The Pattern is...

the joke. Reading the NY TImes article on comedians and their crowd work vids. I'll keep my opinions out of the crowd work discussion aside from noting, ain't nobody better than Don Rickles, whose knack to talk at you,  about you is unmatched. Today Rick Ingraham and Ian Bagg set the bar. Their questions have answers and punchlines and purpose, all while keeping the 4th wall intact. 

I post Youtube shorts of my crowd chatter and will let you in on a secret. The same crowd comes to every show. That is the joke. Commenting on the crowd, whose pattern remains constant, brings the audience into the moment and gets the job done without their commentary. A silent partner, except their exhalation of laughter. Keep supporting live comedy, but know there is a reason for the stage, microphone and spotlight - so the comedian can provide patterns, purpose and punchlines!