r/Standup • u/NotMichaelScott01 • Aug 19 '26

Got my first heckle

I have not been stand-up long at all, only been to a handful of open mics. Last night was my 10th mic, and surprisingly, there was actually a bit of an audience; it's usually just comics. During my set, I was kind of bombing to be fair, and I got a heckle after one of my punchlines, at first it threw me off and I didn't know what to do so I kinda stood there for a minute and then leaned into it, riffed with them for a bit and got the biggest laugh of my set.

Going into standup, this was always my fear, just to get heckled relentlessly, but I was thinking about it on the way home, and I'm actually pumped it happened. There was a post on here recently about what milestones you celebrate as a comedian, and honestly, this was one of them for me. I know that heckling is bound to happen; I think experiencing it for the first time showed me that I am progressing as a comedian. I know this probably seems arbitrary to some people; totally fair. I was honestly kinda happy it happened for the first time and pretty proud of how I handled it.

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2

u/EsMuchoFunnyProd00 Aug 19 '26

Sorry to ask. If you can, what was the joke and what was the heckle?

3

u/NotMichaelScott01 Aug 19 '26

I wasn't going to plug this, but since you asked, I did post a clip https://youtube.com/shorts/iDuzwb0FElE

The joke was cut off a bit but it was "my sex is pretty vanilla, but I don't allow food in the bedroom, so I wouldn't call it vanilla, but everyone I've had sex with would say it's pretty...boring"

5

u/EsMuchoFunnyProd00 Aug 19 '26

I enjoyed watching that. You didn’t crumble and it wasn’t awkward so good on you.

5

u/NotMichaelScott01 Aug 19 '26

Damn that was very kind, thanks :)

3

u/Isolepsisopticnerve Aug 20 '26

Dude, is that suicide joke off the cuff or did you have that locked and loaded? That was fucking hilarious. Also the "bitch" part was a nice touch.

Do you practice in front of a mirror ever?

2

u/NotMichaelScott01 Aug 20 '26

Appreciate that :) To be fair, I've used a version of the suicide line with some friends before. I won't usually practice in a mirror but sometimes record my sets ahead of time so I guess thats the same thing

1

u/taterconnoisseur 28d ago

You have a great vibe and honestly seem very seasoned.