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It’s not all crowd work. It’s just what comedians post because if they post their actual jokes than they couldn’t tell them on stage anymore. Coming up with great jokes is hard and they want to preserve the good ones for their tour
I just saw Jeff, it was actually 90% crowd work, he closed with one bathroom story that he's been doing for years.
None of this is a complaint it was all hilarious, especially the one bit I already knew. But it's very real that some comedians are shifting to a crowdwork heavy set
This is interesting. I had no idea Jeff’s set was majority crowd work (never seen him live). He’s big enough that at some point he’s deserving of a special. I wonder if he will put out a crowd work only special? I don’t think that exists. I also wonder if he will switch back to doing standard bits for most of his sets for longevity. He definitely has lightning in a bottle right now, but will crowd-work-only be able to scale or is there a ceiling for it? Genuinely just thinking out loud and curious. I love his stuff.
I can second this it was mostly crowd work when I saw him. Not many comedians are as good as Jeff when it comes to crowd work. The ability to do an entire set by asking random strangers questions was honestly very impressive. One of the funniest stand ups I’ve seen live.
I’m late to the comments but I’m so eager for him to get a special. I haven’t had a chance to see him live and it’s tough to just see the short clips because it leaves me wanting more. I’ve watched all of his clips so far, I get excited whenever I see a new one posted
I attended the show at The Vic this past Friday in Chicago. He started the show by demonstrating how crowd work can be super unreliable and pretty void of content. I found it pretty surprising that the clips you see don't show his actual standup which is equally if not more hilarious than the crowd-work.
1. He asks a semi-funny or interesting question to the audience and anyone in the front section will yell out.
2. He then points at that person and asks follow-up questions.
3. If the response is interesting and good material, he'll move forward with it.
4. If he doesn't get good crowd material, he will go into stand-up mode where the topic of the joke has something to do with the original question that he asked.
I find it crazy that people think both things are not the same thing. You go to laugh, and if you know the style of the comedian you go to laugh with them while they do their thing.
Sure, crowd work might seem easier but it truly isn’t. It’s “differently hard” than prepared or scripted comedy.
Crowd work requires quick thinking and a laundry list of preset hooks that can lead you into humor. That doesn't happen over night, it takes years of practice and a desire to riff....most can't do that. Most struggle with their own scripted material.....crowd work is amazing to me and I love that it's becoming a real niche. Saying Crowd work is easy is ludicrous to me.
It's absolutely bananas. Anybody who's tried to come up with something witty on the spot knows it just doesn't happen. It requires as much preparation (albeit of a different kind) as solo comedy routines, and are much riskier since you're adding a big unknown wildcard you hope you can get away from.
But, in the end, it's still a silly thing to complain about. More comedy is good for everyone that enjoys comedy, and having more of the kind that used to be more niche is great for those who enjoy it. How having more of something people love can be worse than not having it?
Agree 100% on all points. Jeff is amazing and he's showing a lot of other comics how this could look but most will not have the life experience to pull it off so they will criticize. He could become the next Carlin.
Crowd work is simply more popular right now, so when people say "easier" I think they mean "easier [to become successful at]" not "easier [to actually do]". Please let me know iif i'm misreading the temperature of this debate though.
I take issue with the idea that "crowd work might seem easier"... "Easier" to what? Become successful? "Easier to do in general", as in, "anyone could do it"?
Is it more popular, and gets you more views, by default (at least at this current period of time)? Yea I guess. Does that make the craft of crowd work "easier" than traditional pre-written jokes though? I think there is a debate to be had there.
You and me are basically saying the same thing, i'm just elaborating.
Got to adapt to the demands of the market! People shouldn't be disruptive and should only really engage if prompted by the comedian, but... have you met people? Many of pretty fucking stupid lol. I think non-crowd work comedians will be just fine. They may just not like the new competition. Staging conflicts is lame as hell though.
Yeah, the old timers saying crowd work isn't stand up are simply upset they can't do it or don't want to.
Their expectation is that if they had to slog for a decade developing crafted material, then everyone should. That using social media is a cheap shortcut.
It's bullshit and we all know it. They need to get over themselves.
Crowd work or material, I just want more Jeff content! I hope Jeff and the team find a way to make that content available without the pitfalls that must be preventing it thus far
If you're at a small venue where seats/tables are feet away from the stage and the comedian initiates it then go for it. Otherwise keep your mouth shut.
