You can make comedy funnier

When a comedy gig has gone well, I've often heard people (and the comedians themselves) say "the audience were great".

And I don't think that means the heckles were hilarious or the 'getting-to-know-you' bits at the beginning of the show revealed that some particularly funny people were sitting on the front row (see earlier post on impro...). I think it means the audience did a great job of working with the comedian to create a great atmosphere.

An atmosphere which made the comedian better and the jokes funnier.

The fact is that, however funny and experienced a comedian is, they can't create that atmosphere on their own. The audience has to be willing to contribute. And I would argue that the more willing the audience is to do that, the funnier the show ultimately becomes. So I always go ready to laugh.

Because one thing I've learned from going to comedy gigs is that the more I laugh, the funnier the comedian gets - whoever they are. And it's not just that I find them funnier because I'm in the mood for laughing, I think they really are funnier because comedy relies on confidence. And if the comic, and the audience, are both convinced the show is going well, the show will go well.

A comedian who is enjoying a gig is completely different to a comedian who keeps checking their watch. In a good gig, comedians tend to take more time and develop the delivery. This is when (despite my previous post) the odd improvised comment really works - when it's an obviously spontaneous riff on a storming routine.

Meanwhile if enough people in the audience are in the mood for laughing, then the audience seems to collectively decide they are in for a great night - and that means they probably are.

So if you want to make every comedy gig you go to even funnier - turn up ready to laugh. Laugh at the first funny thing the comedian says and clap the funniest joke you hear in the first five minutes. I bet you the next ninety-five minutes will be better for it.