Comments on: Should comedy be performed in arenas?

By: BLP

BLP — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:56:20 +0000

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.

By: Joseph Simmons (Slow Joe)

Joseph Simmons (Slow Joe) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:16:38 +0000

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.

By: Billy

Billy — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:54:14 +0000

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.

By: Max Barth

Max Barth — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:28:54 +0000

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.

By: Chase Roper

Chase Roper — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:15:00 +0000

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.