Performance Critique: March 19th

28 March 2009 | By Ben in Performance Critiques

This was the first show I was on that was close to the standard comedy club format of an emcee, an opener (10 minutes) a feature spot (25-30 min), and a headliner (40-45 minutes). In this instance it went feature spot (30 min), guest spot (5 min) and headliner for (40 minutes) with me doing a minute or three of jokes in between comics. There were 6 or 8 people in the audience. 

Part 1

1m37s It takes audiences a few seconds to get the “this or tennis” line 

2m16s I could’ve stepped into “Fallopian Tubes” harder 

2m56s I should’ve kept looking at the same two people for this part 

5m31s Instead of “last time I had a life” it should’ve been “last time I got laid” 

7m12s Some comics don’t like being distracted with the audience talking in any sort of way but I like it when an audience member contributes something funny to my set… 

7m30s …until it causes me to screw up my lines 

Part 2

0m42s I need to be able to make Hillary Clinton jokes quickly

1m19s I don’t think I should dead pan the unemployment office line

Part 3

1m47s Get rid of the examples 

2m04s Rephrase that to “That’s your first date” 

3m09s Don’t turn to look at a different person during the punch line, it doesn’t look as conversational 

Overall: I think I did a good job hosting although I could’ve been better at making improvised jokes and asking a few more questions. This will come with time, I hope. I was also pleased that my backwards dating bit got a really good response.

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