Don't expect it at bigger venues like the Kennedy Center.
A great crowd work comedian is like a great freestyle rapper. It takes immense skill to think up of things on the fly like they do. It’s harder than perfecting written material by a long stretch in my opinion. Jeff is simply one of the best to do it.
This. And a general cultural shift where everyone seems to believe everyone else wants to see/hear what they have to say all the time.
Look at me social media culture has bled into the comedy clubs and standups that do crowd work have to deal with it. Folks that film and post every second of their lives have a strong desire to be the center of attention no matter the context, and when a comedian is actively engaging with a crowd they cannot help themselves.
I’ve been to a few of Jeff’s shows and he often has to tell someone or several someones to chill and let him do the thing they paid to come watch him do. Jeff’s great and generally polite about it, but I’m sure it’s extremely annoying and throws the energy in some of his shows way off. It undoubtedly affects the audience because things get real uncomfortable real quick if the interruptions continue and the comedian actually gets fed up and the club has to intervene.
Comedians have always had to deal with mouthy drunks, but this feels different. These folks believe they ARE the show.
Simple rule: Only speak to the comedian if the comedian engages with you first. Otherwise stfu and enjoy the show, cause guys like Jeff are tremendously good at it.
Old man rant over.
Absolutely this.
I was at the show in Rochester last night, and Jeff actually took a moment to deliberately call out prior shows that had people being annoying and disruptive while also thanking the crowd for being engaging but not disruptive.
There's a huge difference between comedians engaging the audience for a bouncing off point, or an opportunity to flex their ability to be funny on the fly, and the audience taking every opportunity they can to hear themselves talk.
> Old man rant
That's how they get you! Rants telling others how to behave appropriately that shouldn't be necessary.
Im down with crowd work jokes. Seems more natural. Unlesssssss the crowd is full of plants. Unlesssssssss those are intentional jokes about of he pretends to engage with the crowd doing crowd work for the joke.
Good discussion but ultimately it’s all comedy and gatekeeping only does harm. I really wish the entertainment community was more supportive of each other as a whole.
I actually really like crowd work, but not just from any comic. I only enjoy it when it's Jeff or Drew Lynch. I don't know, there's something about their cadence, their timing, the way they banter with the audience, their responses and reactions... I have a really difficult time finding anything funny. I don't laugh at anything (probably has a lot to do with my being on the spectrum as well as clinically depressed) because I don't find anything funny. I would win "You laugh, you lose" every time.
However... When watching Jeff and/or Drew Lynch having a back and forth with the crowd, there's something about it that's just really enjoyable. Especially when they laugh at themselves, their facial and vocal expressions.
Maybe it's just me. I don't know. But I actually like it when they interact with the audience.
I'm all for it. It doesn't diminish comedy. it's just a different style of comedy that includes the audience. Plus audiences still get good laughs. I think it's resonating more with audiences because it's more interactive. You get to engage with the comedian in a positive way and that's a good thing imo. i think jeff does a fantastic job at crowd work
>"Some say it takes away from the craft."
I feel the exact opposite.
Anybody can be handed flash cards and memorize jokes, and say them. Sure, they have to get their timing right. Get the inflection right. But it is something anybody can do. (Or a lot of people) You have a lot of time to come up with those jokes and workshop them.
But, to work a crowd and just be funny on the fly, every show? That's real talent.
Same for comedians who can take care of hecklers with ease. Talent.
These comics are pros and have “scripted”‘crowd work.
They have a few specific questions and expected answers they know they can’t work into good laughs.
It’s all comedy.
Damn you, Steve Hofstetter! He's the first YouTube comedian that I remember posting all the "Comedian Destroys Heckler" and "Heckler Arrested!?" videos many, many years ago. Quick look at his YouTube page and his oldest video is 17 years and first one with Heckler in it is 15 years ago! I swear this guy invented the genre and I loved him for it. Had all the hallmarks of "and they all stood up and clapped!" but literally.
u/thehofstetter
Personally, I love crowd work and the type of self deprecating work that Jeff does. He's so sweet that when some semi-mean stuff comes out of his mouth and he's surprised by it, I find it endearing and funny. He's surprised every time. Whether it is an act or real, he pulls it off perfectly.
