Hell Gig

My First Paid Comedy Gig Became My Worst Nightmare

Making the crowd laugh — or at least trying to — at a comedy gig that feels more like a fashion show for zoot suits

Comedians have these things called hell gigs, a phrase we all know. Hell gigs are those shows where you’re set up to fail from the start. The crowd is awful, the venue is awful, and even the ride there is awful. Not only do you bomb — meaning your jokes don’t land or they’re just not right for the audience — but you never really had a chance of succeeding in the…