I recently performed another comedy wedding and I was wondering how many of my fellow ASTers also use their comedic skills in wedding ceremonies. Marrying people gives you a very different and unique kind of stage high and it can be quite enjoyable.
I recently performed another comedy wedding and I was wondering how many of my fellow ASTers also use their comedic skills in wedding ceremonies. Marrying people gives you a very different and unique kind of stage high and it can be quite enjoyable.
I have a face that was made for radio and a voice that was made for print and when it comes to using computers I am eTarded.
No One Should Ever Have To Listen To This
Are you talking about performing the actual ceremony? If that's the case, I'd be interested in hearing what kind of certification process you had to go through. I'm taking a wild guess that most of the people on this forum aren't already priests or public officials, on account of being young and spending most of their evenings in bars.
But I hope you're not talking about doing standup at receptions. Please, don't be talking about that.
I've found that if there's one thing that brides-to-be love on their wedding day, it's someone else stealing focus.
Bob LaRitchie, Brian's Friend
Agreed. Even if the bride and groom insist you get up and do standup, NEVER, EVER do it. After nearly a decade of DJ'ing weddings to pay the bills, I could write a huge list of what NOT to do at a wedding, whether it's yours or somebody else's - but getting up to do comedy at one would be very high on the list.
I get the idea that Jerbear's friends actually asked him to do it, so I don't see how the bride could be pissed in any way about him "pulling focus" from her. I don't know...if it's what the couple asked for, and they really want it, I don't see why doing it would be in bad...
We may be talking about two different things...if he performed the ceremony, then I assume they specifically wanted him and some humor amidst their vows. THAT has a definite market value, as there are plenty of people who are in mixed religion couplings, don't want a religious bent at all on their wedding or just want something more specific and light-hearted in general. As an Atheist who married a Catholic, I can verify that it can be a pain to find somebody to marry you that isn't just a judge and have it be a nice ceremony and not seem overly formal.
But speaking again as somebody who DJ'd weddings - I saw plenty of well-intentioned, good people try and do something funny or different or unique on a whim at lots of weddings, and all it does is create a weird moment that, at best, creates a minor distraction and at worse, offends and angers members of the family.
Weddings aren't comedy clubs, nor are they open mic venues. The only real time somebody should be on a mic and possibly telling a funny story is if you're the best man/maid of honor at the toast, and even then keep it clean, plan it ahead of time and keep it short - 3-4 minutes, tops.
If a couple wants their wedding to be generally good-natured, light-hearted and fun, that should show up within their plans, the setup of the reception and the night in general through the music and decoration. The worst mistake most people make is trying to manufacture fun in their weddings, and most people are boring as fuck and their idea of fun - having a relative do standup, playing a party game in the middle of the reception, yet another "groom gets the garter to sexy music" thing - just makes their wedding suck.
I wrote something similar in another forum, but if you want to be funny at a wedding, your best plan is to not get sloppy drunk, be polite and have good conversations with your friend's family and other friends, and you'll be remembered well as part of a good night. Hopping onstage after seven whiskey sours and telling that awesome joke about how a Fart raped a cunt with a robot cock is just going to turn into that awful thing that everybody remembers forever and you'll regret immediately.
I completely concur, and you're totally right about not doing "stand-up" at a wedding. I was just talking about doing a ceremony with some jokes or humor sprinkled in.
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I've been ordained for 12 years. And I've had to use my clergy badge at hospitals to visit my dying grandmother, etc. So it's 2Legit2Quit.
I've not done one, but I've seen some very humorous weddings work well. My best friend had their guy do the whole ceremony in an Elmer Fudd voice. And at the reception, the groom and I did a duet on my song "Hillbilly Love". It's got to be a couple that likes that kind of stuff.
My brother and my dad both officiate. Dad does it serious. My brother, I think, used ninjas to deliver the ring at his last one. Different strokes...
The ninja market's been hit hard by the economy.
Drieux I agree totally with everything you said in this thread and in the other one about what NOT to do at weddings, but everything that James said was dead on too. There's a fine, delicate line you have to walk when you are taking on a job that has such serious overtones.
