In 1972, Songwriter Hall Of Fame Inductee, Jim Croce, announced the following four rules on his breakthrough album, You Don’t Mess Around With Jim:
You don't tug on Superman's cape
You don't spit into the wind
You don't pull the mask off that ol’ Lone Ranger
And you don't mess around with Jim
Rule #5: You don’t heckle Joe Klocek.
Most of the great comics and public speakers have one thing in common. You’ve never heard of them.
This heckler — if he only knew Joe teaches crowd work to other comics. I took his class 20 years ago. Joe calls crowd work “cheating.”
The magic of crowd work is the audience knows this is a one-time thing. Just for them. Will never be repeated. You are 100% in the room with the people. The people know it. They like it. They give you the rope you need. They know they are witness to an experiment and that ratchets up the tension.
Q: What’s going to happen?
A: Nobody knows!
Imagine Joe’s delight when that heckler unwittingly serves himself up on a platter. Then an audience member suggests bringing the heckler on stage. Joe doesn’t bring him up right away. Thinks about it, decides to go for it, then immediately takes control. Heckler, by contrast, violates the First Rule Of Holes multiple times. (When you’re in a hole stop digging.)
I have not seen Joe in a longtime. Super nice guy. Below is Joe’s most recent post. Joe is what we call a comic’s comic; meaning, a comic other comics learn from. This is a great four minutes. Same club. Fourteen years later.
JOIN US!
You Are Invited To Audit A HiFi Speakers Toastmasters Meeting
If you live in San Diego, I would love to meet you at one of HiFi’s weekly meetings in Carmel Valley (92130). Meetings are open to all, and free to attend, with or without advance notice. Bring a friend!
Location: 12790 El Camino Real, 1st Floor, San Diego, 92130
Plenty of free parking.
Meeting Time: Every Thursday, 12:00-1:00
If this is your lunch hour, bring a sandwich. Please time your bites carefully, so when the laughs hit you do not pass Jersey Mike through your nose.
You have been warned.
~Mark Whitney, President, HiFi Speakers
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