British Comedy Guide

1min of stand up. Can I be accused of racism?

Hi folks, the last few days I've written a new fifteen minutes - I have a gag-gag-gag set for those audience vote gong type shows - but for the more relaxed open mics I wanted a set that wasn't as reliant on punchlines that deserve drumkit rimshots.

Anyway, heres a 60 second bit from it that I keep reading and hoping nothing comes off as crass or potentially racist. It's a genuine observation of mine, but I do worry as I've not yet said this to a room, and being accused of something that I'm not is a headache I'm not prepared to risk.

What d'you think? I appreciate your gut reaction.
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(*There's a harmless joke which leads, something like...*)

I'd like to do a spot of observational humour now..... Y'know how, how when you visit London for the first time, right? And you go to a brothel and you pay for a threesome but halfway through the pimp runs in, chloroform gags you and steals your wallet and your clothes...... That's so annoying, isn't it? Happens to me every time.

(*Which moves into the bit I'm wary off...*)

Something that's starting to annoy me, I was brought up on a council estate... and, couldn't help but notice... white teenagers trying to speak in what they percieve to be 'black speak' . Posing on facebook giving American gang signs, adding the letter Z to every capitilized word.... The true hallmark of a gangster - A Facebook account!

[Typing on keyboard, slowly]

My - Favouritest - Book - Is - Errrrrr - My - Favouritest - Song - Is - By - Dr - Dre - I - Have - Watched - Boyz n' The Hood - Two - Times - And - I - Think - I - May - Have - Misunderstood - It's - Message - Here - Is - A - Pic - LOL [I act out taking a pic with a phone from an high angle] I - IS - KICKIN - IT - FORREAL - ''SEND''

I saw one on Jeremy Kyle... he says "Aiight" and then this stupid f**k, bumped fists with the other guest ''sappenin''... Seriously? Are you f**king kidding me? Kyle says to him... "So, Keith, why did you punch your mum in the face" He says "You don't understand... I'm from the street, innit?" HAHA! From the street? You're from Wigan!! WESTWOOD IN DA HOUSE!! WHO BY THE WAY, WAS THE SON OF A VICAR!!

F**king Ali G needs a DNA test.... Kyle should've told him the basics first - The dna test results reveal..... You're white! And, You're about as 'gangsta' as Ronald McDonald. Why doesn't someone just be straight with 'em: "Look, Keith, I know you enjoy American rap music. I enjoy American rap music too. I'm sure you've traced the evolution of Jazz slang, Blues Idioms and infused it with with some Raggae infection but I have some news to spread: You and your white boy buddies are NOT brothers in an historical context of slaves uniting in solidarity against the white man... And PS: a council estate is NOT a ghetto, so pull your pants up, straighten your baseball cap AND SHUT THE FUCK UP!!"

Although, the irony, I'm watching Keith and thinking, ''I pity the fool.''

(*This then leads back into another harmless one* )

"I'd really like to settle down and have kids, soon..... That's why now I only date the kind of woman who I honestly feel, I would beat in a custody battle....... Schrizophrenics, Junkies, my solicitor'll crush the lot of them! The kids are staying with me!"

(*And then on with the rest of the routine*)

If there's some real Forrest Gump's in the audience, then they might think it's racist, otherwise you'll be fine. Just add a line saying if anyone thinks you're racist you'll rape them, they'll understand.

It's not racist but it's super old subject matter. Stay clear unless you can say something original about it.

Quote: Nat Wicks @ August 15 2011, 6:33 AM BST

It's not racist but it's super old subject matter. Stay clear unless you can say something original about it.

Ahh, should've known it weren't an original observation, thanks a lot for telling me, easier to ditch than rework.

The other two are okay though, no?

No need to ditch it, just write a load of rubbish then repackage it as satirising rubbish comedians - that's what Maria Bamford would do!

It's not racist, but you run the risk of alerting everyone in the audience looking to be offended.

Some good gags, I like the DNA test one. But it's also to depersonalised you need to be very good and confident to be a hi status standup.

Personally I'd make myself the worst Wigger in West London and see how it rolls.

Also audiences are less likely to be offended by "I'm a white guy who wants to be black," then "aren't white guy who want to be black idiots?"

Quote: Jack Daniels @ August 15 2011, 6:05 AM BST

What d'you think? I appreciate your gut reaction.

The only think that I'd consider changing is the term 'black-speak' (replacing it with 'patois' maybe?), otherwise I think you're all good.

Quote: Jack Daniels @ August 15 2011, 6:05 AM BST

"I'd really like to settle down and have kids, soon.....That's why now I only date the kind of woman I would beat in a custody battle.......

Great line JD Laughing out loud

Quote: Nat Wicks @ August 15 2011, 6:33 AM BST

It's not racist but it's super old subject matter. Stay clear unless you can say something original about it.

What Nat said. Observations about wiggas are a bit old hat.

The other stuff is pretty god. I like the bit about only dating people you could beat in a custody battle.

Wigga stuff could be refreshed by making it about the riots?

As us News Revue veterans know stories tend to come back in to fashion.

Yes, if you're approaching it from an original angle.

Nah comedy like running a succesful restaurant is all about sprucing up the left overs.

Quote: sootyj @ August 15 2011, 9:30 AM BST

Wigga stuff could be refreshed by making it about the riots?

Like David Starkey did on newsnight the other night?
;)

David Starkey is a white Obama

Quote: Vader @ August 15 2011, 6:52 AM BST

just write a load of rubbish

Yup. This may be my stength.
I do love that Bamford sketch you ref'd. The standard female comic's perspective "I'm so lonely!"
Cheers Vader.

Quote: sootyj @ August 15 2011, 7:52 AM BST

Personally I'd make myself the worst Wigger in West London and see how it rolls.

Ha, I don't have the balls or the character acting chops to pull that off, would be funny to see though. Like J-Roc in Trailer Park Boys, that is one funny mofo. Thank you for reading my bit.

Quote: Gerry McDonnell @ August 15 2011, 8:28 AM BST

The only think that I'd consider changing is the term 'black-speak' (replacing it with 'patois' maybe?)

Definitely. The other sounds cringe worthy in retrospect. Thanks for reading my thing and cheers for introducing me to a new word.

Anyway, I regret putting this up because, after a deep sleep, I can see it's very lame, I scribbled the whole thing out very fast (not an excuse) of the fifteen mins I recently wrote this is by far the weakest link and I wished I'd took a minute to think about it, in the blurred throes of sleep deprivation it seemed quite on target, now I wake up and read it back it's embarassingly sub-standard and borderline hack.

I'll post a vid when I perform the good stuff I wrote, which in the cold light still holds up, but this, is urgh, and I'm glad this ugly little skit is out of my system as it's not something I ever want to revisit as a theme.

Thanks for clicking on it though :)

Quote: sootyj @ August 15 2011, 3:55 PM BST

David Starkey is a white Obama

Obama's gay?

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