
Go with dignity.
Have seen guys get dragged off by security before.
2 lots of 5 minutes Tony is that a record? It's impressive alright.
Glad you are going into with your eyes wide open, it's an experience and I'm glad I've done it but it's not something I'd rush to repeat!
As for being a record, no I'm sure there's plenty more acts who've lasted the 5 several times, including the legend, that is, Ray Presto, who turns up most months and is a bit of a Gong Show institution.
Have a good one TMITBH, just remember that in the scheme of things comedy-wise, it really doesn't mean very much either way.
I went to King Gong a couple of months ago to give moral support to a comic
I knew, and I was horrified by the ferocity of the crowd.
Bear pit isn't the word. More like a lion's den.
I did a gong show at the Arc Stockton on
only my fourth gig, and thought it was a nightmare, but it's a cakewalk
compared to the Comedy Store.
Hello Man in the Bowler Hat! I think we are both on at the same gig at Monkey Business next week. Good luck with your Gong Show. I want to do it but I am more than a little scared! Let us know how it goes.
Sam
Quote: Sammy @ May 9 2011, 8:54 AM BSTHello Man in the Bowler Hat! I think we are both on at the same gig at Monkey Business next week. Good luck with your Gong Show. I want to do it but I am more than a little scared! Let us know how it goes.
Sam
Boy oh boy, that is one weird gig. I didn't get on until half midnight when I did it.
Do a search on YouTube ya lazy bastard! It seems pretty tame with a mostly poor standard, as long as you're not completely terrible you should last the 5 minutes at least from what I've seen on YouTube.
I've heard the MC might make you do another minute before the clap off if more than one person lasts the 5 minutes (and according to one clip 6 out of 30 did).
Quote: sootyj @ April 26 2011, 2:33 PM BSTIf you have a killer put down, use it and move on.
What, like threatening to rape them?
Quote: sootyj @ April 26 2011, 2:41 PM BSTOh and don't be too gross or controversial.
How come?
Quote: Vader @ May 9 2011, 11:45 AM BSTWhat, like threatening to rape them?
No that's coming on to strong and likely to piss people off, also it's a cliche
Quote: Vader @ May 9 2011, 11:45 AM BSTHow come?
Because it's a big audience a sizeable proportion of got dragged along and don't like standup. Piss a few of them off and they'll boo you and then everyone else joins in.
Besides excssevily rude standup is a bit of a cliche and is a bit dated.
nb Bussell how long did you last?
Judging by some of the YouTube video's, I'm not so sure it's an issue, a woman who won talked bout nothing, but sex, including saying her boyfriend wanted her to tell him what a dirty whore she is, so she said she had AIDS.