Where, if anywhere, do the comics on the site draw the line in terms of subject matter?
Are there any taboo's?
I've noticed that certain events are off limits and others are OK? For example, the 9/11 disaster is a generally a no go in the UK but other tragedies are fine.
Why is this?
Where do you draw the line?
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Where do you draw the line?
You get born, you keep your head down and you die - if you're lucky.
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Jim Mendrinos
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Re: Where do you draw the line?
garfy1974,
There is no line, and yet there is a line that moves for every audience. I've seen Rick Aviles do jokes about the Challenger disaster on the night it blew up and he got laughs. I worked with Kinison, and saw him get a standing O one night, and walk the crowd the next.
Bill Hicks constantly had shows where half the people wanted an autograph, and the other half wanted him dead. When you do risky material, there will always be people offended, and if you're doing honest, well thought out bits, there will always be people inspired to more than just laughter.
The key is commitment. When you decide to do a piece that's edgy, you have to write it perfectly on the money, and perform it flawlessly every time. You have to not care if you offend people, and you have to be willing to pay the price, in this case by losing some gigs, when you decide to go that route.
One night in 84, just messing around for giggles, Sam Kinison did the safest, most generic set I've ever seen. In essence he was lampooning what most of the comics were doing. Trouble was he did it better than the people he was lampooning. He actually got waves of laughter from the audience just by doing fluff. When he came off stage the club owner asked him why he didn't do that set as his real set, and Sam said "Because I would die ever time I got a laugh."
You don't push the envelope because you want to, or because you're trying to shock. You do it because you have to. Because it's at the very core of who you are.
If it's honest, it'll find an audience.
There is no line, and yet there is a line that moves for every audience. I've seen Rick Aviles do jokes about the Challenger disaster on the night it blew up and he got laughs. I worked with Kinison, and saw him get a standing O one night, and walk the crowd the next.
Bill Hicks constantly had shows where half the people wanted an autograph, and the other half wanted him dead. When you do risky material, there will always be people offended, and if you're doing honest, well thought out bits, there will always be people inspired to more than just laughter.
The key is commitment. When you decide to do a piece that's edgy, you have to write it perfectly on the money, and perform it flawlessly every time. You have to not care if you offend people, and you have to be willing to pay the price, in this case by losing some gigs, when you decide to go that route.
One night in 84, just messing around for giggles, Sam Kinison did the safest, most generic set I've ever seen. In essence he was lampooning what most of the comics were doing. Trouble was he did it better than the people he was lampooning. He actually got waves of laughter from the audience just by doing fluff. When he came off stage the club owner asked him why he didn't do that set as his real set, and Sam said "Because I would die ever time I got a laugh."
You don't push the envelope because you want to, or because you're trying to shock. You do it because you have to. Because it's at the very core of who you are.
If it's honest, it'll find an audience.
Re: Where do you draw the line?
Jim,
Great advice - thanks.
Garf
Great advice - thanks.
Garf
You get born, you keep your head down and you die - if you're lucky.
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SweetLuchia
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 4:30 pm
- Contact:
Re: Where do you draw the line?
Jim Mendrinos,
You hit it right on the money Jim. I couldn't have said it better myself and Mr. P. please correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't it you who said..."If you ain't offending somebody, you probably aren't funny." ?
You hit it right on the money Jim. I couldn't have said it better myself and Mr. P. please correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't it you who said..."If you ain't offending somebody, you probably aren't funny." ?
Luchia,
~As long as there's laughter, there's HOPE~
~As long as there's laughter, there's HOPE~
Re: Where do you draw the line?
Jim Mendrinos,
And that there is some timeless advice Jim. Perfect. Could anyone have put it any better than that?
I tend to push the envelope in my show and almost nothing is off-limits if you present it right. If you hire a clown for your kids birthday party and a stripper for your friends bachelor party then you're on the right track.
Inkblot
And that there is some timeless advice Jim. Perfect. Could anyone have put it any better than that?
I tend to push the envelope in my show and almost nothing is off-limits if you present it right. If you hire a clown for your kids birthday party and a stripper for your friends bachelor party then you're on the right track.
Inkblot
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Jim Mendrinos
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Re: Where do you draw the line?
Inkblot,
I don't know who said it, but there's a great quote -- "It ain't art if it doesn't offend someone"
I don't know who said it, but there's a great quote -- "It ain't art if it doesn't offend someone"
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Richard_Pryor
- The Man In Charge
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Re: Where do you draw the line?
Jim Mendrinos,
Brother man you have spoken the truth and I appreciate your words-comedy is a cross to bear-richard
Brother man you have spoken the truth and I appreciate your words-comedy is a cross to bear-richard
Re: Where do you draw the line?
Jim,
Yes, one must defend the art of that which offends and I'm sure that Mr. Pryor knows all too well the heavy weight of that cross and the extreme price of bearing it for all of these years...
I'm not speaking in a politically motivated tone here when I say this, as that's not my base and it's old news, but when a certain Attorney General covered up the "Spirit of Justice" statue, also known as "Minni Lou", with a pair of $8,000.00 curtains, paid for by Mr. and Mrs. John Q Taxpayer, because he's got a personal problem with her standing proudly behind him with an exposed breast during his religiously-charged ceremonies then you've certainly crossed the line and slapped everybody else in the face in the process in my opinion.
I realize that this specific individual is currently suffering from a serious ailment and is hospitalized at the moment and I am not one to kick someone else when they are down as I'm well aware of what being down is like myself and I wouldn't wish such a thing on another but it sure was the right fit to mention it here.
State-to-state, if you aren't partial to doing hard prison time, Florida is a good state to toe-the-line when performing there in any medium they say...
Inkblot
Yes, one must defend the art of that which offends and I'm sure that Mr. Pryor knows all too well the heavy weight of that cross and the extreme price of bearing it for all of these years...
I'm not speaking in a politically motivated tone here when I say this, as that's not my base and it's old news, but when a certain Attorney General covered up the "Spirit of Justice" statue, also known as "Minni Lou", with a pair of $8,000.00 curtains, paid for by Mr. and Mrs. John Q Taxpayer, because he's got a personal problem with her standing proudly behind him with an exposed breast during his religiously-charged ceremonies then you've certainly crossed the line and slapped everybody else in the face in the process in my opinion.
I realize that this specific individual is currently suffering from a serious ailment and is hospitalized at the moment and I am not one to kick someone else when they are down as I'm well aware of what being down is like myself and I wouldn't wish such a thing on another but it sure was the right fit to mention it here.
State-to-state, if you aren't partial to doing hard prison time, Florida is a good state to toe-the-line when performing there in any medium they say...
Inkblot
Re: Where do you draw the line?
Inkblot,
You are right and correctamundo on that Inkblot.Ashcroft is a schmuck. That broom up the ass motherfucker couldn't handle nakedness and we paid for the shawl he draped over those statues. Glad the bastard is sick-maybe he'll have a moment to think about how stupid he is! We applaud that way of thinking inkblot! Jenny and Richard!!
You are right and correctamundo on that Inkblot.Ashcroft is a schmuck. That broom up the ass motherfucker couldn't handle nakedness and we paid for the shawl he draped over those statues. Glad the bastard is sick-maybe he'll have a moment to think about how stupid he is! We applaud that way of thinking inkblot! Jenny and Richard!!
