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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask if any of you have had a go at doing stand up comedy?

28 replies

ScousyFogarty · 05/05/2011 17:08

I dont mean professional comedians. I mean amateurs,

It seems a tough gig to me. 5-Live presentershad a go recently. (one did well)

I would like to try it once just to write about it. I dont mean face a hostile audience ...that seems daft. People need to want to listen

Its meant to be entertainment, not war. (I have heard about the hostile comedy clubs in London)

I have followed comedians for most of my life. ( Not the ladies, that would be stalking.)
OP posts:
ConstanceFelicity · 05/05/2011 17:09

I have. I was sixteen, and was met with disbelief. I was truly truly shit.

Original poster
ScousyFogarty · 05/05/2011 17:13

Great Constance. You have amused me no end. Nil desperandum

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EspressoDoppio · 05/05/2011 17:15

I do this all the time. All you need is a bottle or two of Chianti and an absurdly misplaced belief in your own ability to be very funny.

ConstanceFelicity · 05/05/2011 17:31

I was obsessed with comedians... I was going to marry Paul Merton, Rik Mayall or Stephen Fry (I was a stange teen.) I said, in an odd accent, "your skin izzz like a peach. A footbaaaall peach."

I can't believe that I have just owned up to that.

prettyfly1 · 05/05/2011 17:33

I would utterly love to be a comic, but havent got the balls to get up and do it (or the ego to think I am that amusing outside of my living room).

Shakirasma · 05/05/2011 17:34

I never have and never want to.

A lad I went to school with is now a comedian, and doing very well for himself with it, by all accounts. Making quite a name for himself.

I never thought him funny at school. He was a right tit IMO.

Original poster
ScousyFogarty · 05/05/2011 18:02

Yes, some comedians work for me and others dont. I like Ken Dodd, some of the comediennes whose names I dont remember yet, are good, not to say brave.

Comedy has changed since I was young. More clever people involved. Not all are funny.

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Original poster
ScousyFogarty · 05/05/2011 18:05

I forgot my better half used to fall about at that Irish series. Mrs Browns Children. funniest ever. some people didnt get it.

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BitOfFun · 05/05/2011 18:07

Ken Dodd said he wanted to leave a quilt on my floor. I said "Over my bed Doddy".

perplexedpirate · 05/05/2011 18:15

I haven't, but my ex did while we were students and it was the longest, most painful ten minutes of my life.
It was at a student open mic night and we used to get so roaring drunk we'd have laughed our heads off if someone had stood up and read the phone book.

He still managed tumbleweeds. Then afterwards he shouted at me for letting him go ahead with it. Appparently I should have known he "wasn't ready"
My inside are knotting up even now at the memory.

Original poster
ScousyFogarty · 05/05/2011 18:17

Great BitofFun

Hes over 80...still ives in Liverpool After his trial he came to our place. and said.. "Income tax started at 2p in the pound..problem was I was still paying it at that rate"

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Original poster
ScousyFogarty · 05/05/2011 18:22

Perplex... I get the message Max Bygraves said he wsnt nervous; but he wasnt very funny

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perplexedpirate · 05/05/2011 20:21

I just remembered a bit of his set. It was about the difference between gargoyles with constipation and gargoyles with the trots.
Rofls indeed Hmm

Original poster
ScousyFogarty · 06/05/2011 10:15

Perplex...no, the gargoyles line is ok. It sounds as if it should be funny even
if it isnt.

It seems that some comedians are just funny in themselves. Tony Hancock was (before your time?) Everyone thought Tommy Cooper was.
In the music hall days they needed a funny hat or nose and a simple catchphrase. Like "I,m as daft as a brush" (He was) Can you hear me mother? (did mum want to.)

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mayorquimby · 06/05/2011 10:29

Yup.
Truely horrific.

Original poster
ScousyFogarty · 06/05/2011 10:42

Yes, Mayor. I should imagine stand up is an horrific experience; unless one is half sloshed.

I dont like the idea of comics having to fight drunken audiences. But the good ones do have put-downs ready.

Someone called Bygraves "Big head." he said "it would rattle if I put it in your mouth" The last I heard of Max he was on late night radio running England down and saying he was off to Aussie (Did he stay?)

I saw a film of Max Wall recently on TV. He was very funny.

OP posts:
TethersEnd · 06/05/2011 10:47

Hello Gabby Smile

JamieAgain · 06/05/2011 10:50

yes, hello

Take my wife ... I wish someone would

Original poster
ScousyFogarty · 06/05/2011 10:50

Tether.."Hello Cabbie" I used to ride a bike and a scooter. But I taxi on occasions.

Do you do jokes?

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JeremyKylesPetProject · 06/05/2011 10:51

No but I have been asked to give speeches at parties in the past which is quite flattering. My friends have said they would watch me on stage but there's a difference between talking directly to an audience and saying random off the cuff funny stuff. Usually I say what people are thinking. I know I'd corpse it though.

Original poster
ScousyFogarty · 06/05/2011 10:52

Jamie you dont mean it, Withdraw are you using protection?

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JamieAgain · 06/05/2011 10:53

I'm quite good at random funny stuff (if a bit lateral), but crap at remembering and telling jokes

JamieAgain · 06/05/2011 10:54

Ah, you smutty person. "Take" is not in the biblical sense.

worraliberty · 06/05/2011 12:34

It depends on whether you're male or female.

I find female's doing stand up comedy tend to be just really shit. I don't know why, but Men are just so much better at it?

HHLimbo · 06/05/2011 15:13

I often prefer female comedians. Went to see live stand-up once and the guy was awful, just vile and offensive. Cant believe we paid to see him as well!