heckler lines for kids(rude Kids)

[jester]

Stephon

I agree with you, rewarding obnoxious kids isn't a smart thing to do. I don't do it. And I'm not suggesting you do. And I agree that some parents can be embarrassed into taking action. I think insulting the kid by calling his parents names however is a different thing altogether.

I do use funny lines on kids but I want them to laugh too. And I am very happy using put downs on grown ups and teenagers. But I don't think putting a kid down and humiliating them is really the way forward.

While I can see that it is extremely tempting to be horrible to a child and humiliate them for your own and everybody else amusement and I sympathise with the sentiments expressed here, you just shouldn't do it. And deep down you all know I'm right.

[jester]

Hey You

The Amazing Beaumons.

What Planet Do I Perform On?

If one can breathe 7ft flames like you can and the kids are still heckling you have a real problem.

[Greedybogle]

C'mon now, where's the love?

[ 06-02-2003: Message edited by: Greedybogle ]</p>

[Butterfly Man]

When they circumcised you they threw away the wrong bit.

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

"Yo Junior, when did you have your charisma bypass?"

[The Amazing Beaumanz]

to be honest with you Jester, I opened this thread to see how some other's might handle situations that some of us who perform nightly near a playground could encounter.

I NEVER stated that this was some type of problem, because we all deal with them in our own way. And I NEVER said anything about calling people prostitutes.

Although I did love seeing Gazzo hand the kid a "space helmet" once. And in the 1980's I remember seeing Butterfly Man in SF and the way he handled the kids and the style of his show was the single most influence that put me where I am today.

Although Gazzo was "harsh" for our environment, his show was one of the best I'd ever seen.


I would like to offer you, JESTER, an open invitation to come perform at our pitch so I can see first hand your abilities on the subject.

please send any promotional information ( your website is non existant) to:
Dallas Saupe
Busker Coordinator- Sunsets at Pier 60 Daily Festival
1295 Santa Rosa St. #5
Clearwater, Florida 33756

[jester]

Thank You for the invitation.

I will gladly send you some promo. However I don't really want to go to Florida in the near future. I live in England, Europe.

I'm afraid I still stand by what I said. Some of the lines offered are genuinely funny and good, but a few are damnright malicious, nasty and only suitable for the weak. Looking at your web site I don't think you have a problem, but I think anybody who uses the nasty lines does.

Sorry if I made you fall off your seat. Maybe the seat was on a unicycle or something else equally unstable.

My web site is www.jonathanthejester.co.uk

It wasn't non existant 5 minutes ago.

[Steven Ragatz]

Something else to consider is taking a different approach. Rather that being reactive, think preventative.

We all know there are different types of hecklers. Drunks, stoners, walk-bys, and mentally handicapped hecklers all pose certain situations that need to be dealt with on a case by case basis - some harsh, some gently. But for the rest of the time, both child and adult hecklers pop right out of "normal" audience. Unless you go out of your way to invite heckling, the comments that get thrown up on stage may very well be a reflection of your show rather than an indication of the audience member's malice.

I've seen several situations where the audience heckles are simply because they want to have a good time. After all, nobody is making them see the show, they could just walk away. They are there to be part of an entertaining experience, so much so that they often will take it upon themselves to make the show entertaining if the performer isn't keeping up.

If you are getting heckled regularly, it may be because you have spots in your show where the energy and interest is lagging. Dead spots are prime opportunities for audience member to pipe up with some wise crack. Hey, they don't know it consciously, but from their point of view they are really just trying to do you a favor and save the show! The audience doesn't like it when things get slow and dull, so if they think that the show needs some interest, they will provide it.

Point being - tighten your show and keep the audience engaged. When the routine is clean and there are no dead spots, your audience will not have time to heckle you because they will be to busy listening, laughing and clapping.

Steven Ragatz

[jester]

I think that is a very helpful post Mr Ragatz.

I may have created the impression that I think I am never heckled. This isn't so. The thing is I enjoy it all so much. When I am heckled I see it as an opportunity. The heckler has invited themself into my show, so I use the opportunity to bring them in but on my terms.

I always assume that the person wants to be part of the fun. I think spending a few years as a lousy stand up comedian trained me well for this. I think 90% of going down well is about the audience liking you. I have seen buskers with really basic acts and tricks go down a storm because the audience liked them.

