How to handle a drunk crowd who didn't come for stand-up

[Phil]

I got a gig for St. Patrick's Day weekend. It's in an Irish Bar who hosts bands daily, but never once comedy.

The show starts at 9pm, I'm assuming people will be wasted and few will actually have come to see comedy. It's quite a large bar, two floors, the biggest Irish bar in Helsinki, I expect it to be packed.

Any thoughts on how to handle this kind of crowd? I'm thinking...

- I'll do more blue material, it should get people interested and the drunks will love it.
- Keep the jokes short and simple, easier for the drunks
- They didn't come for a comedy show, so I can't really get angry with them if they're too disruptive
- Have fun, cause will be for sure...

...what else?

[aenemaTron]

Get paid in advance?

(I know nothing.)

[Jawa]

If you have absolutely no control over the situation, perhaps you should just periodically shout "Erin Go Bragh" and raise a glass of Guinness.

I think your idea to have fun is probably a good one.

[Alex Mac]

Having fun is about the only thing you can do. Besides, you haven't lived into a barfly throws a bottle at you.

Nah, just enjoy it as a learning tool. It might seem like torture (or it might not, who knows?) but you will learn so much and have a funny story for later on.

[Bucky_Sinister]

no crowd work.

Focus on the people up front who are paying attention. Ignore the people talking in the back. Give the up fronters an awesome show. F the rest.

Don't ask them to quiet down, or tell them they're a shit crowd.

Do all your time, no matter how uneasy.

[drieux]

There's a book called "I Killed" that documents a ton of stories from comics about weird, funny and horrible shows they've done. Read it, and then prepare to have one of your own. Go in intending to do your best, roll with the punches and definitely have fun.

[smartbunny]

Don't engage the assholes.

[Brian J.]

Don't slink back and allow them to turn you into background noise. Even if it's bad- give it your best effort.

[theodoric]

Start by kicking the crap out of the biggest guy in the place.





Oh, wait, that's bar fights...

Never mind.

[pg13]

First off...why on earth did you take this gig, Phil?

You've done comedy for how long, now? ...and you're putting yourself into a position that would challenge the most experience comedian? ...a situation where there's really no way for you to win and nothing really to gain?

(Hope the check clears.)

Well, it's too late to tell the drowning man that he should have spent more time in the pool before diving into the ocean...might as well offer some advice.

pg's TEN TIPS TO HELP PHIL SURVIVE

1) Know what the room wants...and be the one that gives it to 'em.
--If they want to have a good time, you be the one to give 'em that.
--If they want to drink, somehow, you become the one to get 'em to drink.
--Gigs like this aren't really about you or what you might think you want to do.
--Don't think of this as fighting them for the chance to do what you want.
--Think of this as leading a crowd to exactly where they want to go.
--Swim with the current, not against it...and get credit for the ride.

2) Command the stage from start to finish.
--Potentially hostile crowds sense weakness.
--You need to convey the confidence that you're supposed to be there.
--If you believe it and can project it, they might believe it too.

3) Don't apologize.
--If you were truly sorry, you wouldn't have taken the gig.
--Why would you apologize for helping them get what they came for?

4) Don't beg.
--Begging is weak. Remember...they sense weakness.
--It also admits that you're doing something they don't want you to do.
--By doing so, you've just pointed out the exhaust port on your Death Star.
--...and if the crowd thinks it'd have more fun killing you than listening, they'll do it.

5) Don't be a dick.
--Some think that the key to handling a rowdy room is to attack them.
--But they're the home team.
--Poking fun can work...but they need to know you're joking.
--Don't shit on them or why they're there...no matter how funny you think it'd be.

6) Don't overstay your welcome.
--This isn't the time to stretch.
--Most will accept a temporary distraction or a short change of pace.
--Something they don't want that drags on and on is hell.
--"Hit it and quit it" and you'll be a hero.

7) Don't think blue will save you.
--Funny is more important than vulgar.
--Being drunk doesn't make me any more interested in what comes out of your butt.
--It's a risk vs. reward thing--it might work really well, it might be a disaster.
--They'll know if that stuff isn't really "you."
--Fake can often come across as weak...

8) The key is obvious.
--More so than going blue, if they get your jokes easily, you'll survive.
--Jokes are a puzzle that reward the solvers.
--How good are drunks at solving puzzles?
--Now is not the time to chase subtlety, surreality or cleverness for its own sake.

9) A mastery of crowd work could save you.
--You've been told not to do crowd work but not because it wouldn't work.
--Someone who is a master of crowd work could own this room, despite the challenges inherent.
--You, however, are unlikely to have mastered crowd work at this stage.
--Trying to do crowd work and failing = certain death.
--Lead the masses, don't depend on them--that's your best bet.

10) Put your ego in a jar and a smile on your face.
--It may not be pretty, but you'll probably survive.
--They don't have to know that it was hard/bad/painful.
--...and they won't know unless you let them know.
--Instead, reset the victory conditions and don't let the bastards get you down.
--It's easy enough to have a good time--just decide that's what you're going to do.



It's true. You can learn a lot from putting yourself in situations you're not ready for. How else can you learn? I worry that you've bitten off a chunk that's too big for you to even learn much here...but what doesn't kill you either makes you stronger or weakens you so you die quicker, so what the hell, right?

One thing, though, to keep in the back of your mind when considering gigs in the future. This bar has never had stand-up comedy before...and they're getting you--inexperienced, you. If the show goes poorly, they might never consider doing comedy again. What you do could impact others...and that's one good reason to take your chances for success into consideration before saying "yes" or "no" to what you're offered.

Good luck...and let us know how it goes!
pg--Resident Curmudgeon, Master of the Stick and Harbinger of Doom--seattle

[Gene George]

Peegee your advice is sage as always and in this format reminds me of an Invisiclues hint booklet.

[Adam C]

Chug a beer. Instant applause break.

[Phil]

Wow, I think I hit the jackpot with this thread! Thank you pg13 and everyone else!

First off...why on earth did you take this gig, Phil?

Anything for stage time.

ou've done comedy for how long, now? ...and you're putting yourself into a position that would challenge the most experience comedian? ...a situation where there's really no way for you to win and nothing really to gain?

This is a huge, popular bar in Helsinki. I was asked to do this show alone for 200 euros (like $250). I was honest and said, "I don't think I can do it alone, how about I invite a couple friends?" They said sure, so I invited a couple young comedian friends of mine to each do 10-15 mins and split the $$.

If the show goes well, we could run English comedy shows there in the future (= more stage time for me). If the show goes bad, nothing lost.

(Hope the check clears.)

Fuck the check. I'm doing stand-up for fun. Little do they know, I'd have paid them for this opportunity (I'm saying this now, ask me after the gig )

It's true. You can learn a lot from putting yourself in situations you're not ready for. How else can you learn? I worry that you've bitten off a chunk that's too big for you to even learn much here...but what doesn't kill you either makes you stronger or weakens you so you die quicker, so what the hell, right?

...that's exactly what I'm thinking.

Good luck...and let us know how it goes!
pg--Resident Curmudgeon, Master of the Stick and Harbinger of Doom--seattle

Sincere thanks pg13 for your time writing that post! Your 10 points above is a goldmine and is now my Bible for the night, thank you. I'll be sure to let everyone know how it goes (hopefully some video).