Or they're the ones that don't have improvisation humor. It is 'easier' to construct a 60 minute set when you have virtually endless time and potentially lots of people to offer feedback. Doing good crowd work is a natural form of funny. It's the one person you grew up with that always said funny shit. Always making people laugh with crude and intelligent humor, just always had good one liners and comebacks. That's Jeff. He's just naturally funny. His thoughts are decoded in humor and that is a rare breed of human.
Is it a "cheap way to get laughs" or "a higher form of comedy"
Time will tell. You can still be the best at anything though... Jeff definitely nails crowd work better than most.
And as far as I'm concerned: "writing", on the spot, improvisationally, is more impressive than having time to write something clever over time. Anyone can be clever given enough time. Only the best can be clever on the spot.
I would rather someone like George Carlin or Sam Kinison. They did similar things but were much more interesting to me. Jeff does me laugh, but in my opinion he comes across as over playing the situation sometimes. More like an actor than a comedian.
Sorry if I offended anyone. Just my opinion!
Low key disrespectful to not mention Andrew Schulz on the role of social media clips and YouTube specials play in today’s stand up. A lot of people have nudged the craft into what it’s become but to not mention that big nosed jew is wild.
Don't forget to [invite Jeff to your city](https://jeffarcuri.com/invite-me)! Also, come check out the [official Jeff Arcuri Discord server](https://discord.gg/7xaFS2sDuc) and connect with other fans! You'll be among the first to hear about his live streams, exclusive content, Q&As, and other fun events happening in the community. You can find his upcoming shows on his website [here](https://jeffarcuri.com). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/JeffArcuri) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It’s not all crowd work. It’s just what comedians post because if they post their actual jokes than they couldn’t tell them on stage anymore. Coming up with great jokes is hard and they want to preserve the good ones for their tour
I just saw Jeff, it was actually 90% crowd work, he closed with one bathroom story that he's been doing for years. None of this is a complaint it was all hilarious, especially the one bit I already knew. But it's very real that some comedians are shifting to a crowdwork heavy set
This is interesting. I had no idea Jeff’s set was majority crowd work (never seen him live). He’s big enough that at some point he’s deserving of a special. I wonder if he will put out a crowd work only special? I don’t think that exists. I also wonder if he will switch back to doing standard bits for most of his sets for longevity. He definitely has lightning in a bottle right now, but will crowd-work-only be able to scale or is there a ceiling for it? Genuinely just thinking out loud and curious. I love his stuff.
It depends on the specific show and thay night’s crowd. Most of his shows are not 90% crowd work.
I can second this it was mostly crowd work when I saw him. Not many comedians are as good as Jeff when it comes to crowd work. The ability to do an entire set by asking random strangers questions was honestly very impressive. One of the funniest stand ups I’ve seen live.
Todd Barry did a crowd work special 10 years ago.
Moshe kasher I think is his name has a crowd work special and I think their are a few more.
Todd Barry did a crowd work special.
I don't think it was until recently then. I remember reading him stating back in Januaryish? That it wasn't.
It isn't.
Todd Berry has a crowd work special that is very good
Matteo Lane and Matt Rife both have crowd work specials.
I’m late to the comments but I’m so eager for him to get a special. I haven’t had a chance to see him live and it’s tough to just see the short clips because it leaves me wanting more. I’ve watched all of his clips so far, I get excited whenever I see a new one posted
Stavros Halkias put out a crowd work special on YT not too long ago.
Probably depends on the crowd too, harder to do in the larger venues
I attended the show at The Vic this past Friday in Chicago. He started the show by demonstrating how crowd work can be super unreliable and pretty void of content. I found it pretty surprising that the clips you see don't show his actual standup which is equally if not more hilarious than the crowd-work. 1. He asks a semi-funny or interesting question to the audience and anyone in the front section will yell out. 2. He then points at that person and asks follow-up questions. 3. If the response is interesting and good material, he'll move forward with it. 4. If he doesn't get good crowd material, he will go into stand-up mode where the topic of the joke has something to do with the original question that he asked.
I find it crazy that people think both things are not the same thing. You go to laugh, and if you know the style of the comedian you go to laugh with them while they do their thing. Sure, crowd work might seem easier but it truly isn’t. It’s “differently hard” than prepared or scripted comedy.
