I can’t imagine the number of times I have skipped something only because I did not have company. Movie? Check. Protest? Check. Conference? Check. Travel? Check. Eating at a restaurant? Check. Stand-up comedy? Chec… Oh wait, I have to change the status on that one.
You see, like many others, I don’t like doing things alone. No, I’m not an extrovert and no I’m not an introvert either. But somehow, doing something alone always horrified me. Who am I going to talk to? Who am I going to share that laugh with? Am I going to sit and eat alone? Will people stare at me? What will people assume about me? Do I pretend to be on call with someone?
Most people might have had these or similar thoughts when contemplating whether or not to buy a single ticket for something. That’s why when I finally decided to buy one ticket for myself for a stand-up comedy event, it was a big step.
Laugh and the world laughs with you
I have recently missed a lot of things only because I did not have a friend to accompany me. Then I came to know that one of my favourite comedians is performing at Thane. Not to mention he is one of the most talented and intelligent artists I’ve seen online — Shridhar Venkataramana a.k.a. the guy with an IIM degree and a thriving career in comedy.
If you know Shridhar’s act, you know it’s not an ‘open for all’ event, even if it says so. For those who don’t follow politics and current events, they might just feel like they’ve been ripped off in the name of comedy. In Shridhar’s words, his jokes “take time and education”. You’d mentally evaluate who are the friends you can tolerate and whether they are intellectually up to the level of his jokes. So I decided, I’d rather laugh alone than take someone along who would curse me after the event.
The location was also not an adventure many people are up for. But that didn’t stop a bunch of people from coming from as far as Lower Parel and Belapur. Quite the Shridhar fans.
So here I was with one ticket to my name as I entered the venue. Not surprisingly, everyone else was in groups of twos, threes and even sixes. Before the event, I was glued to my phone but once the event started, I hardly realised when it was an hour later and Shridhar was on his concluding jokes.
Not only was it my first solo experience but also my first stand-up comedy experience as well. Having experienced both together, I would surely recommend stand-up comedy for anyone who wants to try out or is forced to do something alone. Here’s why.
You’re not on the phone
Depending on the place, your most convenient option, if you’re alone, would be to scroll on your phone. If you’re at a restaurant, plugin earphones while you eat. If you’re at an event, click photos and videos. If you’re at the movies, you’re slightly better off until it’s the intermission when again you’re drawn to your phone while everyone else shares and spills popcorn. Shopping doesn’t really count because you’re definitely sending pictures to your girls from inside the dressing room.
Stand-up comedy requires your undivided attention. You can’t use phones but more importantly, you don’t feel the urge to. Your attention is fixed on the person on stage and if you’ve picked the right gig, as I did with Shridhar, the only time you will remember your phone is if you’ve forgotten to put it on vibrate — a definite faux pas.
Everyone’s actually solo
I realised this once the gig started. In a movie, you are likely to turn to your friend or whoever you’re with and either comment on what just happened or laugh. In a stand-up event, you could do that but you won’t really miss it. I was in the middle of the first row and all I had to was laugh at Shridhar’s act. There was no urge to turn and nudge my friend or give a hi-fi.
The maximum respect you can give is by clapping aloud at what you like. Eventually, you notice everyone is doing that. There’s very less room (literally) to start talking to the person next to you. This is more evident if you are close to the stage. The proximity with the comedian is something you won’t get in a movie hall. The closest is a theatrical performance but how many of us even watch those any more?
Once it concluded, I left. That’s it. I had my dose of fun and I overcame a challenge. So, if you’re looking at doing something solo, try going to a stand-up event. And don’t sit in the first row unless you’re ready to be in the limelight.
