4. "it ain't all like that though" In response to Reply # 0
..but i hear u...i watched Hannibal do a small set on Comedy Central one night and the next night i saw him on Comic View...it's was like two totally different people performed....i forget that comedians feel the need to "black it up" sometimes
"yes, sometimes my rhymes are sexist, but you lovely bitches and hos should know i'm tryin to correct it"- hiphopopotamus
6. "amateur stand up comedy is the worst." In response to Reply # 0 Wed Jan-21-15 11:47 AM by John Forte
White amateurs are bad because they're unfunny. Black amateurs are bad because they're unfunny. They're just unfunny in different ways. The overly black shit probably just touches a nerve with you because it's familiar and you recognize the laziness and hackery.
16. "let me tell you why: black people love to laugh" In response to Reply # 15
it's a part of our culture. We're gregarious, and when we go to comedy shows we want to laugh and we do. There is no better audience for a comedian (or magician) than a room full of black folk.
If you're a comedian, and you're consistently killing, why would you change your material?
18. "We also don't support each other enough when we step outside our "box"" In response to Reply # 16
>it's a part of our culture. We're gregarious, and when we go >to comedy shows we want to laugh and we do. There is no better >audience for a comedian (or magician) than a room full of >black folk. > >If you're a comedian, and you're consistently killing, why >would you change your material?
And that goes for any form of entertainment created by Black people.
I do comedy in my area and that's the main thing I struggle with. Most (not all) of the Black comics have the same tired ass material and it makes me sick just waiting for my turn to perform. The crowd has a lot to do with the subject matter and style. Here's the run down of what I see
1. DJ plays some top 40 song and the comic plays on that for the first 2-3 minutes. 2. Black People/White People shit 3. Where my Church People? 4. Remember when you got your ass whipped?
I'm being very general but there's not much deviation from those subjects. It's very frustrating when you're actually attempting to perform something original. I do well in most environments but I don't like performing in front of an all black crowd. I prefer a mixed crowd because I talk to more than just black folk.
i thought the same thing about amateur comedy in general before i started doing knitting factory but every one of those comedians on the bill are good, even though some aren't great. they clearly had talent
and there are some good shows in nyc that are free/cheap with those same comedians so i like to suggest people go to those shows
but sometimes funny folks get booked on shitty bills and you have to deal with the wackness but discounting it overall isn't the move if you're into comedy
26. "i dunno how it works w/ comedians but" In response to Reply # 24 Wed Jan-21-15 12:51 PM by teefiveten
a friend and i remarked how it's similar to DJing
you end up on bills w/ folks or go check out other folks and you connect and support each other and put each other on bills if/when you can and work on other shit if that's what you do (like comedy writing)
at least that's what it looks like to me. it's very much how it is w/ DJing. i don't think it's vetted more than it's just that folks kinda come up together and you help those who help you that you feel that you're on par with. cream rises to the top. some open mic type nights aren't that good but that's part of the process.
those comedians definitely know each other as far as the KF shows go. they chill together in some capacity and build offstage/off showtime. they also drink a lot. lol.
34. "yeah that's what it looks like" In response to Reply # 27 Wed Jan-21-15 01:08 PM by teefiveten
knitting factory is/was on a sunday so i usually just do the show and cab it home b/c a sista gotta work in the AM
one time i got to hang back b/c i had a day off and one of comedians remarked that i must have like a boyfriend or a happy life to be out so fast after every show. lol. i would love to chill b/c i know how that works in my field but unfortunately i can't phone it in at the job . at least not this new job.
now or never Member since Oct 27th 2004 3821 posts
Wed Jan-21-15 01:34 PM
35. "if you was at the comedy store you shoulda went to roast battle" In response to Reply # 0
that shit is upstairs in the belly room and it's epic every week. trippin on Tuesday is cool bc large niggas pop in, but it can be wack too. depends on who's in town
----- No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public. (c) HL Mencken or some other motherfucker.
39. "As a dude who sees live comedy 2-4x a week..." In response to Reply # 0
Most amateur comedy is the worst.
Open mics, bringer shows, whatever. They're bad. It's also how comics become GOOD - having to do shows like that. If you can come out of that and develop an act, you're going to be okay.
Now with a lot of that said - many shows that target a certain demographic of comics (IE black night, Latino night, women, gay, whatever) aren't great either. Rather than producing a show with great comics, they're targeting comics based on race/sex/orientation and not content.
-DJ R-Tistic- Member since Nov 06th 2008 51986 posts
Wed Jan-21-15 03:55 PM
40. "Nahh, you ain't seen enough AMATEUR White comedy. I used to do a spot" In response to Reply # 0
where they had White comedians go before our show, the Improv actually...and even did the same at The Mint. And man....it was where the whole audience would laugh each time, and I just felt like it was an inside joke that I wasn't even supposed to understand.
Like, it would really be shit like.....White dude comes out with a glass of water, and says "hey audience! *they respond* This water is good.....the best tap water L.A. has to offer!! *crowd laughs*....I should just put a mint leaf in it, and call it a Tap-Jito!!! *crowd laughs haaaard* Yeah...just bottle up water from Downtown bathroom sinks and package it up, and call it....Tappp, Heeeeeee-to!!!!! *crowd laughs, then claps...then 10 seconds of silence til the next joke*
The Wordsmith Member since Aug 13th 2002 17070 posts
Thu Jan-22-15 07:35 PM
58. "LOL, how come I can actually hear in my head...." In response to Reply # 40
...some bland White comedian telling that joke? I've seen White comics telling corny jokes of that nature where they'd get major laughs and I would wonder what the hell was everyone laughing at. I try to think that the crowd is drunk and/or high.
52. "amateur stand up in general is bad." In response to Reply # 0
being funny is not easy.
getting people to relate to you is harder.
taking all that AND being somewhat, if not completely original, is the hardest.
i don't think it's a black or white thing. it's probably just more noticeable because there are fewer black people doing standup. if you went to an all-white night you'd think the same.
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