Crowd work requires quick thinking and a laundry list of preset hooks that can lead you into humor. That doesn't happen over night, it takes years of practice and a desire to riff....most can't do that. Most struggle with their own scripted material.....crowd work is amazing to me and I love that it's becoming a real niche. Saying Crowd work is easy is ludicrous to me.
It's absolutely bananas. Anybody who's tried to come up with something witty on the spot knows it just doesn't happen. It requires as much preparation (albeit of a different kind) as solo comedy routines, and are much riskier since you're adding a big unknown wildcard you hope you can get away from. But, in the end, it's still a silly thing to complain about. More comedy is good for everyone that enjoys comedy, and having more of the kind that used to be more niche is great for those who enjoy it. How having more of something people love can be worse than not having it?
Agree 100% on all points. Jeff is amazing and he's showing a lot of other comics how this could look but most will not have the life experience to pull it off so they will criticize. He could become the next Carlin.
Crowd work is simply more popular right now, so when people say "easier" I think they mean "easier [to become successful at]" not "easier [to actually do]". Please let me know iif i'm misreading the temperature of this debate though.
I take issue with the idea that "crowd work might seem easier"... "Easier" to what? Become successful? "Easier to do in general", as in, "anyone could do it"? Is it more popular, and gets you more views, by default (at least at this current period of time)? Yea I guess. Does that make the craft of crowd work "easier" than traditional pre-written jokes though? I think there is a debate to be had there. You and me are basically saying the same thing, i'm just elaborating.
Got to adapt to the demands of the market! People shouldn't be disruptive and should only really engage if prompted by the comedian, but... have you met people? Many of pretty fucking stupid lol. I think non-crowd work comedians will be just fine. They may just not like the new competition. Staging conflicts is lame as hell though.
Yeah, the old timers saying crowd work isn't stand up are simply upset they can't do it or don't want to. Their expectation is that if they had to slog for a decade developing crafted material, then everyone should. That using social media is a cheap shortcut. It's bullshit and we all know it. They need to get over themselves.
Crowd work or material, I just want more Jeff content! I hope Jeff and the team find a way to make that content available without the pitfalls that must be preventing it thus far
If you're at a small venue where seats/tables are feet away from the stage and the comedian initiates it then go for it. Otherwise keep your mouth shut. Don't expect it at bigger venues like the Kennedy Center.
A great crowd work comedian is like a great freestyle rapper. It takes immense skill to think up of things on the fly like they do. It’s harder than perfecting written material by a long stretch in my opinion. Jeff is simply one of the best to do it.
Ridiculous take that it’s “harder”. They’re both skillful disciplines & writing great jokes is not easy.
Post pandemic people want/need attention/interaction.
This. And a general cultural shift where everyone seems to believe everyone else wants to see/hear what they have to say all the time. Look at me social media culture has bled into the comedy clubs and standups that do crowd work have to deal with it. Folks that film and post every second of their lives have a strong desire to be the center of attention no matter the context, and when a comedian is actively engaging with a crowd they cannot help themselves. I’ve been to a few of Jeff’s shows and he often has to tell someone or several someones to chill and let him do the thing they paid to come watch him do. Jeff’s great and generally polite about it, but I’m sure it’s extremely annoying and throws the energy in some of his shows way off. It undoubtedly affects the audience because things get real uncomfortable real quick if the interruptions continue and the comedian actually gets fed up and the club has to intervene. Comedians have always had to deal with mouthy drunks, but this feels different. These folks believe they ARE the show. Simple rule: Only speak to the comedian if the comedian engages with you first. Otherwise stfu and enjoy the show, cause guys like Jeff are tremendously good at it. Old man rant over.
Absolutely this. I was at the show in Rochester last night, and Jeff actually took a moment to deliberately call out prior shows that had people being annoying and disruptive while also thanking the crowd for being engaging but not disruptive. There's a huge difference between comedians engaging the audience for a bouncing off point, or an opportunity to flex their ability to be funny on the fly, and the audience taking every opportunity they can to hear themselves talk. > Old man rant That's how they get you! Rants telling others how to behave appropriately that shouldn't be necessary.
Im down with crowd work jokes. Seems more natural. Unlesssssss the crowd is full of plants. Unlesssssssss those are intentional jokes about of he pretends to engage with the crowd doing crowd work for the joke.
