Comics usually hang out together in the back of clubs waiting for their turn on stage, or talking about their time on stage after they go up.
Usually, when comics get offstage, no matter how bad they do, they hear a bunch of "Good set's." I refuse to lie. I'm not sure why I've drawn the line in the sand there, but I feel like I've already sold myself out enough in this business, I refuse to stroke others' egos just for networking purposes (though others will say they are being nice, I think it would be nicer if some "comics" knew they stunk, quit, so they wouldn't subject audiences to masturbation and dick jokes on a nightly basis). Anyway, when someone does lousy on stage, I usually just pretend on writing something or looking at my hand.
Yesterday, I was MC'ing an open mic at Gotham Comedy Club. I wish I thought of what to say before, I got up to the mic to introduce this absolutely atrocious "comic."
I started with "I've seen this comic several times...." then I paused, thinking what to follow that up with. Nothing came. The longer I paused, the more tension built in the room due to my silence. I knew that the first part demanded that I say something about those times I saw him.
If I were totally honest, I would've said something like....
"...and let's just say he's very brave....Give it up for XXX XXXX!"
"... and he silenced the room every time! Give it up for XXX XXXX!"
"... man, did he bite it. Give it up for XXX XXXX!"
"... why he continues to subject us to his prepubescent blather is beyond me, but he does, and here he is... Give it up for XXX XXXX!"
ANYWAY, the silence became too much for me and my improv skills failed, so I just said, ".... XXX XXXX!"
Yup... I just said his name, which pretty much tells everyone what I think of his act.
Oh well.
Rock On,
Aitch
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17 comments:
"I've seen this comic several times, and tonight is certainly the most recent."
Too hackish?
hey anonymouscoworker,
slightly, and it *still* woulda been obvious what I thought of his act. so that woulda been a bad version of killing two birds with one stone."
rock on,
aitch
"I've seen this comic several times and I've lived to tell the tale."
I can't lie either. I usually say, "Well what did you think of your act?" To which a bad comic will say they killed or their was soemthing wrong with the audience. Either way, I try not to dash anyone's dreams. You see I did not repsond to a "what did you think of my act?" blog posted on another site.
hey josh homer,
I almost posted to said comic, but figured, "Why make (another) enemy?"
rock on,
aitch
Last night I had to introduce a comic who, the last time I worked with him, ran 5 minutes over the light. I told a gonorrhea joke, and then said, "I think that's the perfect intro for our next comic....."
hey jill,
oh no, you di'int!
wow - yer more gangsta than I thought.
rock on!
aitch
Another blog perhaps a bit too overinvested in evaluating other comics?
Perhaps you might reconsider MCing shows you consider no better than "The Gong Show."
I was there last night, and for the life of me, I can't remember the guy who went after you.
I was in the audience. We loved all the comics who performed. We had fun.
We will suggest to the Gotham that they hire an MC who enjoys introducing other comics and does not use his blog on the next day to make fun of them. That does not seem to be in the good spirit of these open mic shows that The Gotham hosts or in the best interests of the bringer shows that they book on weekends.
The Gotham brings in paying customers and then the next day the comics they put on their stage are called lousy by an MC? Your blog chases away an audience.
I paid good money for a show with a comic you thought was atrocious and I feel like a fool that I was ever in an audience there in the past for their bringer shows. Yes, I have been there when you were an MC. I would have thought you were more professional and not so juvenille.
Hey first anonymous,
If I could use a gong, maybe comics would enjoy open mics more.
Hey Slava,
You weren't there... but I quite frankly could be talking about any mic in anytown USA.
Hey Second Anonymous,
Here's the deal - I'm not gonna get into the whole reason how bringer shows are slowly killing the comedy business (my opinion), but gettting to my original point - I'm not gonna blow smoke up someone's ass who isn't good - this has nothing to do with Gotham or any club - this just happened to be at Gotham.
I'm not even sure what you're talking about as I didn't MC the show "real" show last night (you claim you were in the audience - I'm assuming that was the class show).
Assuming you are talking about the class grad show, then I certainly wouldn't hold a student who's been doing it for six months to the same yardstick as someone who I've seen time and time again put up crap...get zero response...and continue to put it up.
Rock on,
Aitch
Hey Second Anonymous,
I think you should stick to tearing apart blogs that promote clubbing seals or violence in schools...if you think sucky comics are funny and enjoy smoke up your ass...well..thats your problemo.
p.s. If you are the sucky comic Mr. Bloom (that sounds professional right?) was referring to...stop yer crying and work on your act.
I love when people act tough online while being anonymous. I love it even more when they lie. "I saw you MC at the show last night." when in fact Harris was not even talking about the Wed grad show but an open mic that was the week before. Very sad Anonymous 2, very sad.
My guess is second anonymous is a "comic" based on the knowledge of the Gotham bringer and open mic schedule alone. The point that Harris made, and it's a valid one, is that when you lie to a comic and tell them that they did well when they did not you're actually hurting them in the long run. I guess to Anonymous the 2nd honesty is not the best policy.
I also wish you good luck in your quest to find an MC that likes all the comics on the show. Should the club keep a list of comics who like and dislike each other both personally and professionally to ensure that all the comics on the show are BFFs? Never going to happen. I guess Anonymous part duex is new to comedy to make a statement like this.
Good blog Harris (although posting a link to it on another site was not the best way to go, notice how the anonymouse jr. showed up AFTER that)
Dear Second Anonymous,
C'mon...you were there but were really on stage, right?
Although your friends say you're funny and you should do standup in reality you're a bore.
You shouldn't "feel" like a fool cause you is one!
Hey all,
My last two cents on the subject -
I think every comic who performs on a prime-time show (esp at A-List Clubs) should should have to go through SOME audition process (even if you are bringing people to the show).
To paraphrase another comic, they wouldn't let a beginner actor perform on Broadway, or a semi-pro baseball player play in the majors, etc - it seems like only in comedy can you work to top rooms just by bringing people.
And in the long run, that hurts the comedy business.
Rock On
Aitch
quick say something funny...this is such a downer
doo doo McPoo Poo face!
Ba-Zing!
hey anonymous,
Downer?!? This entry has resulted my most comments ever!!!
Reason for celebratin' if ya ask me!
Read the entry above... that aughta cheer ya up li'l buckaroo.
rock on,
aitch
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