Questions from a Student

Hi,

My name is Ivan and I've come here as an amateur stand up comic but also as a student looking to ask a few questions as part of my study. This looks like a great little community and I would be very thankful to hear your experiences and thoughts. I've been reading a lot of the topics here (a goldmine for someone in my position, haha) and I hope this is the right category to be posting this.

You don't have to answer all the questions, I will find even a couple responses very helpful

What is your first memory of seeing stand up comedy?

What's the best heckle (or response) you've ever heard?

I know it's a huge generalisation to ask but what do you think the differences between 'northern' and 'southern' comics are?

What's the most you've ever paid for a gig ticket?

Why do you think Britain has such a strong history of comedy?

Is there anything negative about catching a comedy gig in person?

If you had to give three reasons as to why seeing a stand up gig is better in person than on TV, what would they be?

Thanks for your time and I look forward to (hopefully) reading your posts!

Cheers cheers!

Because you touch yourself at night

Quote: sootyj @ October 25 2011, 2:31 PM BST

Because you touch yourself at night

View original

Old skool!

Quote: asmallbug @ October 25 2011, 12:16 PM BST

What is your first memory of seeing stand up comedy? I went to see Lee Evans about 10 years ago at Wembley.

What's the best heckle (or response) you've ever heard? It was something Jimmy Carr said when I went to see him... although he may have gone too far.

I know it's a huge generalisation to ask but what do you think the differences between 'northern' and 'southern' comics are? The accent...and the topics... who has "family weddings" down South anyway.

What's the most you've ever paid for a gig ticket? £45

Why do you think Britain has such a strong history of comedy? No comment.

Is there anything negative about catching a comedy gig in person? The imbeciles that like to ruin it sometimes by getting too drunk and heckling for no good reason.

If you had to give three reasons as to why seeing a stand up gig is better in person than on TV, what would they be? The more compact gigs are fun because you get picked on sometimes, the laughter is infectious being surrounded by others laughing, the atmosphere.

View original

Quote: EllieJP @ October 25 2011, 3:14 PM BST

who has "family weddings" down South anyway.

View original

Ha, what do you mean?

Quote: asmallbug @ October 25 2011, 12:16 PM BST

Is there anything negative about catching a comedy gig in person?

View original

I agree with Ellie. Persistent hecklers are just the worst thing ever. They can utterly ruin the whole night.
I think that's actually the only downside, aside from the obvious things like staying home and watching a gig on TV is easier, cheaper and warmer.

Quote: zooo @ October 25 2011, 4:06 PM BST

Ha, what do you mean?

View original

I can't make sense of it either, no matter how I say it.

Quote: zooo @ October 25 2011, 4:06 PM BST

Ha, what do you mean?

View original

Peter Kay.

I don't know if it was technically the best heckle I ever saw but it was certainly the most enjoyable.

It was plenty of years ago at a comedy club that used to be at the Old Leather Bottle in Wimbledon. I don't remember who the comedian was but he was rubbish, unfunny, mildly offensive and angry at the audience because they'd noticed that he wasn't funny.

He was responding badly to a heckler and insulting the audience generally.

Someone else chipped in with, "He's right, you're not funny."

The comedian responded angrily, "And I suppose you think you are?"

That got by far the biggest laugh - because the comedian didn't notice who was heckling but the audience had noticed that it was Jack Dee.

Quote: asmallbug @ October 25 2011, 12:16 PM BST

Hi,

What is your first memory of seeing stand up comedy?

I remember loving watching on TV when I was little but now I'm not sure what I remember and what I've seen repeated. Think the first gig I ever went to was Greg Proops sometime in the early 90s

I know it's a huge generalisation to ask but what do you think the differences between 'northern' and 'southern' comics are?

There isn't a difference, just easier to market it like that

What's the most you've ever paid for a gig ticket?

About forty-fifty quid

Is there anything negative about catching a comedy gig in person?

Travel is often a pain, very expensive to see big names, depends so much on the audience not being arseholes

View original

Are you studying comedy Ivan?

Your 'has Britain has such a strong history of comedy,' has reminded me how totally Parochial my knowledge is. For all I know Russia or the tribes of Borneo might have traditions going back thousands of year.

That would be a subject I'd like to read about.

Yeah, I've got an answer for you, student boy -- get a job and stop sponging off the state.

My taxes, your grant... makes my blood boil.