What You Are Laughing At

Perhaps I'm Just a Prick. (insert emoticon here)

I was reading Blaine's blog earlier and it opened my eyes to a number of things. A few comics I'd never heard of, an update on our friend Meghan's trip through the San Fran Comedy Competition, and a statement at the end about heckling loudly at the open mic. It made me think if I did that last night. I know I've done it before, so I guess I am, or at least have been, a prick, as he put it. I actually try to let go of that whole deal, to just let people go on stage and do whatever it is they do. And the stupid thing is that a day later I rarely remember what it was they said that may have made me heckle prickishly. In that sense, why the hell would I even do it? It's not a comic's intent to drill one in my wheelhouse and attempt to offend just me, and if I get offended, that's really just my peccadillo to bear.

To be honest, I can't justify sitting in the back of a comedy club and heckling. Not loudly, anyway. Lord knows I wouldn't want anyone doing it to me, throwing some verbal comedy gauntlet in my grill. And what's meaner than knowing something is mean and doing it anyway? That's actually kind of evil. That's like talking down to a person you know is insecure, or manipulating someone to tell you something they probably don't feel, just so you can feel the throb of your own ego. Meanness can't be justified, unless the person getting meaned on was a dick to begin with. Whatever is in you is going to come out, sooner or later. If you're a dick, it will show. If you're a good person, you won't be able to hide it. If you're partial to telling others what's wrong with their judging of others, well you're an oxymoron. And the horse you rode in on.

I wish there were comedy classes for people to take to remind them of some basic trouble spots:
* Rhetorical Questions on stage. Find another way to phrase the idea, but don't quiz the audience. Ask a question, and someone will answer.
* Addressing an audience as "You." What "you" don't know is that "you" are not as smart as the person telling "you" all about how to solve the world's political strife, an idea derived from sleep deprivation, weak weed, and too many viewings of "The Daily Show."
* Giving two shits about what others say. If that person's a friend of yours or has decision-making authority over your paycheck, that carries clout. Other than that, that person's pointing a finger with suspect aim. Repeat this phrase: "Thanks. The line to blow me forms in front of the Anacortes Quizno's."
* Thinking I am good. Good is mediocre with a sunny disposition. I want to be one of the best. If I don't want that I'm just wasting my time in this.
* Seeing both sides of an argument. It's better to be completely entrenched in one school of thought, staunch to a cause and blind to counterpoints. Build your walls. You need them.

As Tracy reminded me last night when someone mentioned the Blue Collar Comedy phenomenon sweeping the country, "Don't worry about them. There's enough room for everybody." I have to remember that I should do what counts when it matters. My act is up to me, and that's the only act I need to worry about.

Blaine's got a point. Why heckle at an open mic, if at all? It would be childish to trudge on in the same fashion, bullying the open mic'ers with loud heckling, just to spite them or Blaine's protection of them. I guess I'll have to do it because it's fun.

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My Non-Funny Blog.