Comedy Show

Attending the comedy show the other night opened my eyes to some of the differences between American stand up comedy and British stand up comedy. One of the differences I found was the type of jokes that were used in the routines. When watching an American stand up comedian there is usually some sort of reference to race.  When watching Andrew Lawrence he never made any reference to race.  The only jokes that came close to race is when he made a couple jokes about people from Wales and Scotland.  The only other jokes that he made that were close to comparing people is when he was talking about being a ginger.  Other than that there were no jokes on race like there is in America. 

            Another difference I noticed with the jokes was that Andrew Lawrence used a lot of sexual jokes.  The majority of jokes he had incorporated some sort of sexual experience.  In America there are some comedians that use a lot of sexual jokes, but then there are others that only use a few sexual jokes.  Majorities of people will laugh at a good sexual joke, but I feel since British culture embraces sex more that their comedians use more sexual jokes.  There really weren’t any jokes about violence, but if you watch an American comedian they will use violence in their jokes. 

            The last difference I found between British stand up and American stand up is the way the show was set up.  The venue we saw Andrew Lawrence in was very small and intimate.  The room was more like a theater set up with rising bench seats.  I like the intimate setting of it, but it was extremely hot and uncomfortable.  When you go to see an American stand up comedian the venue is usually more open and the seating is more spread apart.  You usually sit at a table with your party and the comedian does their act on a stage.  There is also air conditioning in American venues.  Overall the show was funny, I just wish it wasn’t so hot in the room we sat in.