Entertainment & Music 'Open mic' stand-up comedy

[fairdinkum]

Do you like to go along to open mic nights? Have you ever given it a go yourself and gotten up on stage? Do you think you ever could/would?

I went along to one at a pub nearby on Monday and had a pretty good time. Out of about eight performers, there was one actual 'headliner' who, due to his experience, was much better than the rest. Of the amateurs, though, there were a few laughs to be had, and even the worst bloke at the end had me laughing due to his self-deprecation every time one of his 'jokes' fell flat: *stares at ground* 'This is not going well at all, is it?'.

Generally, the audience went pretty easy on even the poor performers because a) it is free, and b) most people respect that it takes some courage to even get up there and have a crack in the first place.

I'm now seriously considering giving this a go myself some time this summer. If I bomb out at least I can say I tried (I don't take myself seriously enough to get bummed out by it), but given how much laughter some of the crappier jokes were getting, I reckon I might go alright. I can't do any worse than the bloke at the end of the night I went to, anyway.

So, yeah, anybody here into open mic comedy?

 

[Rod Stroker]

Has been a goal of mine for quite a while but haven't got there yet because 1) don't have my own material and 2) I don't really enjoy public speaking

I've loosely put together a bit of a medley with bits from some of the acts of various comedians I've liked over the years, at least as a start to get me going in the hope it would lead to writing my own stuff, but haven't been brave enough to use it yet. For some reason telling other peoples jokes is really frowned upon in the industry, I don't really get why because to me the practice is no worse than being in a cover band. In fact I reckon it's better than a cover band because you're actually making people laugh.

The open mic you went to, were they using their own material or other peoples?

 

[buzzbuzz]

Yeahhh, no, do not use other people's material. And yes, it is much worse than covering music. This sort of explains it: http://bon-vivant.com.au/2011/10/06/did-you-hear-the-one-about-by-mick-neven/

 

[fairdinkum]

The open mic you went to, were they using their own material or other peoples?

It mostly seemed to be their own material but, for all I knew, some of the jokes might well have been ripped from somewhere. There is a plethora of a stand-up material available on youtube so it wouldn't be hard to pinch a joke there and pass it off as your own.

Most of the amateurs on the night I went to seemed to use anecdotes as the mainstay of their sets. Like, 'My husband and I are trying to get pregnant, but the doctor told me I had to lose weight (proceeds to tell self-deprecating jokes about fat people)'.

Surprisingly, almost none of them touched on politics or god, topics which make up a sizeable proportion of my own favourite stand-up material. This might be because it is hard(er) to write topical/new stuff on these topics, I'm not sure.

My own fear is that, because I watch comparitively little passive media (films/television shows) I might come up with what I think is a good joke, only to find out that the same joke was used on some television show that everybody but me watches. Then I'd look like a real dick.

 

[rideclutch]

My own fear is that, because I watch comparitively little passive media (films/television shows) I might come up with what I think is a good joke, only to find out that the same joke was used on some television show that everybody but me watches. Then I'd look like a real dick.

I wouldn't worry about that. As long as you don't end up ripping off a comedians entire routine, word-for-word like that Australia's Got Talent guy, (unlikely) then you'll be fine.

Did anyone manage to slide in a few one-liners or quick punchline gags? Would've thought that style would be best suited to a pub crowd. Anyway, just go for it. Oh and remember, delivery is everything

 

[J_Moore]

Don't use other people's jokes.

Comedy is primarily a writer's medium, not a performer's (though that's still very important).

using other people's jokes isn't like being in a covers band. It's like rocking up to a poetry reading and reading someone else's poems.

Only time it's ok is when other people write jokes specifically for you, cause you're a massive American comedian who can't be bothered thinking any more.

people avoid politics and religion because they're hard to be funny about. Most open mic-ers that go anywhere near it come off as adolescent whingers.

 

[nicky]

Do you like to go along to open mic nights? Have you ever given it a go yourself and gotten up on stage? Do you think you ever could/would?

I went along to one at a pub nearby on Monday and had a pretty good time. Out of about eight performers, there was one actual 'headliner' who, due to his experience, was much better than the rest. Of the amateurs, though, there were a few laughs to be had, and even the worst bloke at the end had me laughing due to his self-deprecation every time one of his 'jokes' fell flat: *stares at ground* 'This is not going well at all, is it?'.

Generally, the audience went pretty easy on even the poor performers because a) it is free, and b) most people respect that it takes some courage to even get up there and have a crack in the first place.

I'm now seriously considering giving this a go myself some time this summer. If I bomb out at least I can say I tried (I don't take myself seriously enough to get bummed out by it), but given how much laughter some of the crappier jokes were getting, I reckon I might go alright. I can't do any worse than the bloke at the end of the night I went to, anyway.

So, yeah, anybody here into open mic comedy?

A good friend of mine was doing it. I went and saw him at an open mic night and there was me and maybe 10 others in the audience. These older men (pushing 50) heckled each ammautuer stand up. It was revealed they do that every week. I wanted to take some type of revenge on them, they were awful.

So yeah do it but don't do it at tram ways in fitzroy north.

 

[fairdinkum]

Interesting. The crowd at the night I went to was pretty polite, even to the duds.

If I were being heckled like that, I'd fight back. In fact, I'd probably get some of my best laughs from mocking 50yo blokes in the crowd. If there is one segment of society which is both easy and acceptable to mock, later-middle aged men are right up there.

