In comedy, all audiences are not created equal

A crisp January night in Bloomington is best spent in a vibrantly packed auditorium, enjoying a gem of a comedic performance - even if one is perched in the upper balcony. The hour-long drive and cost of admission were well worth a rare, genuine laugh.

Last week, Jim Gaffigan, originally from Gary, Indiana (“where the toilet smell is made,” he lamented), visited Bloomington on his Beyond the Pale Tour. The show entailed an hour of insights on food, laziness, religion, relationships, and several less orthadox comedic choices (like bacon and hot pockets), all garnished with Gaffigan’s unique approach to the awkward down-time between punchlines. His routine included some quips previously seen on Comedy Central Presents; however, I was surprised to find myself laughing even at the jokes I knew in advance.

This is not intended to be a blind endorsement of Gaffigan’s skills as a comedian, much less a review of his routine. In fact, a great deal of my enjoyment was based in the knowledge that the performance, or a similar one at some other location, would probably be broadcast on Comedy Central in the future (I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d be able to hear my laugh echo down from Balcony A through my TV). Then, one might ask, why pay to attend a live show rather than wait for the TV broadcast? As painful as it was to hear the entire performance reenacted by state school sorority girls on the way down copious stairs to the lobby, the environment in the auditorium was electric and added to my laugh-out-loud enjoyment.

In fact, this is the reason that I’m not as enthused by the comedians that come here to Rose. The sense of environment that made Gaffigan’s show so enjoyable was created through the laughter of the hundreds of people present, and Rose shows simply don’t draw that kind of crowd. But since their performances are free, why not attend? The truth is, I haven’t seen a comedian on our campus this year, almost entirely because I don’t hear about them until they’ve come and gone (but maybe that’s because I don’t dine in the ARA, and therefore miss the informative table cards).

There is something to be said, however, for the personal attention that comedians who visit Rose can spend on dialogue-like interchange; in general, this consists of bashing our communal toolishness, with varying degrees of sincerity. Big crowds lack such a personal touch.

In the end, it comes down to preference; big shows and big names, or personal shows and smaller laughs (with no cost or commute). We don’t always have to choose. The veterans to Rose comedy might remember the appearance of Mike Birbiglia, a fairly big-name performer (and, I feel, one of the more successful comedy events on our campus). But until another such opportunity comes along, I’ll be looking to out-of-town venues for the Jim Gaffigans of the comedy world until they can draw a crowd here at Rose.