Kevin Marshall's America
Last night I went to see stand-up comedian Bill Burr perform at The Egg and Jesus Christ, Albany, you have got to be the worst crowd ever.
As a side note, I met with Funnies bloggers Greg Aidala and Jason Keller at the performance. Keep an eye on that blog, because I’m sure Greg with his experience as a comedian will have a lot to say on this subject.
It’s not bad enough that when we have these hard-working comedians come here they have to navigate around this confounding and baffling structure (which Burr himself made part of his act on Friday), you have to incessantly heckle and yell out for him to do old jokes as well?
Firstly, Burr’s opening act was Joe DeRosa, whose second half of his set was gold. Unfortunately, the first half was marred by some drunk a-hole yelling out “nice sneakers,” to which the comedian responded “they’re not sneakers, you c***.”
I cheered. Then, not five minutes later, a woman randomly yelled out “NOT FUNNY” after a joke that everybody in the audience laughed at.
I figured this would stop once the headliner took the stage. Whether you’re a comedian or a musician, opening for an anticipated act can be a daunting venture. Sometimes the anticipatory energy will help, but more often than not the audience will come wanting something specifically, and if you show anything that veers from that expectation the negative vibe can be overwhelming. The only hope, at least, is that once the guy they want to see comes out they’re at least a bit more attentive and willing to let the guy they paid to see do his thing.
Nope! First, some random guy yelled out “JESSE VENTURA” after Burr’s rant on politics. Later on in the evening, someone else who was barely intelligible yelled out “WE’RE IN A DEPRESSION” and when Burr asked what he’d said responded with “TOO SMARF ORNYA” (which is drunk d-bag talk for “too smart for you”).
For his part, Burr is a freaking master when it comes to his craft. After the “Jesse Ventura” shout, he riffed on it for a full five minutes. It was so great and eloquent that it sounded like it could be part of his actual set. He then transitioned it seamlessly into the next joke. He did the same with “great depression” bit, except did more that time to call the heckler out on being an idiot.
So I can say that something positive came out of it. I learned a lot about the craft jut from watching him, and it gave me a greater respect for him than I had going in to the performance.
Unfortunately, since The Egg doesn’t have adequate security (or any at all), these jerks weren’t removed. This only encouraged other jerks, who at the end of Burr’s set yelled out for him to do old jokes that I wasn’t even familiar with and that Burr clearly didn’t want to do. Because, you know, they’re old jokes that he’s told and everyone’s heard before.
I was tempted to yell out “DO WHO’S ON FIRST” and “PERFORM A SAND SHUFFLE” just to feel like I was part of the crowd.
Listen, jerks. They’re the show, not you. I know that you think you’re hilarious and that you think that going to a comedy show and random out random words is going to somehow make you famous. God forbid the guy everyone’s paying $27.50 to see is the center of attention. Keep in mind, though, that this guy is just doing his job and what everyone else is paying him to do.
Bill Burr doesn’t go to your job and knock stuff off the shelves, so don’t go to his job and yell out things that only you find amusing.
I came out of the show feeling embarrassed for this area. I know it happens everywhere, but last night was out of control and at a level I’ve never seen at any show before. And these are the people that actually like Bill Burr!
So folks, the next time you go out to a comedy show with your a-hole friends who rock sports jerseys on a Saturday night (a sure sign of an idiot), at least do us the courtesy of keeping your damn mouths shut.
Oh, and check the listings for Bill Burr’s new one-hour Comedy Central special, and check out his website for information on how to order his new DVD. Because Albany, you owe it to him.
Share it!
19 Responses to Albany, You’ve Been a Terrible Audience
Leave a Reply
STALK ME
I wonder what was up with all the morons.
I’ve been to a ton of comedy shows in Albany (and surrounding areas) and never once had anything like your experience and I hope I never do.
That is the exact reason why I don’t go to shows (of any kind) or even the movies when in the area. Having family there to be free babysitters is a complete waste because there’s nowhere to go where people can actually behave themselves for a few hours. I won’t even go to Proctors anymore. Even if it’s a cheaper ticket price than seeing something at home it costs me too much in aggravation to be worthwhile.
“So folks, the next time you go out to a comedy show with your a-hole friends who rock sports jerseys on a Saturday night (a sure sign of an idiot), at least do us the courtesy of keeping your damn mouths shut.”
Yes! I like a ticked Kevin Marshall.
