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Should comedy be performed in arenas?
Eddie Izzard says there's nothing wrong with performing stand-up comedy in arenas.
In a new interview on WalesOnline, Eddie Izzard, in addition to asking us in the States to please believe that he’s a transvestite – despite his many manly roles in Hollywood the last few years – defends his decision to perform stand-up comedy in large arenas, as opposed to more intimate venues. Many comedy purists believe that stand-up comedy should always be presented in a room with no more than 300 to 350 seats, with excellent sight lines all around and where you can see the beads of sweat form on the comics brows.
Others, however, feel that there’s nothing wrong with “rock ‘n roll” comedy, wherein a comedian has a big enough audience to fill arenas, where, there’s a good chance a large percentage of the crowd will be watching most of the show on big screens flanking a giant stage, not unlike what you might see at a Dane Cook or Larry the Cable Guy show.
Izzard defends arena comedy thusly:
Six years ago, I did the first arena tour of the UK and that was a little scary because I didn’t know what I would be dealing with. People will say it’s not intimate, but … if people don’t want to watch it there, then don’t watch it there. But I definitely think it’s a good thing. It makes it more of an event. And why should rock and roll get all the arena shows? If you think of the first ever arena gig, when The Beatles did Shea Stadium in 1965, it was a crap gig. Great band, great event but a crap gig because you couldn’t hear anything.
People have had to learn how to play stadium gigs in music. And comedy has to go through the same thing, we just have to work out how to play arenas. No-one bats an eyelid when bands play arenas and if it’s a good thing for bands it’s a good thing for comedy.
So what do you think? Can stand-up comedy be performed effectively at an arena? Have you ever been to an arena comedy show? Did it suck? Was it awesome? Please share all of your experiences in the comments section.
Chase Roper said
am November 6 2009 @ 2:15 pm
I guess I’m one of the purists. Of course, comics like Dane Cook, Cable Guy (or the other blue collar folks), and Dice of the past would think arena style comedy is great. And maybe even a majority of their fan base, but if there isn’t much genuine audience interaction and your watching most of it on a jumbo-tron screen, it becomes something less special then live stand-up comedy and more like watching TV with thousands of people.
In general, I make it a rule not to watch live comedy at any venue where my kids could also watch Disney on Ice.
Max Barth said
am November 6 2009 @ 2:28 pm
I like seeing comedy in smaller rooms, but I’ll watch an arena show if it’s good – it all boils down to the fact that something is funny if something is funny. I think even the most indie comedians and fans would have a hard time not enjoying Robin William’s “Live on Broadway” special, for example.
I do think the shows that are in between small rooms and arenas – the type at festivals, like the Bonnaroo comedy tent – can be a little awkward. It’s just too big to see the stage very well and too small to warrant video screens or a better sound system/seating arrangement.
Billy said
am November 6 2009 @ 2:54 pm
Can comedy be performed effectively at an arena? Yes. If the audience can hear the comic and then give the proper response, laughter, then I’d say it can be done.
Joseph Simmons (Slow Joe) said
am November 6 2009 @ 3:16 pm
The only arena comedy show I’ve ever seen was on TV: Dane Cook’s “Vicious Circle”. Of course, as a TV viewer I had a great seat, so view wasn’t a problem. But I remember thinking that whole experience felt a little off.
How could Cook wait for the laughter to die off before launching into his next joke when there’s 19,000 people there? Also, and this has more to do with Cook’s audience, the crowds wasn’t laughing, they were cheering. Weird for a comedy show. I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it.
I love comedy clubs, of course, and theater shows are excellent as well, especially if the comic is good.
BLP said
am November 6 2009 @ 3:56 pm
Speaking as a comedy fan, not a performer…Eddie’s always pushing the envelope – personally and professionally. I’m a huge fan. I did see his current tour in a 3,200 seat hall. Because I had good seats, it worked; loved the show. Eddie mixes it up, playing small venues along with the larger ones. Perhaps that’s the answer. Eddie is lucky, he has legions of fans who adore him and would travel to see him gig on the moon.