RichardPryor.com Forums

If you do something that is typically against the conventional stand up codes (i.e. doing material that is slightly overdone...okay hack... or looking down at the floor/front audience members), but you acknowledge it and try to point it out making a joke out of it, does that absolve you of your sins? Or just slightly lessens it until you can break yourself of that habit?

I actually have a parody joke, that isn't very creative and in an easily joked about area (pot). I don't pretend to give this joke any credit. Then I follow it by politics or something with some sort of integrity.

The audience thing...umm...well...that just happens. It's more of a connecting with the people closest to you, rather than a "I'm looking at the floor because I'm thinking or not confident" thing.

With the audience thing, I heard a theory that your weaknesses are what make you unique and therefore are your strengths. And I don't want to necessarily give that one up, because of it. But then at the same time, it might be more of a total stage faux pas. I may have just answered my own question on that point...

I thought I had a decent set...

Jane

jane_haze,
Mitch Hedberg didn't and Robert Schimmel hardly ever looks at the audience. It's a comfort zone, if that's your comfort zone run with it.
Talk about whatever you want to talk about, don't worry about if it's overdone, put your spin on it.
A few years from now when you're a big star, as long as you're funny, nobody will care if you aren't looking beyond the first row.
Also, if it felt like it was a good set to you, then it was!!!

robfharris,
I think you're right. Eventually people will accept whatever you do, as long as funniness, charm and some amount of effort are shown. I know I've been doing jokes my way for awhile now, and encountered resistance, but I've also encountered a lot of support for doing it the way I am. I have unfortunately received less support for 'doing it' the way I have, if you know what I'm saying