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Roseanne Barr has had some justified success as a comedian. So I was surprised to see her comment (in the light of the White House Press junket)
“first rule of comedy: NEVER target someone more famous than U who is in the audience. U will lose the entire crowd.â€
That’s a very strange first rule. Probably write some jokes first and learn about “and then I got off the bus†and “rule of three†and face the right way and learn how to hold a mic. You don’t really have to worry about famous people in your audience to begin with. Everyone will be exactly as famous as you and it’s unlikely that Johnny Depp will be turning up at the Ha Ha Ha Tee Hee Hee Funny Shack when you do your first open spot.
But if he did, you’d look a bit weird if you didn’t at least mention it. It’s an opportunity to get it very right or very wrong. But if you get it right you will be King or Queen for the night.
Comedians have walked the line of mocking the rich and famous since Ug took the piss out of Ergh for hogging the woolly Mammoth breast meat, just because his dad owned the least stinky cave. And it’s odd to think that a comedian might claim the first page of the comedy handbook would be to respect your superiors. Comedians can do that (and sometimes had to to keep their heads on their shoulders) but most of them wouldn’t do anything of the sort.
All rules of comedy are pretty much rules of thumb and you can get laughs by breaking any supposed dictum set down by any other person (including this one). There are certainly things that are risky to attempt, but that’s almost the definition of a good joke anyway. To begin with at least, you are taking a punt on an idea that might get a laugh or might not.
You must be cautious with audience interaction and I, as much as anyone, have got it deeply wrong in the past and continue to do so (as you’ll know if you listen to the podcast). I once responded to a man who was heckling from the front row, whose head was in line with my feet, by kicking him gently in the temple. But a bit harder than I meant to. Luckily he didn’t punch the shit out of me. But a better first rule of comedy might be to never physically assault someone (especially if they are stronger than you).
But even that is an odd first rule isn’t it. The first rule is have some idea what you’re going to say? Maybe. Though not for everyone.
Maybe “Tell the Truth (as you see it)†is a good first rule, which was certainly adhered to on this particular occasion. Of course so much of comedy is lies and exaggerations that it’s another rule that gets broken straight away. Maybe "Tell your Truth†- your truth might be lies.
The first rule of comedy club is don’t do jokes based on that now rather hack line from Fight Club?
And that’s the most broken rule of them all.
Basically the first rule of comedy is “There are no rules in comedyâ€. And the paradox of that is indicative of the art form. There are a million opinions though. And everyone is going to tell you theirs. And unlike most jobs however experienced you are, or how well you’re doing, people will be lining up to tell you how you don’t understand what you’re doing.
As I appear to be doing to Roseanne in this blog.
I would say that one of my rules of thumb is that the less a leader likes to laugh at themselves, the more scared I am about them being in charge. The same is true when comedians can no longer laugh at themselves too. I’d rather the psychopaths become comedians though.