 

[nicky]

The thing is I got there first and they confirmed I was there for the comedy night. Then proceeded to tell me about the week before and how the ammautuer comedians were being heckled by some phantom men. They told me that a good heckler makes the comedian qualify and quantify everything in their story.

It wasn't until these same men did that (kept butting into the ammautuer comedians stories wanting expansion on bland insignificant points). If they hadn't explained the details of ****ing up a show prior I would have thought they were annoying, it wouldn't have occured to me that they're malicious. But I knew so felt fairly angry at them.

I told my friend what happens and he was astounded. He hasn't done it since. I hope it wasn't because of those old losers.

 

[Vecto]

Trout.... Am i right?

 

[Hipster Doofus]

I reckon it's great if you got up there, takes real courage

 

[nicky]

It is the most courageous thing you can do.

 

[LouisCK]

Nothing wrong with giving it a go, most people will be kind.

If they give you shit, just fire back with "Hey! I don't come down to your work and knock the d i c k out of your a r s e!"

 

[Poseidon]

Went to see Akmal Saleh the other night. He basically invites hecklers.
A classic comeback that he used. Someone asked "Know any good jokes?" he replied "pull down your pants!"

 

[nicky]

Don't use other people's jokes.

Comedy is primarily a writer's medium, not a performer's (though that's still very important).

using other people's jokes isn't like being in a covers band. It's like rocking up to a poetry reading and reading someone else's poems.

Only time it's ok is when other people write jokes specifically for you, cause you're a massive American comedian who can't be bothered thinking any more.

people avoid politics and religion because they're hard to be funny about. Most open mic-ers that go anywhere near it come off as adolescent whingers.

Doug Stanhope and bill hicks disagree and they're the cream of the crop.

 

[LouisCK]

Doug Stanhope and bill hicks disagree and they're the cream of the crop.

If a comedian wants to borrow anothers joke, he should (aside from necking himself immediately after) be forced to put in a disclaimer at the start of the show, explaining which jokes are originals, and which he stole, and who he stole them from.

With a cover band, everyone knows who the original artist was, its no big deal. Not so with comedy.

Its a very low act to steal jokes from other comedians. Why do you think Dane Cook is so reviled? He not only steals jokes, he makes them unfunny in the process.

And Bill Hicks wasn't in favour of people stealing each others jokes, he openly hated Dennis Leary for doing EXACTLY THAT to Bill's own material. He eventually forgave him, but terminal cancer will make someone forgiving.

 

[nicky]

God, you really are an angry loser who jumps the gun.


I was referring to jmoores claim that good comedians stay away from politics and religion. Bill hicks and Doug Stanhope are proof that isnt the case.

 

[LouisCK]

God, you really are an angry loser who jumps the gun.


I was referring to jmoores claim that good comedians stay away from politics and religion. Bill hicks and Doug Stanhope are proof that isnt the case.

There's no anger in what I write. I think you just take any post that disagrees with your own as someone talking down to you or in anger. Daddy issues maybe. And for the record, I don't jump the gun either, but I am definitely a loser.

I see that you've now clarified what you meant. I accept that.

In future, if you want to be a better communicator, if you can't be bothered actually explaining which part of the post you're referring to, you should at least only quote that portion. It will make your point easier to understand, as the majority of his post was about stealing jokes, it was natural for the reader to assume that's what you were referring to.

 

[J_Moore]

Nicky, I wasn't saying good comedian stay away from religion and politics. I was saying most open-micers should, because they're generally shit, and the topics are far too fraught for your average punter to touch without looking like a knob.

It'd be like the bloke banging out "wonderwall" at a pub trying to launch into some Segovia.

 

[Plugger35]

Doug Stanhope and bill hicks disagree and they're the cream of the crop.

Bill Hicks is the cream of the crop? He hasn't written any decent new material in years.

 

[fairdinkum]

Bill Hicks is the cream of the crop? He hasn't written any decent new material in years.

Much of his stuff is as relevant today as it was back when he wrote it. Some of it seems even more relevant today than it was back then.

 

[Plugger35]

Much of his stuff is as relevant today as it was back when he wrote it. Some of it seems even more relevant today than it was back then.

Thanks Ben.

Don't get me wrong, I like Bill Hicks stuff but I think he gets overrated due to dying young, good stand up but nothing special. I reckon Louis CK is a better stand up but he hasn't died yet so as a result isn't rated as highly as Hicks.

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Louis C.K. is probably my favourite comedian, and Bill Burr is another who I really rate.

I only saw one of Hicks routines that I really loved, but I can appreciate why his comedy is so popular.

 

[Ochre]

Trout.... Am i right?

 

[nicky]

Thanks Ben.

Don't get me wrong, I like Bill Hicks stuff but I think he gets overrated due to dying young, good stand up but nothing special. I reckon Louis CK is a better stand up but he hasn't died yet so as a result isn't rated as highly as Hicks.

That is fairly cynical thing to conclude. Bill hicks is in a league of his own because his execution was incredible, it was like he was preaching (he was a son of a preacher man).

I think he's rated highly despite him dying young.

Sorry jmoore, I misinterpretted what you were saying.

And Louis, I'm saying you're angry because I've not seen you post before 12 hours ago and every one of your posts has you getting overly aggressive over nothing.