YouTube is full of videos titled “COMEDIAN DESTROYS HECKLER.” We click them. We love them. But there is a nuance to dealing with hecklers that separates the pros from the amateurs.
The Types of Hecklers
- The Drunk: Not malicious, just loud. Needs to be silenced gently but firmly.
- The Helper: Thinks they are adding to the show. (Spoiler: They aren’t).
- The Hater: Actually trying to derail the set. This requires the nuclear option.
The Cellar Approach
At the Comedy Cellar, heckling is… risky. The comics here are the snipers of the industry.
- Ardie Fuqua: The master of crowd work. He will make you fall in love with him while he dissects your outfit.
- Wil Sylvince: He uses his physicality and quick wit to make the heckler the star of the show, then dismantles them.
Don’t Try This at Home
Handling a heckler requires confidence. If you hesitate, you lose. If you get too angry, you lose. You have to be the coolest guy in the room.
Want to see how it’s done? Search our archive for “Crowd Work.” It’s a masterclass in human psychology.
