Whenever I watch a late nite talk show, and I see who the musical/comedic guest is, I only watch musicians I’ve heard of/like, but will watch ANY comic I don’t actively dislike. Which do you prefer?
I gotta go comic.
I comedian I don’t like I can still sit through. I band I don’t like makes me stabby.
I voted musician, but it depends. There’s tons of times I’ve been to concerts where I didn’t know one or more of the opening acts but enjoyed them. However, they’re generally of a similar genre to the band I’m going to see so it’s likely that I’ll at least like what they’re doing. You generally don’t get that sort of information about a comic up front, so it’s a complete shot in the dark and a bad comedian can be almost embarassing to watch because the ones I don’t like tend to have simplistic humor and or rely on shock or dumb stereotypes (race or gender most often), so I’m just shocked that they even think its funny. At least with a bad musician, they will generally at least have moderate technical skill and that is at least entertaining.
However, if I have nothing to go off of, there’s probably a better chance a random comedian will be tolerable since generally any musical act that I’m supposed to have heard of is generally pretty and bland, since anything else doesn’t sell records, which means almost certainly I won’t enjoy it, whereas virtually every comedian has a niche, so at least there’s a chance I’ll like it.
I voted musical act for two reasons.
1: I’m a bigger fan of music than comedy.
2: Good comedians are rare, and while a mediocre musician can still be entertaining, watching a mediocre comedian is just painful.
Musician. I have much pickier taste in comedy than in music.
Comic. I’m the reverse of Rhiannon8404. Bad comedy is passable. Bad music is a war crime.
I’m sensitive to loud noises, especially live music in a crowded club, so even if it’s something I like it can feel very claustrophobic, like an oppressive blanket of sound. So a live show I’d much rather see a comedian. I even went to an excruciating open mike night and enjoyed myself with friends and beer.
On TV I’d still rather see a comedian, but I’ll watch a band I’ve never heard of perform one song. My husband, on the other hand, will go to turn off the Daily Show or Colbert when the band is about to start. I always stop him- I’m honestly curious most of the time. I wouldn’t watch a full concert-length show on TV though, especially from a band I’ve never heard of. I’ve watched full comedy specials knowing nothing going in.
A suggestion for a musical comedian you may have never heard of: Tim Minchin.
I voted “comic” because a comic telling jokes that I haven’t heard before (in style or substance) is a plus, whereas a shtick that I already know is a negative.
With musicians, it’s somewhat the opposite: I don’t mind hearing a style, or the same song, I’ve heard before. This is why I’m far more likely to get a CD/download of music than of a comedy routine - one holds up over repeat listens, and the other doesn’t.
I like music, but I hate going to concerts. So I would probably pick a comedian I didn’t know over almost any musical act.
I voted musician, because if I don’t enjoy the music I can poke fun at the act and at least get a few laughs.
If I don’t like a comic, it doesn’t really help to sing about it.
Musician.
I can appreciate a talented musician even if I don’t particularly care for the style he’s playing. I can’t appreciate any comic at all if I don’t like his style of comedy.
And if the act in question has no talent, then it’s a wash…
Went with comic because I have way more experience being able to stand a comic (even a bad one) than I do being able to stand a musical act.
I also am way more partial to comedy than music.
I chose comic because as a rule I dislike live music, unless it’s a super favorite artist of mine. I especially hate it in a bar where people are trying to have conversations and generally chill out.
This for me, too.
Considering what passes for music these days, I’d pick the comedian. No guarantee I’d like him either.
Comedian. I need to listen to a song two or three times before I “get” it. Jokes are immediate.
I have to jump through a lot of hoops to watch SNL in this weird foreign country I live in. When I do, I am far more apt to fast forward through the musical guest than the comedy bits.
I’ll listen to the comic. Bad music is just a horrible loud noise that hurts the ears.
The comic would just bore me, not hurt me.
I voted for comedian. Bad music drives me absolutely bonkers. It takes me a long time to warm up to music that I like, so hearing songs I’ll never hear again is pretty pointless. There are even some Kesha songs that required a few listens for me to like them, so what chance does some schlub have to entertain me with his songs?
I rarely like stand-up comedy. I often like music. No contest, really.