This reminds me of that video you once posted about the blonde girl who heckles the comedians and then tries to tell them off after the show saying, “I’m a good person!”
Thankfully, nobody in the audience was dumb enough or drunk enough to start shouting “FREE BIRD!!”
Same thing happened a few years ago seeing Jerry Sienfeld…some one kept yelling out”where’s Kramer”
On a good note, saw John Panette a couple of months ago at the Egg..great show and good audience.
Sorry for your experience, but you write a funny blog, so I guess we benefit. Thanks for taking one for the team.
We, as a family, no longer go to SPAC for any concerts, or most movies at the malls, as the morons you noted seem to congregate there. If it’s not playing at the Spectrum 8, we’re waiting until it’s on Netflix. I’d rather buy the $15 CD or $40 DVD of a concert than waste $200 or more on tickets, parking, and the almost certain bad feelings.
Someone should try doing that to Henry Rollins next time he’s at the Egg.
Hmmm. Seems to have been the same crowd that flowed down the hill to Oktoberfest.
Hey Kevin –
Thanks for posting this blog – it’s right on!
Those people were abhorrent and should be placed into
‘adult timeout’ for 7 years.
See you soon!
Greg
We went to see Dave Attell a few years ago and found the same experience. I was so ticked off…didn’t pay to see the drunk a-hole! Attell was a master at deflecting the jerks, but they persisted so much that he often lost the train of his joke and did another one instead. I will not see a comic again in this area!
I agree with you, Kevin. And it sucks that this behavior happens so often at events in our area. However, for all of the people who stated that they aren’t going out to events because of this: Shame on you! If you aren’t part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. Stand up to the drunk assholes. Don’t let them win. Keep going out and enjoying yourself. Go with a small group of people and if you are at SPAC try to scope out other groups of non-drunk-assholes, befriend them, and when the drunk assholes start being assholes, gang up on them! What are three or four drunk assholes going to do against 10 or 12 sober people?
Actually, gang up on the somewhat sober dude who is with the drunk assholes (Someone has to be DD or at least have a little sense). Make that person feel like crap for bringing drunk idiots out and force them to do something about it. Tell him or her to take their drunk friends and leave or just go somewhere else.
If you are at a comedy show, and you are sitting near someone who is heckling — tell them to shut the f*ck up! And if it’s a drunk asshole, tell their soberish friend to shut him up.
Stand up against these people. Don’t let them rule your life.
Hysterical…Kevin, I’m sorry you had such a disappointing evening with Albany commoners – but it sounds like you still were able to enjoy the show.
I couldn’t help it, I nearly busted a gut reading Chuck’s “At least no one was screaming ‘Freebird!'” comment. Perhaps we should have someone in the audience who runs up to fools and screams, “FREEBIRD!” in their faces. I’d find that funny at least :) Maybe I should start going to these shows, I do have quite a mouth and it never gets put to good use anymore.
Don’t tell Amanda this crap happens – she’ll quit
Thanks Kevin – if only they read your stuff – but there is hope
I’m with Erin’sDad, last time I was a SPAC I almost killed a guy…kinda ruins the concert experience when you’re trying to figure out how to hide a body during a Blues Traveler set.
What’s “The Egg and Jesus Christ”? Is that some new bar the kids are going to? Eh, whatever it is at least it keeps em off my lawn.
Jeff - It’s a new little diddy I’ve written for my church group.
and-a one, and-a two—
I have to agree with James. We shouldn’t let these a$$h0l#$ ruin the experience so that we don’t go again. It’s likely coming out of some db that has always thought he was funny and now had the stage for it. Someone needs to let him know that he should take his little pipedream to coaching his kids baseball team and yell at the kids when they miss the ball on the tee….just like he did long ago.
I’ve had this experience at both Stephen Lynch when he came to The Egg a few years back, and Lewis Black at the Palace. The guy at Lewis Black was being completely out of line, and Lewis Black, as smart as he is, didn’t strike me as very quick, and was VERY unnerved when this guy was yelling out. I was extremely embarassed.
Stephen Lynch, he acted like this crap happened to him all the time.. He became sooo famous for “Special Fred” and “Gay Eskimo,” but he was there to do new material. Finally he yelled, “I’M NOT A F***ING JUKEBOX!!! …Ok, I am…” and played “Special Fred.”
On the other hand, I saw Louis CK at The Egg too, and he had the crowd’s attention the entire time, I think mostly because at that time people knew him from his television series.