Posted by Ian on 2008-11-29
in Tips
I’ve just been reading chat show King Jay Leno’s autobiography, Leading with my Chin. In his early career on television he had a spot with a comic monologue on Dinah Shore’s syndicated daytime show. He was asked by the producer to say what his final joke was - so the in-house orchestra knew when to launch into the play-off music. Comedians don’t like this because the music often drowns out the laughs from the big finish. So Jay said he would just say: “thank you, thank you very much.” He emphasised that he would repeat it twice - and that would be the cue.
It was one of those shows that by the time he was ready to be introduced the audience had been whipped up into a frenzy of excitement; so, even though he was unknown, Jay got a rapturous reception. He launched into his first joke, which was relatively weak but was a nice twist on a hackneyed line: “Is there anybody in here this evening from the United States of America?” This got a huge laugh and a round of applause way out of proportion to its normal reaction. Jay tried to calm the audience down – “thank you, thank you very much”.
The orchestra immediately began his play-off music. Jay tried to signal that this was not the moment. He looked at Dinah who was paying no attention off-camera but was looking at her notes. However on hearing the music she went into automatic mode; she smiled broadly, started applauding which signalled the audience to copy her. Gesturing Jay to come over and join her, he had no choice but to end his set. “Sit right down”, said Dinah, “that‘s some of the freshest material I’ve heard in a long time”.
“Thank you”, said Jay, “at this rate I could do this show eighty or ninety times a year!”
It’s a great story and the complete opposite of what normally occurs at most corporate events, where nobody takes you off at the end of your set. I usually try to suggest to the organiser that they say a few words at the completion: otherwise everybody is left wondering what exactly they should do next. Of course ideally what I want them to say is: “What a terrific act you have just seen and another huge round of applause for Ian Keable.” But I don’t want to sound too conceited, so I refrain from putting those exact words forward.
It happened to me this week where I did an event with what I thought was an experienced emcee introducing me. He had been chairing the conference all day, so was used to thanking speakers. Even so, I did remind him that it might be a good idea to tell everybody at the end of my act that the formal part of the evening was over - and the bar was open in the next room if anybody wanted some more drinks.
Anyway I ended on a high (the show had gone very well) – did my “thank you, thank you very much” bit, took my applause and looked in his direction. He just stared back and sat where he was, saying nothing.
All I could think of was: Where was Dinah Shore and her orchestra when you needed it?
It was one of those shows that by the time he was ready to be introduced the audience had been whipped up into a frenzy of excitement; so, even though he was unknown, Jay got a rapturous reception. He launched into his first joke, which was relatively weak but was a nice twist on a hackneyed line: “Is there anybody in here this evening from the United States of America?” This got a huge laugh and a round of applause way out of proportion to its normal reaction. Jay tried to calm the audience down – “thank you, thank you very much”.
The orchestra immediately began his play-off music. Jay tried to signal that this was not the moment. He looked at Dinah who was paying no attention off-camera but was looking at her notes. However on hearing the music she went into automatic mode; she smiled broadly, started applauding which signalled the audience to copy her. Gesturing Jay to come over and join her, he had no choice but to end his set. “Sit right down”, said Dinah, “that‘s some of the freshest material I’ve heard in a long time”.
“Thank you”, said Jay, “at this rate I could do this show eighty or ninety times a year!”
It’s a great story and the complete opposite of what normally occurs at most corporate events, where nobody takes you off at the end of your set. I usually try to suggest to the organiser that they say a few words at the completion: otherwise everybody is left wondering what exactly they should do next. Of course ideally what I want them to say is: “What a terrific act you have just seen and another huge round of applause for Ian Keable.” But I don’t want to sound too conceited, so I refrain from putting those exact words forward.
It happened to me this week where I did an event with what I thought was an experienced emcee introducing me. He had been chairing the conference all day, so was used to thanking speakers. Even so, I did remind him that it might be a good idea to tell everybody at the end of my act that the formal part of the evening was over - and the bar was open in the next room if anybody wanted some more drinks.
Anyway I ended on a high (the show had gone very well) – did my “thank you, thank you very much” bit, took my applause and looked in his direction. He just stared back and sat where he was, saying nothing.
All I could think of was: Where was Dinah Shore and her orchestra when you needed it?
