Comedy can be a hit and miss business, depending on the confidence and experience of the performer, the strength of the material and the disposition of the audience.
Some of them might have has a bad day or (and there are such people, believe you me) loathe comedy and been reluctantly dragged along to sit in stony silence as the performer strives to amuse them.
Comedians can never be sure whether an individual, usually egged-on by friends, will interrupt their act with a heckle, so they need to be able to think on their feet. And, if they’re not very good at maths, they also have to be able to count on their fingers.
One of the all-time best examples of ‘thinking on your feet’ came courtesy of Groucho Marx.
When he hosted the successful TV quiz show “You Bet Your Life!” in the 1950s, a lady contestant told Groucho she had 15 children.
When Groucho commented on the large number, the lady said “I like children!”
Groucho’s immediate response was, “I like a cigar. But now and then I take it out of my mouth!”
Before Paul Daniels became a TV star, like many comedians he toured the tough workingmen’s clubs for years. Just before he was due to go on stage in a club he’d never worked before, the concert secretary announced to the crowd that Arthur Grimshaw, the oldest member of the club, had died that day.
Listening to people crying and sobbing, Paul thought. “And I’m going to die here tonight!”
So, thinking on his feet, he walked on stage and said, “I realise you’re not in the mood to be entertained tonight.”
The crowd murmured in agreement.
“But”, Paul continued, “Let’s not think about ourselves. Let’s consider what Arthur would have wanted.”
The crowd perked up.
“Arthur would have wanted the show to go on. So, I’ll do my act…not for you…not for me…”
He looked Heavenwards…
“Arthur! This one’s for you!”
The crowd applauded loudly, Paul’s act went better than ever and afterwards everyone wanted to shake his hand and get his autograph.
And… he was immediately re-booked!