Patti Abbot asks, “What comics you like? What makes them good or bad? Who’s the best you’ve ever seen?”
What makes a comic good?
Timing, timing, timing!
Well, that’s the most important thing. There are others. A comic has to get up on stage, be completely confident in his material, and not be afraid to bomb. In fact, that’s why a lot of material is worked on in bar shows. There are people who go into bars and positively suck, turn around, and jump on stage at a comedy club and kill with the same set. The best two that I’ve seen locally are Ryan Fohl and uber-geek Ray Price.
What makes them bad? Disrespecting your audience for one. I’ve seen two nationally known comedians get on stage and pitch tantrums because the audience didn’t respond. Some believe that, because they went to New York, LA, Chicago, and San Francisco and stood in line at the clubs and paid their dues, their audiences are obligated to laugh at them.
Bull. One well-known New York comic came to Go Bananas over the summer, referred to Blue Ash as a hick town (It’s where the upper middle class lives), moaned that the audience didn’t get his humor (We did. He wasn’t funny.), and picked a fight with a patron. In the comic’s defense on the last one, the guy was an idiot. However, the fight started a steady stream of patrons leaving, telling people waiting for the 10:30 show to save their money. Many of those people left.
I know the clubs want to see people who paid their dues in New York and LA, but New York and LA does not make comedians good. It just makes them bookable. At the end of the day, I’m likely to ask for my money back.
Now, who’s the best?
No question. George Carlin. You had to ask?
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My all-time favorites are Carlin, Cosby (long ago) and Pryor. Never saw them live, of course. It seems to me to be about the hardest job in the world. Humor is not universal and playing to drunks must be a bitch.
There are three secrets to great comedy:
1. Timing
2. Always leave your audience wanting more.
3.
D.
I think Ryan Fohl and Ray Price are awesome comics around here too – I’d gladly pay to see their shows
Nice post. As a comedian who “paid dues” in the bars and on the road before moving to New York I can totally relate…and my favorite is Cosby.