What is a Heckler ?
A heckler is a person in the audience who disrupts a comedian's performance by shouting out comments or interrupting the comedian. Heckling is a common occurrence in stand-up comedy, and it can be a challenging aspect of the job for comedians. Many comedy clubs don't have security, and won't step in or ask a patron to leave unless the situation gets out of control, so comedians must be prepared to handle hecklers with wit and intellectual skill.
Heckling can take many forms, from shouting out inappropriate comments to interrupting the comedian's performance. Some hecklers may even try to engage in a back-and-forth with the comedian, trying to trip them up or throw them off their game. Whatever form it takes, heckling can be a distraction for both the comedian and the audience, and it can disrupt the flow of the performance.
The best way to handle a heckler is to use wit and intellectual skill. This means to use your comedy skills to disarm the heckler and turn the situation into something funny. This can be done by acknowledging the heckler and making a joke about the situation, or by simply ignoring the heckler and moving on with your performance. By using wit and intellectual skill, you can defuse the situation and regain control of the audience.
Another way to handle heckling is to use your comedic timing to address the heckler's comment. A well-timed comeback or a clever joke can take the wind out of a heckler's sails and show the audience that you are in control of the situation. It's important to remember that the goal is not to get into an argument with the heckler, but to use your comedy skills to diffuse the situation and keep the performance flowing smoothly.
It's important to remember that heckling is a normal and typical occurrence within comedy, so comedians should be prepared to handle it at all times. By using wit, intellectual skill, and comedic timing, comedians can defuse heckling situations and keep the performance flowing smoothly. It's also important to remember that heckling is frowned upon, and that it's the comedian's job to keep the performance flowing smoothly while also keeping the audience entertained.
In conclusion, Heckling is a common and typical occurance within comedy, and it can be a challenging aspect of the job for comedians. Many comedy clubs don't have security and won't step in or ask a patron to leave unless the situation gets out of control. To handle hecklers with wit and intellectual skill is the best approach, this means to use your comedy skills to disarm the heckler and turn the situation into something funny, by using your comedic timing to address the heckler's comment, and by showing the audience that you are in control of the situation. It's important to remember that heckling is a normal and typical occurrence within comedy, so comedians should be prepared to handle it at all times.
