AboutTom Expertise I can answer questions about The Capitol Steps, a political (mostly musical) satire group based in Washington, DC which performs in Washington, around the U.S., and four times a year on public radio. I can answer questions about who is performing which role in Capitol Steps sketches and songs on albumns and can help identify a routine (and which albumn or radio show includes it) based on partial lyrics. I can also provide tips and suggestions for those interested in writing and performing spoonerism-based comedy similar to the Steps` "Lirty Dies."
Experience I have been a Capitol Steps fan since about 1995. I own all the albumns and have listened to each dozens of times. I have particularly studied (and particularly admire) the "Lirty Dies" routines and I have written and performed material of this sort. Despite the fact that I live halfway across the U.S. from Washington, I've attended many live Capitol Steps performances, including several at their permanent locations in the DC area.
Question Sir,
my question goes this way, if you are on a stage and you crake joke which you expect people to laugh but nobody smile, what we u doforthatmoment?
Answer Isaac --
It's good that you're thinking ahead about such a situation, because it's bound to happen once in a while.
A fairly common approach, and one that I think works pretty well, is to be ready to make a joke *about* the lack of response to the original joke. For example, one could say "Thank you for your applause" (as a joke about the fact that there was no applause) or "I can feel the warmth...and I certainly hope none of you are armed."
This will only work for an *occasional* joke that falls flat -- it won't help very much if the routine is going badly overall (but it probably won't hurt, either).
