The Comedian, Crowd Work and the Heckler

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Many comedians worry about being heckled by the crowd. They nervously build up images or scenarios in their mind about what could potentially happen when they get up on stage to deliver their five minute set. Some will ignore the heckler while others will prepare witty comebacks but in reality most audience members are a supportive bunch who are just looking for a good night out. Nevertheless, any comedian needs to be able to deal with hecklers.

A heckler is described as someone who shouts out unwanted comments or continually talks during a show and interrupts a set. I recently watched a selection of video clips on Reddit of Jimmy Carr doing crowd work. This experienced comedian dealt with hecklers in a calm way that made his professionalism evident. I noticed with interest how he used the technique of repeating what the heckler says to buy himself time to respond with a witty comeback which did not disappoint. This is an effective strategy which also ensures that the audience has heard the heckle so that they are engaged in the joke.

I have also recently noticed comedians performing work in progress style gigs that are almost 100% crowd work. The rise in popularity of crowd work over written material indicates a growing appreciation and raises interesting questions such as have audiences become too passive? and does a bit of heckling actually improve stand-up performance by highlighting the skills of the comedian and keeping audiences on their toes?

People heckle for many reasons beyond disruption of a performance. A comedian performing offensive jokes or the heckler's personality are two examples. A heckler can perhaps believe that they are funnier than the comedian or the comedy event could just be held in an area well known for trouble which would increase the likelihood of the comedian being heckled.

Tips for preventing or dealing with hecklers include:

• Reading the room to get a feel for the atmosphere and connect with the audience.

• Notice how the audience feel about the heckler - are they laughing along or do they see it as an unwanted interruption? Your response can be tailored accordingly.

Some comedians attend gong events and perform gigs in an attempt to climb a leader board. These comedians thrive in this environment as these events are designed for audience feedback which can be both critical or supportive. The audience is usually harder to please and as such is a way to quickly improve skills and learn how to handle unexpected situations on stage.

The key is to listen to the heckler and remain calm. Remember that you as the comedian have the mic and it is your set. If you respond well you win.