James sometimes I feel like we are long lost brothers from another mother on a different coast. I didn't know you were also a ulc ordained, musical comedian/comedic musician. Ballin!
It does seem like more and more couples want to de-emphasize the religious aspects of wedding ceremonies. In this particular wedding the nuptial couple had already been living together for four years with their two kids and their families were from two vastly different religious sects. Not offending anyone from either family was the purpose in keeping the ceremony completely secular. These nice people had met me at a party and heard that in addition to being a comedic performer I was also a wedding officiant that specializes in fun, non-religious ceremonies. They were already planning on having an island themed wedding and they wanted it to be fun.
To be sure, a wedding ceremony is no place for punchlines or dick jokes (unless James is performing the services
Which they do because the first and pretty much only requirement I set beyond the honorarium is that they actually do care about each other and that there is a decent chance for the relationship to work out. I get a LOT of initial requests to marry couples but many of them bug out after they find out that even though I'm a funny guy I still take marriage seriously.
So, in case there was any kind of misunderstanding, when I say 'comedy wedding' I don't mean I got up there and did a host set and then brought out the bride. I didn't play any songs or try to soak up any attention that would otherwise be going to the bride on her special day. Really it was more of a serious wedding with sardonic wit interspersed within the ceremony just to keep the crowd's attention.
That and very few F bombs.
Dignity and Respect
Me, The JerBear
Last edited by Me, The JerBear; June 16, 2010 at 2:18 PM.
I have a face that was made for radio and a voice that was made for print and when it comes to using computers I am eTarded.
No One Should Ever Have To Listen To This
Too bad you're on the other coast, because we could do tag-team musical comedy weddings and RULE THE FUCKING GALAXY!Originally Posted by Me, The JerBear
Check your avails for December 21, 2012.
pg--If humanity is going out, might as well go out with a dick-fart-vagina joke-based musical comedy duo officiating a Christmas wedding.
We'll just take the fact that this was too long and that you didn't read it...as read.
Ha ha. Are those your nuptual dates? I can't speak for JerBear, but I will gladly drop DickFartGina material on your wedding guests. I mean, what better way to celebrate the first day of the rest of your lives than with a stirring rendition of Pink Pony?
I'm singing at a wedding this Saturday, which is sure to be comical
*cymbal hit*
Buuuut really, I would love more self-aware, comic weddings. The whole thing is so ridiculous and trite. If I ever get married, it's going to be, by some definition, a "comedy wedding."
Eyes are the losers in the skies.
This could be epic. Like a yin and yang kinda thang. James can do his dick jokes and I can do the lovey dovey.Check your avails for December 21, 2012.
pg--If humanity is going out, might as well go out with a dick-fart-vagina joke-based musical comedy duo officiating a Christmas wedding.
Last edited by Me, The JerBear; June 16, 2010 at 5:57 PM.
I have a face that was made for radio and a voice that was made for print and when it comes to using computers I am eTarded.
No One Should Ever Have To Listen To This
You and James should check your Mayan calendars.
Stay Free!
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A new children's consignment store in Brooklyn For the kids. In my house. Not a joke.
I didnt get that because I hate John Cusack movies where he doesn't monologue to camera.
I think two people who love each other getting married is awesome. What is trite about it?
I know, wouldn't it be awesome if EVERYONE could do it regardless of who they love?
Iunno, I'm anti-wedding right now because of a wedding I'm performing in this weekend (my 19 year old cousin and his girlfriend of a year :/). I feel like I've had to deal with so many do's and don'ts and what is right and what is wrong, and I don't think love should be about that. I don't think love should send people into panic attacks because the yellow m&m's aren't in yet. I think that weddings can be really beautiful, but they can also rip families apart and make people hate waking up in the morning.
Eyes are the losers in the skies.
Yeah, I guess I forgot most people's penchant for not playing nice with each other, and how a wedding can magnify and bring that out full tilt. So yes, I agree that fighting over decorations and using anxiety/stress as a reason to disrespect and lash out at family/loved ones are pretty trite and ridiculous things.
Last edited by pixel revolt; June 17, 2010 at 12:31 AM.
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