As someone who has promoted comedy shows for years, I have witnessed my fair share of hecklers. These individuals can be a real challenge for promoters and comedians, whether they’re intoxicated audience members who think they’re funnier than the performer, or just people who want to disrupt the show.
Managing hecklers effectively is crucial to keeping a comedy show on track. Not only does it ruin the gig for the acts, but it will also upset other audience members who are behaving themselves – and remember they are the ones that we want to come back! Here are some tips and strategies that I have learned over the years from the view point of a promoter dealing with hecklers:
Establish a Clear Code of Conduct
It’s important to establish a clear code of conduct for the audience before the show begins. This can be done through signage, announcements, or even printed materials like programs or flyers. The code of conduct should outline what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour during the show, including rules around heckling. By setting expectations early on, you can reduce the likelihood of heckling occurring in the first place. I’ve always found the professionalism of your night can directly impact on audience behaviour, so it starts from the ground up.
Address Hecklers Early and Firmly
If a heckler does start to disrupt the show, it’s important to address them early and firmly. The comedian should acknowledge the heckler’s comment or interruption, but then quickly move on and shut it down. The key is to do this in a way that doesn’t escalate the situation or give the heckler more attention than they deserve. There is a thin line to be trod between leaving it to the comedian and stepping in as the promoter. I generally allow the act to have their pop at them and see if it works. If it doesn’t it’s time to have a word and explain that they can’t disrupt the show.
Talk To The Acts About The Situation
If there are troublesome audience members it is always worth discussing the situation with the acts on the bill. You can ask your MC to remind the audience of how they should be behaving in the next section and you can even asks the acts if they want those responsible removed or not. Whatever the result of this it is really important to let acts know that you are taking the situation seriously so that they know you care about the gig and their performance.
What To Do About Chatters
Heckling doesn’t also take the form of shouting out at the acts. Sometimes it’s just talking in groups, continuously getting up and down to go to the bar or toilet or generally just acting like arseholes. Really early people who are talking need to have it explained to them that they are disrupting the show for the acts and the rest of the audience and that it is not acceptable. If they want to chat a comedy show isn’t for them, so I usually offer them the way out and suggest they could be happier going to another venue for their night out. If they continue, they are then asked to leave.
Have Security on Hand Or Not?
So should you have security at your shows to deal with removing people? For me it’s always depended on the size of the show and the venue setting. It’s sometimes nice to have someone to lean on to support you removing an individual or group. If you haven’t got door staff you may want to ask a venue staff member to come over with you to be a united front. I’m probably fortunate being 6 foot tall and not too skinny so I have never had any real problems when I have asked people to leave. If it defuses a difficult situation I may even offer them a refund to leave – although that’s a last resort. Be confident, get them out of the room, and keep in mind that you are saving the gig.
Managing hecklers is never easy, but with these tips and strategies, you can keep your comedy show on track and ensure that everyone has a great time. Remember, the key is to address hecklers early and firmly, use humour to defuse tension, involve the audience when possible, and have security on hand in case things get out of hand. By following these guidelines, you’ll be well-equipped to handle any heckler that comes your way!
Nodding Dog Comedy 