How to Deal with a Heckler in Stand Up Comedy

Lisa: On behalf of TVlesson.com, I’m Lisa Corrao. I’m a standup comedian, lisacorrao.com. Ok, in this clip I’m going to show you how to deal with a heckler. Ooh, that’s something we are all afraid of, the heckler. What is the heckler? It’s someone who’s interrupting you. And sometimes they are doing it in a really rude way like, you suck. It’s going to be something annoying and bad. And it’s going to throw you. Well, it shouldn’t throw you, why? You’ve got the microphone and now you’ve just been given a chance to ridicule someone publicly. What’s better than that? And the crowd is going to be on your side, as long as you’re not too mean. Male: Get off the stage. Lisa: Really, you’re going to say that to me when you’re wearing that shirt. And your girlfriend is fat. Ok, don’t get too mean, the crowd might turn on you. But hey, if they’re still being mean to back then you can get meaner each time. All you have to do is, don’t let it make you crumble. You have to be brave and confident. And like I said, this is your chance to insult someone, and it’s ok. That’s a beautiful thing. Basically, here’s a little tip, you can encourage hecklers if you’re engaging the crowd too much. And by that, I mean, if you’re asking a lot of questions. Like, hey who’s single here tonight? Don’t start asking the crowd questions. You’re kind of giving them a subconscious signal that it’s ok for them to participate. And it’s just not. Also, this is way I always recommend doing open mikes in bars and coffee houses in little places like that before you get to the big comedy clubs, because it’s a good way to practice with hecklers. Why? You’re going to get more hecklers there, because there are more drunk people. And why not practice in front of places where it doesn’t matter. It’s a great way to get good at insulting people and it’s a lot of fun being mean to people who are being mean to you. Male: Get off the stage. Lisa: That’s how to deal with hecklers. Shut up, your wife is fat. On behalf to TVlesson.com, this is Lisa Corrao thanks for watching.