Concerning Heckling
I’ve actually had a few people say to me after a show, “Well everybody knows that you are supposed to yell out at the Comedians.” Really! They said that, with conviction, is what was hysterical. They believe that in some convaluted way you are supposed to interrupt the Comedians. That other people paid a ticket price to hear somebody in crowd, unprovoked, interrupt the Comedian even if they are about to get to a well crafted punchline. These people who interrupt a Comedy Show should consider staying at home instead and spackling the bullet holes in their trailer.
Then what happens is they get upset because someone who works for the club comes over and asks them to be quiet and not to interrupt the show. And that if they want to talk they can do so in the cafe. They claim they paid to get in so they should be able to yell out. With that logic I can claim as owner/doorman I can pour red beans and rice on their head and drag them out by their hair. Why not let me leap to my own conclusions.
We really rarely have a problem. But like all comedy clubs it happens. People get liquored up and make grand assumptions. This blog is an attempt to nip that in the bud, to educate those that have drastically wrong beliefs. Ask the guy next to you who paid to get in if he wants to hear your bable. Most likely you’ll get an icy stare like if you said, “Hey what say I drool on your salad?” No is the answer.
The basic rule is really simple. The comic talks and you laugh at what he or she says, that makes you laugh. No guarantees, no contract, no mess. An age old agreement.
The next time somebody says, “Everybody knows your are supposed to yell out at the Comedians.” I am going to say, “Yes and everybody knows you’ll get red beans and rice poured on your head and dragged out by your hair if you do that. … Welcome to Comedy, TN. Enjoy the show!”
