Leaving the stage, but continuing...

[kellydavis]

I'd like to hear anyone's experiences on leaving the stage,
not at the end of your set, but during it,
whether to talk to the audience or just continue telling your jokes.
or to create a different environment.
what have you experienced? what do YOU do?
when the audience is stormy does it calm them and bring some quiet?
or vice versa? did you do crowd work or just stroll around?

have you dared to leave the mic on stage?
i think i heard robin williams talking to marc maron
about how he would, at times, leave the stage without the mic and continue talking - in more intimate situations.

pros/cons? experiences?
sharing is fun.

i know it's not normal, but well...

thanks.

[ErikNielsen]

Don't do this. Don't ever do this.

The stage is there for a reason -- when you're on the stage, everyone can see you, and you have the implied authority to speak, and to demand silence from the audience. Once you get off the stage, you're not the performer -- you're just some jerk with a microphone. (And there's a good chance you're out of the light too.)

And even disregarding that, there is no way to perform from off the stage that doesn't look like an attempt to show off. There's no way to make it seem natural -- even in the context of a performance.

It's not "not normal", it's unprofessional.

[ArchStanton]

Jon Dore does it often to great effect, as does Brody Stevens. Neither of these comics would fall into the "unprofessional" category.
It's certainly not behavior I'd encourage in new comics but to make that kind of blanket statement is rash I think.

[SlyBattery]

A lot of comic walk off stage and it works for them. Granted I don't think you should attempt it unless you are pretty sure of yourself. Sorry I have no personal experiences to share. I stay on stage.

[kellydavis]

thanks erik, but i was really asking about people's experiences off stage
during a performance,
not if the stage should be left or not. sorry if i was unclear.

btw, i've seen zach g and eddie pepitone do it.
both amazing at their craft and extremely professional.

[ErikNielsen]

Fair enough -- let me rephrase that. The four comics you mentioned have earned the right to break the rules, and I agree all of them have done this successfully.

Have you earned the right to break the rules? If there's any question in your mind, you haven't.

Given that this board isn't about veteran comics with huge amounts of experience, stage presence and name recognition from the audience getting advice -- it's about new comics getting advice -- I really don't feel this is a topic that should be discussed here beyond "don't do it". In the event that Eddie Pepitone or Brody Stevens suddenly decides he needs to ask people on the Internet for advice, that puts the question back in play. But somehow, I doubt that's going to happen.

If you need advice, don't do it. That's all.

[funkyrhino]

are you singing at an awards show? If not then stay on stage.

[kellydavis]

erik, you remind me of chef in apocalyspe now.
"never get off the fucking boat!"
was there a tiger out in the audience... just kiddin'...

we simply disagree. i believe that one earns the right to do that when one gets the balls to do it and feels confident doing it. i've left stage for a portion of a couple of my shows before, and i don't find it such a big deal at all. although i wouldn't do it all the time. depends on the circumstances and what i want from myself and the audience. but i understand how you're not a fan of that. no probs. we are different in that opinion.

anyhoo, in hopes of keeping this thread to it's original intentions and going for anyone who dare leave the stage or share experiences about doing it (look up top for my original questions), i'd love to hear of them. thanks all.

[James Smann]

There are no rules. Anyone who talks about the "rules" is silly-pants.

Steve Martin, before he was selling out ginormous stadiums, would routinely walk off stage and deliver material. He would walk his audience out into the lobby and onto the street. My advice would be to try whatever the hell it is you want to try, because again, there are no rules.

[crlygrl]

Watch your step!

[aenemaTron]

Have you earned the right to break the rules? If there's any question in your mind, you haven't.

Come on, you think comics ever stop questioning themselves?

I mean, you're right about everything you've said except that.

We could talk about experiences we've had with comics leaving the stage. Zach Galifianakis did it at Irving Plaza and it did not go well. Some dick came right up to him and told him he wanted to laugh at least once or he'd leave. For me, it was scary because if someone would do that I can't imagine what else he might do, even though improv training tells me to always be thinking about that.

Erika- get out of this forum! We need an intervention for you!

[crlygrl]

*climbs back on the wagon*

[kellydavis]

Zach Galifianakis did it at Irving Plaza and it did not go well. Some dick came right up to him and told him he wanted to laugh at least once or he'd leave.

and how did Zach respond?

[crlygrl]

I believe he just sort of turned around and got back up on stage and tried not to make a big thing about it.

[pixel revolt]

Other than the pure joy of playing devil's advocate on the internet and name dropping Brody Stevens and Zack G. into an AST post, I don't get the subtle dog-pile against what Erik said. I've seen him perform (he is a great standup) and I've read his other posts and his advice is always very straight forward, applicable and true. Mentioning the .01% exception to the rule doesn't negate the rule, if anything it strengthens it and proves why it's a 99.99% rule.

[ErikNielsen]

There are no rules. Anyone who talks about the "rules" is silly-pants.

Really? Every art form has rules -- or conventions, if you prefer. Those conventions may vary from place to place, or from era to era, but there's no use denying their existence. Are you saying comedy is somehow different? Or are you saying new open micers are the people whose business it is to change the way comedy is done?

Because what I'm saying is, I've seen a lot of new comics goofing around out there, and they kill shows, and also generally they never develop into solid performers until/unless they stop goofing around out there. So again, given the spirit of the board, I feel like a celebration of goofing around out there is awfully counterproductive.

And when I said "if there's any question in your mind," I meant "if there's any question in your mind that you're an established comedian with a good grasp of the fundamentals and the stage presence to hold the crowd," not "if there's any question in your mind that what you're doing is a good idea."

If you're doubting the latter, that's normal, and the risk may be worth it anyway. But if you're doubting the former, either you're not qualified to take that risk, or you're seized by a lack of confidence, making it not the time to try something new anyway.

[SlyBattery]

Remember Andy Kaufman taking his audience out for milk and cookies? That was leaving the stage, and then the building and taking everyone with you. And you know...buying them things.

[kellydavis]

yes conventions exists and they are wonderful. we need some to follow them and some to lead the sheep. standup is just like any other craft to me: whether it be basket weaving or screenwriting. if you follow all the conventions you make a predictable and boring basket or film. all great films (and baskets i suppose) have bent those principles. and all great comics have broken conventions of their time. marx bros, python, bruce, kaufman, pryor, alfred henry jarry, etc. I believe the same about standup. i am not a conventional comic. i am not a conventional person. i want to live my life and do my standup the way i feel comfortable and that means that i might be unpopular with some, i might rather tell jokes from offstage or not tell jokes at all. you might disagree. it might piss you off. you might not enjoy it. kaufman pissed off thousands and also brought smiles to a thousand others as well. erik, the more you say i can't or shouldn't, the more i want to. there is no argument you can make to stop me.
consider it my funeral if you will.

i'm going offstage tonight for a little 5 minute gig on a boat with a proper stage and theatre and am going to enjoy the fuck out of it.

i would like to see your comedy one day erik. sincerely - i'm curious. any video links?

[pixel revolt]

This is the point in the thread where you realize you are having a different conversation on a different planet than the other person.

[ErikNielsen]

Nah. In my universe, a lot of open-micers pursue comedy with self-gratification as their ultimate goal, and indifference or hostility toward their audiences and their craft. I certainly accept this as a real thing. (I mean, I'm in Los Angeles.)

And he's right -- there's not really an argument I can make to keep him from doing this.

There is, however, a pretty effective argument available to his bookers.