Different audiences sometimes require different approaches for a comic to get them laughing. But if a comedian has material that’s universal in nature, they should have success no matter what the crowd makeup is.
Bob Smith says his material can work for both the straight and gay audiences that he works for. The Buffalo native says gay crowds are naturally more attentive to gay material.
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But he nevertheless has to make some adjustments.
“An all-gay venue is definitely going to respond to an out-gay comedian. They’re totally with you,” says Smith, 34, who wrote and performed on Comedy Central’s “Out There,” the first special to spotlight gay and lesbian comics.
“When you’re in a straight comedy club,” he continues, “like any comedian, you have to get them to identify with (you).”
How does Smith achieve this? When he does his standup routine, “I may change the order of things,” says Smith, who has been a comic for six years. “But … hopefully, most of it everyone can get … I mean, I honestly don’t try to do jokes … `Oh, this is for a gay audience, this is for a straight audience.’
“I mean, most of it (is) I talk about my family, my birthday. I talk about my relationship, but instead of having a girlfriend, I have a boyfriend. And if people can get over that, then they can appreciate it.”
Smith has several important events happening in his career. Earlier this week, he was to have made his first appearance on “The Tonight Show.” His “HBO Comedy Half-Hour” was also to have aired on Thursday, with repeats this Saturday, Monday and Tuesday.
Smith is currently working on a book, “Growing Up Gay,” and he’s contributing standup comedy material to a screenplay about a gay standup for a movie that Steven Spielberg is involved with.
And of course, Smith has his own standup career. He’s scheduled to perform Friday at the Vortex, 3631 N. Halsted St. Call 312-975-6622 for more information.
Last yuks
– Continuing with a two-week appearance downtown (1548 N. Wells St.; 312-337-4027) is the Public Offenders, the eight-lawyer comedy troupe that performs musical numbers and short skits making light of the legal world over the last year. “Presumed Humorous” takes place Tuesday through Thursday before the regular standup performance; phone for reservations.
– Been to the Funny Firm lately? Like back around the beginning of the month, when the doors were locked? Did you think the club had closed, just like many others around the country this past year? You weren’t alone.
A spokesman said the Firm, 318 W. Grand Ave. (312-321-9500), has been on kind of a vacation, deciding not to compete with the 4th of July weekend and Taste of Chicago, among other things.
– Get those “hiii-ohhhhs!” tuned up, ’cause Ed McMahon is coming to town. As part of a 35-city “bus tour,” his long-running “Star Search” talent competition TV show will be coming to the Improv Wednesday for a special audition of local comics. As many as eight standups are expected to take the stage, in the first step towards a $100,000 grand prize. The Improv is at 504 N. Wells St.; call 312-STAND-UP.