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It’s no joke – since lockdown, live audiences have forgotten how to behave | Dani Johns
From chatting through the show to manhandling the acts, bad behaviour at comedy shows has got noticeably worse
Do you consider yourself a well-adjusted, functioning adult who enjoys a night of live entertainment? Or are you the type of person who turns up to a comedy gig four Malbecs deep, and decides to sit in the front row to have an in-depth chat with your mate about how bad your boss’s BO is? Maybe you don’t like waiting for a break. Instead, you’d rather stand up and loudly announce you need a wee, making the entire row stand up as you squeeze by, vigorously scratching your backside? At the end of a show, do you use your hands to throw popcorn across the room rather than smacking them together to create a pleasant clapping sound?
I’ll be honest, if you’re reading this, then you’re probably not one of those people. I bet you’ve seen a few of them, though, especially if you’ve been to a standup comedy gig recently. Because since we’ve come back after lockdown, it’s become increasingly apparent that a small but noticeable percentage of audience members have forgotten how to behave in public.
Dani Johns is a comedian and compere who runs multiple gigs in Bristol
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