A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P R S T Z
Call-back - To refer to an earlier piece of material in the set to get a further laugh or build on the piece. You could for instance have a joke about a kangaroo early in the set, and then introduce the same kangaroo in a psychiatric ward where he is hopping mad. What is interesting is how much the audience like call backs.Perhaps because you are crediting them with listening and understanding sufficiently to note the return of the prodigal material i.e. it's respectful of an audience. Perhaps because the thread of the call-back stitches the set together into a whole instead of a number of unconnected jokes?
Perhaps because it helps form a momentary community of the audience - we all went through the kangaroo joke in the first place and now we are prepared to go through another one. More importantly as any comic tart will tell you, it gets laughs - get 'em in.
Catchphrase - Too well known to need much explanation. Historically in the UK there were two high-water marks for catchphrases - the music hall and radio comedy. From Frank Carsons "it's the way I tell ‘'em, lady' through to Radio Ken Dodd "how tickled I am' it has been a branding exercise for comics.
Although the phrases original context was long forgotten, rolling out the catchphrase was something the audience sought and the artist tirelessly supplied. Perhaps the original cheap laugh, the warmth and recognition it caused is still worth thinking about.
Why has it now become so unacceptable in stand-up? Because it links you with a previous old, un-cool, comic heritage? Audiences are too sophisticated.
Who knows - you could be the one to bring it back?
Richard Herring has cleverly, because that is the kind of comic he is, twinned the catchphrase and the call-back. In his 2005 show he constantly kept up a phrase "I don't wish to offend any Catholics (or whatever group he was clearly offending) in the audience... that's the last thing I want to do". Each time it gained more laughter rather than tired. Interesting.
Cock-up no matter what it means in your personal life, in our context it means a slip up in delivery. There are no perfect performances - there are just more skilled stand ups that can hide their mistakes. Richard Pryor actually pre planned his cock-ups for instance saying "Pissy" instead of "Pussy" and then making a joke of this.
Comedian / Comic - Someone who makes his or her living being funny
Compere aka MC- Usually a comedian whose job it is to warm-up the audience, introduce the other acts (in the correct sequence with the correct names!) and keep the audience warmed-up between comedians and breaks. Surprisingly, quiet often the Compere will be paid more than the performing comedians as the compere has to be there all night and it is a harder job than it looks.
They are also expected to plug the venue and its products. Ideally, they create a rhythm and provide entry and exit applause. A good MC will ask acts how they wish to be introduced. Probably not, " Here is an act its hard to ignore - but it would be worth the effort".
It is not the done thing for a Compere to purposely trounce or out-do the other comedians on the set that night so they have to be good and like able - but not that good!
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