My all time favorite Rex Boyd, has a brilliant act, but at the same time the audience adore him which makes him for my money one of the best street performers in the world.

Another secret I will pass on is I keep the kids busy. Counting down to a trick, get them shouting loudly and think of funny things the kids can say or shout at the right time. Audience participation takes care of most of them.

[Jamie The Jester]

Hi

I just want to say that i dont get heckeld often, as like jester said to keep the audience active by getting them to count, as it keeps them occupied.

but yes there has been times when certain bits of a performance has been boring and during these times i do have the publice heckling me

[ 06-09-2003: Message edited by: Jamie The Jester ]</p>

[The Amazing Beaumanz]

It is my opinion, which is surely a biased one, is that the level of energy and the amount of audience participation in my show is very HIGH !! I personally don't feel that there is really a "low" point in my show. But what I do KNOW after working the streets for over 10 years, is that there are some just plain RUDE people!!! Audults, kids, every age group.
Depending on your persona in your show, i feel that "ripping" on them gains control over them and lets anyone else know not to f*ck with you, that you are in control.
I think that after gaining this control that it increases the hat because you are once again TELLING them to give you money.(in a kind and funny way, i might add)
It's all ATTITUDE and PERSONA

A clown can't really call a woman a prostitute, but GAZZO sure can!!!

[Steven Ragatz]

Given the history of street performing, I would propose that there are certain expectations that have been established over the past two or three decades. The notion of running into a guy juggling knives or a person in whiteface standing on a box on a street corner isn't really novel anymore, and despite their entertaining abilities, I would be surprised if passer-bys would consider the discovery to be something out of the ordinary. I don't think that it is so much the recognition of the technique, for the common audience doesn't know anything about specific tricks or routines, rather I think that today's audiences have learned about the character of the street act. Can you say "t-shirt and suspenders"? Part of that character is the rapport and banter between the performer and the crowd.

Everyone has to deal with the confrontational loose cannons - those people who just want to be difficult and try to bully the show. They get what they deserve, but usually they won't stick around, and once the threat has been warded off, the performer can get back to the rhythm of the show and work those who really count. But beyond the conforntational individuals, there are hecklers who are actually "paying customers" - people who stay in the audience, and who often turn out to be the best tippers. I call those folk "enthusiastic hecklers".

Establishing control is going to play a major factor with how empowered the audience feels to yell things out. But I think that it is important to look beyond that, and to see what sort of messages we as performers are actually conveying to the crowd. I've seen lots of acts that "ask" for people to yell things out in ways that were unintentional, and other acts that use lots of comebacks and insults even when nobody in the audience is heckling.

Consider the message that the young-male-hyper-funny-juggler exploding with extroverted energy conveys to the audience. Running around with torches waving while trying to throw off jokes clearly invites the audience to challenge. He with the testosterone rules the roost and must be prepared to defend it. If that is the convention you wish to use, then be prepared to accept the unrelenting stream of spectator's heckles, after all, you asked for it. But remember, they only have to be funny one in ten, whereas you have to be funny every time. Doesn't seem fair, does it?

Conversely, if the character of the act has a more introspective energy, then the audience is much less likely to be aggressive and confrontational. In many ways, repect will begin respect. I would guess that street musicians that sit and play rarely have to deal with enthusiastic hecklers (though I'm sure that they get their fare share of confrontational ones!)

Take a good look at your act from the spectator's point of view. At what points are you inviting them to yell out? Are these points where you really want them to feel free to participate? If not, what can you do to focus the crowd's attention, and diffuse that urge to challenge?

Steven Ragatz

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

- snap your fingers as if calling a waiter, indicate offending organism- "More sugar, please!"

Is it me, or are some of you not reading the topic of this thread? Someone asks you for a light let me guess... you... lecture on smoking?

[Steven Ragatz]

OK, how about:

"Beat it kid, ya' bother me."

Is that any more help?

Steven Ragatz

PS You shouldn't smoke.

[ 06-10-2003: Message edited by: Steven Ragatz ]</p>

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

[quote]Originally posted by Steven Ragatz:
<strong>OK, how about:

"Beat it kid, ya' bother me."

Is that any more help?

Steven Ragatz

PS You shouldn't smoke.

[ 06-10-2003: Message edited by: Steven Ragatz ]</strong><hr></blockquote>

Well Steven, the quality of it certainly affirms my viewpoint on your rhetoric; in that sense, yes, it helps.