Tonight I did my first show exclusively for Chassidim and it went real bad. I was super pumped because it would give me a chance to finally make fun of Satmar folks to their faces and it flopped, I was kind of shocked that it did – and even though plenty of folks at the show said they liked it – judging by the lack of laughter in the audience – I could tell they weren’t too pleased.
It was a private show in Boro Park at an undisclosed location, but I found it hilarious that the frummest looking crowd I have ever done wanted the dirtiest humor. They all kept asking me to do sexual humor and dirty jokes and even though I am called a chillul hashem on a daily basis for being “dirty and sexual” I really don’t do that kind of humor. All of my sexual humor is innuendo, like shomer negia and frum porn stuff. I tried that stuff and it failed miserably mostly because it was too clean.
It was quite pathetic really, the food was good and the location was pimping, but I felt super bad taking these peoples money for entertainment that they didn’t seem to enjoy. It is debatable if it is my worst show ever – but it definitely made me happy because my goal as a humorist, satirist and comedian is not really frum audiences, I would really like to crack into the liberal secular artsy Jew crowd.
I had to keep on explaining that I do clean Jewish humor and although some of you may not think of me as a clean comic I am predominantly clean – and I guess “cool” chassidim don’t want any of it. Kind of sucks because I totally thought I had a Chassidish following.
Hopefully while I am in New York (although I will travel anywhere) I can get some other shows going on, something on the Upper West Side is in the works, as well as a possible Lubavitch Lag Baomer event – if anyone would like to hire me out to rock their world – send me an email frumsatire@gmail.com
Naturally, they not only want the dirty stuff to laugh at, but so they can always talk about how bad you are for saying it, while they go home and watch the really (bad) scary porn that most folks walk away from …
Presumably, the kind of Chassidim that attend a comedy show want something out of the ordinary for them and you were much too within their experiance.
Or maybe they have a harder time relating to you and your life experience.
I’m sure a show for Lubavitch will go better as they’re much more “in the loop.”
I would say that since I attend a Chabad shul, all my friends are either emmisaries from Chabad or came to our community because it was strong and had a good school, and here in Sydney Chabad has taken over the orthodox Jewish scene, I reckon I would be considered Chabad.
May I say that you truly crack me up? Plus, although I am not a prude, not by a mile, I prefer hearing sexual jokes as innuendo. They are much funnier that way.
Anyone can say F**k. But can you use a larger vocabulary to allude to either the action or emotion? I think you do.
All the best,
Leeba
You need to find more modern Satmars that can appreciate your brand of comedy. Old school Satmar would probably prefer the Richard Pryor / Eddie Murphy type thing.
Hey Heshy, your show last night was OK! For a sheva brochos, bar mitzvah etc. it would have been great! But last night the guys wanted something more, to let loose a bit, it didn’t have to be sexual, just something different then Chassidim and our own type, like we kept on suggesting, Obama, African American, Etc. but you kept on saying that you weren’t prepared for non Jewish humor so we kept on throwing different subjects at you. But all’s good, u actually have good material! But when you do Chssidish parties don’t do Chassidim jokes. Good Luck!
with your crazy innuendo
The guys last night were modern and that was the problem they were too modern.
they probably didnt understand a work you said. speak yiddish next time
Sure, blame the audience. Just stick to blogging. I hear there’s money to be made.
how long are you going to be in nyc?
Hell no blogging is second to performance – I love the stage – going to be at an open mic in the city tomorrow.
Floyd chick – I’ll be here a while – email me – we can get lunch.
It’s like teaching. Sometimes you can have a great lesson planned and…
the kids think you’re nuts from Mars.
by the way, they may have very well loved it, but were embarrassed to laugh in front of their fellow chassidim.
hahahahahahaha
you think you are clean!!! WOW!!! you must have lost all your senses and no longer know what clue means
I’m Satmar and love your blog!