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Assuming the talkative crowd is talking to others at their table, not me, I would say silent. At least they are listening, right? I don't mind if people are talking to me, as long as they are not disruptive or ruining the show for others. But if they are talking to their own table and not payign attention, that is annoying and frustrating. I would take the silent crowd, because they are paying attention to me, at least. Sometimes, they are silent because they don't know how comedy clubs work and they are absorbing the jokes, or I am just not funny. People not listening come into a joke and then go out of it, so they are not really experience the show, especially for me, where my jokes are nuanced and sometimes stories that require you to listen and absorb the "set up". I run a show called Stand Ups Sit Down which happens to take place on a Monday night. I love the show but because it's a Monday, the crowd is attentive but not laughing out loud to the level a Saturday crowd is. I often warn comedians who do the show that the crowd is loyal and enjoying themselves, but alsooften just starting their work week or ending their vacation. They are there to listen and, because there is an interview after each comedian's set, they are also there to ask questions and learn too. I also did a show recently where 90% of the audience had never been to a comedy show before. They mostly smiled and laughed, covering their mouths, until I told them I needed the laughs and wanted them to even spit on me from dying of laughter. They didn't. So yeah, silence is preferred. Speaking of my Monday show, the last one of the year is this Monday at Laugh Factory. If you want free tickets, just message me. I have a handful of comp tickets to give out. #comedy #laughs #standup 
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Am I? Lol. Someone said that too me this week and I had to laugh. I am definitely traveling a ton and doing a whole bunch of shows in new cities (and countries, as I am currently in Calgary, Canada). But there is a clear difference between doing shows at my level and "living the dream." For one, I am headlining shows in smaller rooms and sometimes, with small crowds. I still open for other bigger acts and, when I headline, have to constantly promote the shows to ensure I have a crowd. In the last few months, I have headlined shows that were at capacity or sold out, but I have also done shows with 7 people in the audience. It humbles you. Social media reminds me that last year, I was doing a tour opening at theaters of 1500 people and a few years back, I was part of a sold out charity show I produced. With evidence like that, it's hard not to look back and question if you have already peaked with your career, especially as a comedian. While my social media presence is growing and I still get amazing opportunities, its always a struggle not to look back. I am pretty good about not playing the comparison game of "what other comedians are doing" and choose to compare with only myself. And I am very confident that I am a much better comedian than I was last year and the years before. I am at the top of my game, as my friend comedian Gary Gulman said. Sometimes I see opportunities I had when I wasn't as strong a comedian as I am now and wonder if I squandered my chances for more success because of my limited ability back then, even though I did well at the shows. While walking in a mall today, I saw a quote that said 'success if a journey, not a destination' and that resonated with me, especially when I look at the things I have accomplished this year and the level of writing and performing I am at right now. It is a journey and I am doing it. And yes, the quote was a commercial real estate company. #comedy #success #journey  No.The claim that “you can’t say anything” is complete BS. You can say what you want, the market will dictate if it’s funny. Saying the “R” word as a punchline is not funny. Never was. But if you make people laugh with your jokes, there is a place for you in comedy, even if you punch down. I have talked about this before. But there is a problem similar to wokeness that exists which is “representation based on identity” or identity politics. Comedy should be based on merit. Full stop. I once produced a monthly show with another white male comedian (it’s important for the story) where we booked 3 comedians a week. We keep it varied with established comedians but because it was at a reputable comedy club, they had to be regulars at the club and also be able well on a weekday show with small crowds. Newer comedians would not work for this show for this and other reasons specific to the show. We were trying to get a big name for the show one week who was hard to book and when he finally agreed, we realized that all 3 comedians were male comedians. Different styles, races and points of view but yes, all men. Not an ideal situation for a comedy show and the “optics" were bad, especially for my co-producer. Mind you, for the month right before and right after, we had 2 woman and 1 man and every show before we had at least one woman (and sometimes all 3 were woman). For this show however, we would have an all male line up. He suggested we kick someone off the show, which I said was not really fair or possible, since we had a perfect line up, otherwise, with an older married comedian, a younger single black comedian as well as this “big name" comedian. The co-producer was adamant that we needed a woman on the show. I told him for one show, I thought it would be okay, especially since we had such a solid line up of veteran comedians, albeit male. This rift caused the other producer to quit producing the show with me, basically implying that I was being unreasonable. I spoke to an established female comedian friend of mine and I asked her if I had to replace her on this show, would she be more offended if I picked a brand new female comedian or an established comedian who was male, and she said she would be more offended by a new female comedian. It would be like pandering just to have a woman, she said, instead of merit and she would feel like she was “easily replaceable” with anyone. Again, she was an established comedian and felt the same space should go to an established comedian, male, female or transgender. My three closest friends in comedy are women and they all agreed with this assessment. Of course, I always want to have a female on a show since half the audience is female and its good to a their voice on a show. They make the show better always and avoid the sausage show dominating by males. More importantly, the best comedians in Chicago happen to be female. I am biased because I am friends with them but objectively speaking, to the extend comedy can be objective, I think that's true. At the same time, trying to be a “white knight” and falling on the sword seems like false outrage to me and does more harm than help. Especially since the same people playing these games with comedy shows often have biases against older comedians (like me) or variety of voices. After all if you have a single female comedian, a single gay comedian and a single male comedian all talking about dating, you don’t really have diversity, do you? In the end, the show was a success without that producer and I have since had shows with all women booked and all men too with no controversy. The show must go on. #comedy #standup #wokeness #identitypolitics  So many to choose from but the first one that comes to mind is that we are always on. We are not. In fact, its almost annoying when a comedian tried to be. I did a show this week where I did not speak for the 12+ hours I was awake until my show that night. And I was not alone for the hours leading up to the show! I can’t speak for other comedians but I know the group of comedians I am close with and we are not trying to “be on” when were are just hanging out, especially before a show in the green room. We will make passing funny comments or riffs when the opportunity presents but its not like a podcast 24/7. When comedian friends have not seen each other for a while, its obviously “on” time, especially for Gen X comedians who like to bust each others chops to the point where outsiders watching will think we don’t like each other. Most times, however, we are just talking about life, events happening or social media in the green room. Newer comedians have a tendency to try to be on and thats fine. I was the same as well. Sadly the social media algorithm dominates most conversations these days. And there is nothing “fun” or “funny” about that. After shows, however, when we are just hanging out in our comfort zone of comedians, its usually on, especially after a good show. There is no place more fun than hanging out with other comedians after a good show in a green room, lounge or dive bar. But generally speaking, we are mostly quiet, reserved and boring. Sorry. Please subscribe to my Substack and ask me a question and follow me on Instagram though #standup #comedy #formerlawyer  |
AuthorPaul Farahvar is a comedian hailing from Chicago, Ill. Archives
February 2026
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