When you ask people to list the things that annoy them most in life, one thing that inevitably makes the cut is people talking in the cinema. Live comedy events are no different. Unlike music events, where the entertainment can be appreciated over low-level chatter, live comedy works best when the performers have the audience’s full attention.

Throughout the 90s, comedy clubs like Jongleurs and Up The Creek were synonymous with hecklers and boisterous crowds. The comedians that played them came armed with a stream of heckle put downs, so they could beat the hecklers and continue barking their act at the audience.

Nowadays, with ticket prices for international touring comedians often exceeding £50, audience behaviour has shifted away from what was acceptable in the comedy clubs of yesteryear. Audiences (as well as comedians) are not interested in verbal sparring matches, but would rather enjoy the well-crafted comedy they paid to see, without distractions.

As the organiser or promoter, it is up to you to set the expectations of, and rules for, the audience’s behaviour. And without careful planning, you may also have to enforce them.

Draw up a basic Code of Conduct

A comedian’s worst nightmare is the audience not listening, and the ubiquity of smartphones is a common distraction to draw away your audience’s attention. Comedians such as Chris Rock have banned the use of mobile phones at their shows and with good reason.

Defining what audience members shouldn’t do during the show is important to stop them distracting other attendees who are trying to listen. This is the purpose of a Code of Conduct. Not only will it help you frame and communicate how the audience should behave during the show, it will give you a point of reference if there is ever a question about what behaviour is and isn’t acceptable at the event.

An effective Code of Conduct will be brief and to the point. Common things to include are; no use of mobile phones during the show, no persistent heckling of the acts, and no conversations or talking during the performance.

Including the Code of Conduct on your website’s Terms & Conditions (T&Cs) and the FAQs will let people know what behaviour is expected of them at the show.

Include appropriate behaviour in your Terms & Conditions

Whilst many people will claim they don’t read the T&Cs associated with any online purchase, most ticketing websites make it easy for you to present some brief T&Cs to customers before they finalise their purchase.

Refer to the Code of Conduct here and cover yourself against having to admit large, drunk groups that are likely to disrupt the show. Something short will suffice, like “Code of Conduct applies. Management reserves the right to refuse entry.”

Include more detail in the T&Cs on your own website, such as “Customers who arrive intoxicated may be refused entry.” Your T&Cs should also state your policy on hen and stag parties which, again, can help avoid large disruptive groups at the event.

Your T&Cs should also state your policy for late arrivals. If you offer reserved seating and a group with tickets in the second row arrives 10 minutes after the show has started, allowing them to take their seats will disrupt the performance. State that either reserved seats will be released at the start of the show or that late arrivals will be seated at the next interval.

State your hen & stag party policy

If you have ever experienced a badly-behaved hen or stag party at a comedy event, you will understand why the very mention of them will get a comedian’s back up. A drunken hen or stag party that thinks they are entitled to talk and misbehave at a comedy show can spoil the event for everyone.

If you are a smaller or niche comedy venue that prides itself on the quality of its shows, a ‘no hen or stag party’ policy is probably for you.

For larger venues with plenty of security and staff, hen and stag parties can help you increase audience numbers, especially during spring and summer when comedy audiences tend to be smaller. The trick is to lay down the law, both before they arrive and on arrival.

Hen and stag party organisers usually call the venue before booking, which is a good opportunity for you to emphasise your Code of Conduct. If you receive a large online booking, you can reply with a polite email confirming the booking and stating the Code of Conduct.

Upon arrival, have your door staff or security summarise the Code of Conduct for the group. You would be surprised how many people assume that heckling is permitted in comedy clubs unless told otherwise.

Dealing with hecklers and disruptive customers

At the beginning of the show, the compere or host is likely to have a quick chat with some audience members and especially any groups in the room. Declaring a strict ‘no heckling’ policy could make people apprehensive about engaging in banter with the host, which is often a good way to warm up the audience.

Most experienced comedians and comperes can handle a heckle or two. What should be avoided is allowing persistent hecklers to think they’ve become part of the show. Persistent hecklers should be approached the same way as customers who are talking, using their phones or being otherwise disruptive.

Train your staff to approach these customers politely and to gently remind them that talking or using their phone is not permitted during the show. Customers who need more than two warnings should be spoken to more firmly at the interval.

Occasionally, you will get an intoxicated, disruptive group that will not listen to any warnings. They will have lost interest in the show and be talking loudly amongst themselves to the annoyance of all the other attendees.

Avoid asking disruptive groups to leave while the show is in progress. Do this at the interval, with security, to minimise disruption to the show.

In my experience, if a group’s problematic behaviour is mostly down to alcohol, it’s best to ask them to leave at the next interval and stick with your decision. Such groups will sometimes promise to behave when spoken to, but are likely to deteriorate again and ruin the last part of the show. If you suspect the disruptive behaviour will continue, then ask them to leave and be firm.

In conclusion

A great comedy event is one where the audience are fully captivated by the show. Most people are mindful of others and know how to behave at a comedy event, but some preparation and some friendly suggestions for those who could potentially misbehave can help avoid problems before they arise and make sure everyone leaves the show smiling.