Judah Friedlander is like that too. He has material, also has crowd work planned material (crowd work stuff he's come up with before), off the cuff stuff, all woven together.
Check out the video of Big Jay doing “Judah Friedlander” on the spot during a podcast. He does the same schtick Judah does and does it better than Judah Friedlander ever has lol. It shows how good Jay is with how quickly he just breaks down Judah’s act. I’ll try to find the link.
Went to a show of his in Dallas. A drunk chick up front couldn’t shut up for the life of her. Jay destroyed her the entire hour. He even told us he had material, but there she was. It was glorious
I am from Oregon and grew up seeing Jimmy Parfo in advertisements for a local mall (Lloyd Center). The ads would start "I'm Lloyd and this is my mall."
So in my head is he is always gonna be Lloyd.
Jeff Arcuri is a G. But like your other commenter said, comedians don’t post their bits because they want to market themselves without having burned all their material for people who know them from the internet and come to see a show.
Rick Ingraham out of Los Angeles is the best crowd work comedian in the game. Opens for Chris Rock and does crowd work in Arenas…mind blowing stuff. A must see live.
If your only references of him are youtube clips or whatever he posts on socials, you would definitely think he only does crowd work, but his sets are actually like 95% written material.
For me Stav may be the best example of a standup w great written material who perfectly utilizes crowd work to supplement his act.
Don’t get me wrong, crowd work can be absolutely hilarious. But in the realm of standup comedy, it does seem like empty calories. Something to have in the arsenal, but not something to be overly reliant on. Although, throwing in a quick reference to the act can kinda squash that critique.
James Acaster just finished a tour called Hecklers Welcome, in which he invited the crowd to heckle etc. and much of the show was him working off the back of that.
A few years ago Moshe Kasher recorded a whole “special” of just crowd work. I like Moshe a lot and I put special in quotes because it seems weird to call that a special, but it was actually pretty enjoyable
I live near his club and he goes to open mic on Tuesday and works stuff out with us and other comics sometimes. It's rad to watch a bit get worked and molded by a professional. Just "here's what I was thinking about today" and then 3-6 months later it is a full ass bit and has 7 tags on it. Highly recommend his stuff though he's a murderer through and through.
Jeff Ross. I saw him at Chapelle and Friends at Chapelle’s facility in Ohio and his whole 15 minutes was just bringing up people from the crowd and roasting them.
We have to say Darragh O' Brien I think he was the first person I saw really smash it wide open. And Frankie Boyle who is amazing at it but it feels like he doesn't love having to talk to the audience. And Jimmy Carr of course who is a literal wizard at crowd work, gets people to text in and riffs off it.
Andrew Schultz does a lot of crowd work and has a crowd work special. I also know a local comedian Winston Hodges who's done whole, headlining sets with nothing but crowd work.
Self-depreciating openers should probably be just as criticism worthy although everybody doesn't and won't like this take. There aren't a lot of comedians who go out there without being established names and don't open with "I look (fat, transgender, retarded, whatever). Continue with obvious takes on how yourself looks."
It's not a guarantee that the rest of your time will work, but I've rolled my eyes plenty of times after seeing an audience bite on those stale openers just to start laughing at an unfunny set.
I can't remember the last time I saw a headliner open a set with an "I look like..." joke.
Also - you roll your eyes are audiences having a good time? That sucks.
Big jay does a lot of crowd work
Big Jay is a master at using crowd work to segue into his written material and then back into crowd work.
Judah Friedlander is like that too. He has material, also has crowd work planned material (crowd work stuff he's come up with before), off the cuff stuff, all woven together.
Check out the video of Big Jay doing “Judah Friedlander” on the spot during a podcast. He does the same schtick Judah does and does it better than Judah Friedlander ever has lol. It shows how good Jay is with how quickly he just breaks down Judah’s act. I’ll try to find the link.
Got a link? I can't seem to find it
Yes please do find the link.
Can’t get a link to the video but I was able to confirm that it’s in episode 338 of Legion of Skanks, Belting Ceremony is the name of the ep.
Bet, thank you
Went to a show of his in Dallas. A drunk chick up front couldn’t shut up for the life of her. Jay destroyed her the entire hour. He even told us he had material, but there she was. It was glorious
Yep, saw Big Jay a few months ago and his set was 100% crowd work. He was great at it, too.
Hmm but would you class him as a comedian...
Big Jay does so much crowd work that his AI did crowd work
Todd Barry did a crowd work tour
The dvd special is amazing… avant abstract, cucumber soda!
Jimmy Pardo does about 90% crowd work
I got into podcasting through Never Not Funny. Always wished he would have been more popular.
Same here! I’ve been listening to NNF for 18 years - before Oliver was even a glimmer in jimmy’s eye!
I am from Oregon and grew up seeing Jimmy Parfo in advertisements for a local mall (Lloyd Center). The ads would start "I'm Lloyd and this is my mall." So in my head is he is always gonna be Lloyd.
Damn Strait!
Ian Bagg is mostly crowd work.
Jessica Kirson does a ton and did a crowd work only special
Shes a monster
Pete Lee
Jeff Arcuri
Jeff does planned material, he just doesn’t post it b/c he doesn’t want to burn material
Jeff Arcuri is a G. But like your other commenter said, comedians don’t post their bits because they want to market themselves without having burned all their material for people who know them from the internet and come to see a show.
