Where does a comedian draw the line?
Offence is about intent, and a comedian’s intention is simply to entertain
Every audience is different. What one person finds funny, the other may find offensive and vice versa. In my experience though, once audiences understand that your intention is simply to entertain, they will allow you to joke about almost anything.
The danger comes when you put content on the internet, where the show is watched by people other than your core audience. They do not have a sense of the atmosphere and context in which the jokes were
IF AUDIENCES STOP LAUGHING AT CERTAIN JOKES, COMEDIANS WILL STOP MAKING THEM
cracked. So, the performance and intent can easily be misinterpreted.
To each their own
If I’m performing at a corporate or personal event, it is my duty to respect the boundaries of my environment. However, if you have come to a ticketed public show that has been advertised as having mature content, then I’ll do what appeals to my own sensibilities.
I need my audience to relate to where I’m coming from, not agree with it. As comedians, we need to stay true to our own voices. But if I feel a joke will be hurtful to the audience, in most cases I will not do it. Others may not. That’s their choice and I respect that too. To each their own.
A comedian cracks a joke because he wants the audience to laugh. If audiences stop laughing at certain jokes, comedians will stop doing them.
Learning curve
Both comedians and audiences mature over time. I’ve done jokes in the past that I would never do today. I’m still making mistakes and learning. Similarly, audiences evolve. When I started doing stand-up comedy n 2008, audiences were hesitant to sit in the front row because they were wary of being picked on!
In the end, if we comedians and audiences can look at each other with empathy, compassion and humanity, understand the other party’s intent, and make our points without feeling the need to resort to violence, the world will be a better, and
funnier, place for it.
Papa CJ is an international stand-up comedian and executive coach
I Say Chaps is an occasional guest column that allows passionate, creative people a platform to have their say.