I have shared with you a funny experience as a woman in comedy, but I feel like I should also share with you a bad one:
Several years ago I was, as usual, the only female at an open mic. I was mostly trying out new material and things started off well, when a few bits into my set a 70something drunk starts yelling out “Big Tits”. Now, normally my way of dealing with hecklers is to ignore them.
I find most of the time it works because hecklers just want attention, and if they don’t get it, they shut up. But this guy just wouldn’t stop yelling “Big Tits”. I couldn’t even open my mouth let alone finish a bit, he just kept interrupting with the same thing. I left the stage embarrassed and defeated. I would like to say that now that I have a few more years experience I would know how to handle that situation better, but I can’t honestly say that.
Now, I know that, as a comic, we all have to deal with hecklers; it’s part of the job. But I have always felt that this went too far and that someone should have asked this guy to leave. Having degrading remarks about your body while trying to do comedy is something no one should have to deal with, female comic or not.
I totally agree Sarah. Heckling is one thing, but blatant disrespect for a person in regards to their body is completely unacceptable and someone should have said or done something….
I would have dragged his ass out and punched him in the di** for you.
Thanks Jay, I may be hiring you as my bodyguard