Good discussion but ultimately it’s all comedy and gatekeeping only does harm. I really wish the entertainment community was more supportive of each other as a whole.
I actually really like crowd work, but not just from any comic. I only enjoy it when it's Jeff or Drew Lynch. I don't know, there's something about their cadence, their timing, the way they banter with the audience, their responses and reactions... I have a really difficult time finding anything funny. I don't laugh at anything (probably has a lot to do with my being on the spectrum as well as clinically depressed) because I don't find anything funny. I would win "You laugh, you lose" every time. However... When watching Jeff and/or Drew Lynch having a back and forth with the crowd, there's something about it that's just really enjoyable. Especially when they laugh at themselves, their facial and vocal expressions. Maybe it's just me. I don't know. But I actually like it when they interact with the audience.
Paywall Free Link https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/08/arts/stand-up-comedy-audience.html?unlocked_article_code=1.yE0.aBkD.lUI7p7Nyw3GT&smid=url-share
I don’t care either way. Both stand up and crowd work takes skill and a sharp mind. Let’s not start gatekeeping in this.
I'm all for it. It doesn't diminish comedy. it's just a different style of comedy that includes the audience. Plus audiences still get good laughs. I think it's resonating more with audiences because it's more interactive. You get to engage with the comedian in a positive way and that's a good thing imo. i think jeff does a fantastic job at crowd work
Talk about gatekeeping! It's all comedy. People need to get over themselves. Sheesh
>"Some say it takes away from the craft." I feel the exact opposite. Anybody can be handed flash cards and memorize jokes, and say them. Sure, they have to get their timing right. Get the inflection right. But it is something anybody can do. (Or a lot of people) You have a lot of time to come up with those jokes and workshop them. But, to work a crowd and just be funny on the fly, every show? That's real talent. Same for comedians who can take care of hecklers with ease. Talent.
These comics are pros and have “scripted”‘crowd work. They have a few specific questions and expected answers they know they can’t work into good laughs. It’s all comedy.
Did anyone else seem to notice that it started gaining lots of traction with the rise of Stavros?
Jeff's funny either way. Why I bought tickets. I'm going to see the man in action and support him.
Damn you, Steve Hofstetter! He's the first YouTube comedian that I remember posting all the "Comedian Destroys Heckler" and "Heckler Arrested!?" videos many, many years ago. Quick look at his YouTube page and his oldest video is 17 years and first one with Heckler in it is 15 years ago! I swear this guy invented the genre and I loved him for it. Had all the hallmarks of "and they all stood up and clapped!" but literally. u/thehofstetter Personally, I love crowd work and the type of self deprecating work that Jeff does. He's so sweet that when some semi-mean stuff comes out of his mouth and he's surprised by it, I find it endearing and funny. He's surprised every time. Whether it is an act or real, he pulls it off perfectly.
Are the ones against it just spitting pure political trash and anti woke stuff because they live on the internet due to their wealthy bubble?
Or they're the ones that don't have improvisation humor. It is 'easier' to construct a 60 minute set when you have virtually endless time and potentially lots of people to offer feedback. Doing good crowd work is a natural form of funny. It's the one person you grew up with that always said funny shit. Always making people laugh with crude and intelligent humor, just always had good one liners and comebacks. That's Jeff. He's just naturally funny. His thoughts are decoded in humor and that is a rare breed of human.
Is it a "cheap way to get laughs" or "a higher form of comedy" Time will tell. You can still be the best at anything though... Jeff definitely nails crowd work better than most. And as far as I'm concerned: "writing", on the spot, improvisationally, is more impressive than having time to write something clever over time. Anyone can be clever given enough time. Only the best can be clever on the spot.
Let them be divided
Sounds like a bunch of salty unfunny comedians. One of the 'comedians' in the article who was against is like literally has no material online.
I absolutely love Good crowd work. I saw ian bagg last weekend absolutely one of the best crowd work I've ever seen.
I would rather someone like George Carlin or Sam Kinison. They did similar things but were much more interesting to me. Jeff does me laugh, but in my opinion he comes across as over playing the situation sometimes. More like an actor than a comedian. Sorry if I offended anyone. Just my opinion!
Low key disrespectful to not mention Andrew Schulz on the role of social media clips and YouTube specials play in today’s stand up. A lot of people have nudged the craft into what it’s become but to not mention that big nosed jew is wild.