"‘Forgotten how to behave’: comics say audiences more abusive post-lockdown"

[DrGreggles]

It's mainly drunk people that interrupt like this, surely? Booze and watching stand up is like chemistry, a balancing act. You have one pint too many and you spoil the evening for yourself or others.

I don't go to comedy shows at the weekend anymore because of this.

[somersetchris]

I don't go to comedy shows at the weekend anymore because of this.

Lots of established comedians won't do Friday or Saturday nights because they know they will be a car crash, especially if there is a stag or hen do in.

I live in the provinces but I have seen this quite a few times and in my experience it's always because the person is hammered; shouting out a one-line heckle is one thing, but the hammered person loses the ability to tell the difference between what is funny and what is annoying and starts to think they are part of the show. They usually ruin the show, and often shout something out in the first half only to not return in the second half because they got so tanked up before the show they've had to go home.

I can't say I've seen this increase at all, but I haven't been to a comedy gig post-pandemic and I think comedy audiences down here are generally politer than you might find in a big city on a Saturday night.

It's always been drunk people though, always - maybe it's that people get over-excited now they're allowed out again, maybe they're drinking too much before the show, or maybe their tolerance went down during lockdown and they're drinking the same but it's making them more pissed.

Regardless, whenever someone starts shouting stuff out because they think the show is about them, that's time for them to be escorted out.

[Brundle-Fly]

Lots of established comedians won't do Friday or Saturday nights because they know they will be a car crash,

It's like the Edinburgh Fringe dilemma. That double edged sword of the weekend when comedians would know they'd get good houses but some of the locals on a jolly up just might fuck up your show. No offence to any Edinburgh dwellers here.

[Kankurette]

Tool ban cameras from their gigs. Always have done. Phones being ubiquitous, we were warned not to get our phones out during the gig, although Maynard grumpily allowed us to take photos during the last song. I did see a woman get her phone out near me and be told off by a security person, but there were surprisingly few phones. And tbh I didn't mind, even though I have the attention span of a goldfish. I just watched the visuals or Danny Carey.

Maybe comedians should start doing a Tool and banning photos.