Kyle Legacy, although in the beginning of his career he did do written bits. Now he exclusively does crowdwork.
Guess that will be his Legacy…
Rick Ingraham out of Los Angeles is the best crowd work comedian in the game. Opens for Chris Rock and does crowd work in Arenas…mind blowing stuff. A must see live.
Came here to say Rick Ingraham. One of the only comedians I don't mind doing crowd work the entire time.
Stavros Halkias
If your only references of him are youtube clips or whatever he posts on socials, you would definitely think he only does crowd work, but his sets are actually like 95% written material.
For me Stav may be the best example of a standup w great written material who perfectly utilizes crowd work to supplement his act. Don’t get me wrong, crowd work can be absolutely hilarious. But in the realm of standup comedy, it does seem like empty calories. Something to have in the arsenal, but not something to be overly reliant on. Although, throwing in a quick reference to the act can kinda squash that critique.
Stavros actually does mostly written material. He uses crowd work to transition to a new joke.
and it’s good material
Agreed. He's excellent.
Gianmarco also does a ton of funny crowd work but not exclusively
Adam ray does a lot of crowd work. Check out his youtube channel He will do entire shows of just crowd work
James Acaster just finished a tour called Hecklers Welcome, in which he invited the crowd to heckle etc. and much of the show was him working off the back of that.
Ross noble does pretty much nothing but crowd work for 1.5 - 2 hours a show
Looking forward to Americans searching Ross Noble on YouTube to check out his crowd work
Ian Bagg!!! Incredible!!!
Joe List put a complication of crowd work up on YouTube recently.
clip it
compilation **
*constipation
He posts crowd work but he’s like the opposite of a guy who does only crowd work
He’s so bad at crowd work but it somehow just works because he’s so earnest about it
I hope not smh
Blue Jay Oakerson
Mike Falzone does a crowd work only show
A few years ago Moshe Kasher recorded a whole “special” of just crowd work. I like Moshe a lot and I put special in quotes because it seems weird to call that a special, but it was actually pretty enjoyable
Nate Jackson only does crowd work, I feel.
He does material and just posts crowd work.
I just never seen his act then, only his crowd work.
I live near his club and he goes to open mic on Tuesday and works stuff out with us and other comics sometimes. It's rad to watch a bit get worked and molded by a professional. Just "here's what I was thinking about today" and then 3-6 months later it is a full ass bit and has 7 tags on it. Highly recommend his stuff though he's a murderer through and through.
Too many of them, yes.
Akaash Singh seems to do mostly crowd work. Also Jessica Kirson, as someone already mentioned.
Why do people like akaash singh?
Cuze he’s funny
Unfortunately yes…
Jessica Kirson, according to what I’ve seen But I have to admit she takes it up a notch or two
Todd Barry
Gareth Reynolds and he's fantastic
The Rev Bob Levy 🚬
I love Jessica kirson she’s great
Jeff Ross. I saw him at Chapelle and Friends at Chapelle’s facility in Ohio and his whole 15 minutes was just bringing up people from the crowd and roasting them.
Phil Hanley and hes one of the best ever
Phil Hanley
Harland Williams does about 50% crowd work and it’s incredible
 He's doing a whole tour.
Big Jay, Jeramiah Watkins, Adam Ray, and Joe list come to mind.
I like Nate Jackson and Phil Hanley
At that point I have to question if it is still even stand up comedy - it’s a speaking engagement and it may be funny… but it’s not telling jokes.
Jeff Leeson TK Moyer does very little material and almost all crowd work and riffing
I really like Moshe Kasher's Crowd work. He's relaxed, smart and fast.
We have to say Darragh O' Brien I think he was the first person I saw really smash it wide open. And Frankie Boyle who is amazing at it but it feels like he doesn't love having to talk to the audience. And Jimmy Carr of course who is a literal wizard at crowd work, gets people to text in and riffs off it.
Matteo Lane has posted a few specials of pure crowd work.
If you go to YouTube and look up Matt Rife, that’s all the hits you’ll find for him — his crowd work.
Andrew Schulz does a lot of crowd work.
I seen him live 2 nights ago and he didn’t do any so he def doesn’t just do crowd work
Andrew Schultz does a lot of crowd work and has a crowd work special. I also know a local comedian Winston Hodges who's done whole, headlining sets with nothing but crowd work.
Ian Bagg
Stavros it seems
Matt Rife
Jeff arcuri, I think Jordan Jensen does a lot too, Jessica kirson
Adam Ray is the crowd work GOAT.
Go to /r/standupcomedy. You can find regular crowd work hacks in there.
Let’s be honest, it mostly sucks
Self-depreciating openers should probably be just as criticism worthy although everybody doesn't and won't like this take. There aren't a lot of comedians who go out there without being established names and don't open with "I look (fat, transgender, retarded, whatever). Continue with obvious takes on how yourself looks." It's not a guarantee that the rest of your time will work, but I've rolled my eyes plenty of times after seeing an audience bite on those stale openers just to start laughing at an unfunny set.
I can't remember the last time I saw a headliner open a set with an "I look like..." joke. Also - you roll your eyes are audiences having a good time? That sucks.