Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
What they probably dont cover is the blink-and-you-miss-it critical event that occurs between each act: the bring-up.
Its important to sell the next act as much as possible.
An effective bring-up communicates that sentiment best, keeping the crowd engaged and excited.
An art born of careful considerations and strategy.
They also introduce the comics and keep track of their stage time, signaling them when its nearly up.
before announcing the next comic right away.
I want everybody focused, Fisch says.
Pay close enough attention to bring-ups and youll hear some stock phrases.
Cellar host Sean Donnelly calls Lets keep that energy going a cliche but nonetheless an effective line.
He says directing positive reinforcement at the audience is helpful, too, because theyre insecure sometimes.
I try and be as sincere as possible so people get that Im not lying.
Nobody cares about credits, saysJoyelle Nicole Johnson, a prolific host and comic based in Atlanta.
Literally, no one cares.
All he had to do was say the performers names.
Some hosts also use the credits to set up opening jokes for a comic.
Thomas will then open his set uttering, Thanks for making me sound like your grandpa.
Performers can overdo it, however, and give the host a way-too-extensive list of credits.
Shoehorning in exaggerated credits can also be counterproductive for a comic.
Theyll say whatever the biggest thing theyve done is, Johnson observes about some comics.
you’re able to literally feel the audiences disappointment.
Running a cant-miss joke between sets is one tactic, but Donnelly notes that sometimes it confuses an audience.
He says they might think, This person did material already.
Are they going again?
Im not gonna be like, That sucked, Donnelly says, emoting moroseness.
Ive done that, but with assholes.
All I ever want a host to do is say my name correctly, Johnson says.
However, a bad bring-up with a flubbed name can still be alchemized into comedy gold.
Deyos last name had escaped him.
Im in a room full of salespeople and I go, Halfright?
If one of these guys meets half his sales goal are you, like, Eh, thats okay?
COVID Bring-ups
The art of hosting is arguably more crucial to comedy right now than ever before.
Zoom also became ubiquitous in 2020.
Both options provide audience members an unfortunate amount of distracting environmental stimuli and easy outs.
The gigs did not feature a host, however, to help minimize the risk of virus spread.
Her opening act went up cold, did 30 minutes, and handed off the mic to Tomlinson.
She says the shows went well, but the hosts presence was certainly missed.
The hosts job is the hardest job on every show, regardless of where its located, Tomlinson says.
When I find one who does a really good job, I try and use them again.
Two COVID-era stand-up specials last year fromTed AlexandroandDeon Coleshine a spotlight on the bring-up.
(Safety restrictions didnt permit them to film a traditional hour at a club or theater in 2020.)
Alexandro says the blended opening of his special became a purposeful tip of the cap to hosts.
Hosting my hilarious friends helped breathe life back into me as a performer.
Its not your job to crush, Mattern says to would-be hosts in the industry.
And thats a win, baby.
