Speaking of a Tough Crowd!

Bruce Springsteen is touring again! The cover of his album, Born in the USA, that features his BACK, is not only iconic, but it brings back memories of one of my first bar gigs . . . because I did my entire show to a room full of people with their BACKS TO ME.??

Let’s get clear, their backs were turned BEFORE I

started telling my jokes, and rather than entertaining them, I was more like an annoying fly buzzing around their heads. The audience was composed of workers from a local factory, and they were in the bar waiting on union election results. The bar was in front of the stage, and the people sitting there were more focused on the bar tender pouring them another drink than me . . . they did not turn around for the show. On the far side of the bar was a large group of people who were mingling, drinking, and talking VERY loudly, also waiting on the results; With the bar between us, there was no way to engage them either.?

And sadly, having their backs to me wasn’t the worst part

of this train wreck. Every 10 minutes or so someone would run up to the stage, grab my mic and announce another batch of election results. It was awful.?

I was already on stage when I saw the headliner, Joe Recca, walk in, take one look at this mess, and walk out. I wasn’t sure what to do, but I kept going because in the comedy world, you need to “do your time” or you don’t get paid. I had to stay up there for 30 excruciating minutes. It was hell.?

With about 1 minute to go, Joe

walked back in. I kept my eye on the clock, and the second it hit 30 minutes, I stopped, mid-joke, and introduced him. He got on stage and about 30 seconds in, he did one of the funniest and most brilliant things I’d ever seen ?– he turned HIS BACK on them. ?He said “you’re turning your back on me, so I’m turning my back on you.” He did his entire hour-long show facing the wall! It was hilarious (him) and awful (this gig) at the same time. ??

Joe and I ended up working a lot together around the east coast, and he later told me that when he walked in and saw a new comic (me) on stage in this this horrible set-up, he decided to wait in his car. He thought I would bail on the show and make him do the whole 90 minutes himself, so he wasn’t coming in until he had to. He was impressed that I’d stuck it out.?

Just a reminder that when no one’s listening to you, you can interpret it in different ways. I could’ve thought - "Nobody cares about me or what I’m doing. It's all going to be like this. I should quit." But instead, I remember thinking - "it’s gotta get better than this!" And it did!??

Jan McInnis is a Keynote Speaker, Comedian, Comedy Writer, and Master of Ceremonies. She has written for Jay Leno’s Tonight Show monologue as well as many other people, places, and groups – radio, TV, syndicated cartoon strips, and even guests on the Jerry Springer show (her parents are proud). For 20+ years she’s traveled country as a keynote speaker and comedian sharing her unique and practical tips on what business leaders can learn from comedians (no, it’s not all about telling jokes). She can be reached at www.TheWorkLady.com , or [email protected] ? She’s also a GREAT Master of Ceremonies. Click here for her emcee site ?