hecklers
Stand-up comedy's bane
Hecklers are people who interrupt a public speaker or performer with hostile or mocking comments.
The term comes from heckling—originally combing flax fibers, then metaphorically "combing through" someone's words to find fault.
Comedians face hecklers in clubs; politicians face them at rallies.
The hecklers were escorted out after drowning out the candidate's speech.
Solo comedic performance
- comedianProfessional humor performer
- improvUnscripted comedic performance
- punchlineHumor's final delivery
- comebackRecovery after decline
retort · roast · banter · put-down · quick wit · timing · mic · club
Vocal expression of scorn
- booShout to startle or jeer
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
- ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
- insultOffensive remark or action
taunt · catcall · barb · jibe · sneer · derision · scoff · razz
Elected government official
- speakerOne who talks
- performerOne who entertains audiences
- athleteSports competitor
- refereeSports rule enforcer
umpire · comedian · rally · town hall · protest · match · game · concert
Large public gathering
- spectatorsThose who observe events
- attendeesPeople at an event
- gallerySpace for displaying artwork
- front rowNearest tier of seats
cheap seats · drunk · rowdy · unruly · disruptive · vocal · hostile · persistent
stand-up
Solo comedic performance
- comedianProfessional humor performer
- improvUnscripted comedic performance
- punchlineHumor's final delivery
comeback · retort · roast · banter · put-down · quick wit · timing · mic · club · open mic
jeer
Vocal expression of scorn
- booShout to startle or jeer
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
- ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
insult · taunt · catcall · barb · jibe · sneer · derision · scoff · razz · gibe
politician
Elected government official
referee · umpire · comedian · rally · town hall · protest · match · game · concert · public figure
crowd
Large public gathering
- spectatorsThose who observe events
- attendeesPeople at an event
- gallerySpace for displaying artwork
front row · cheap seats · drunk · rowdy · unruly · disruptive · vocal · hostile · persistent · serial
interruption
Break in continuity
- disturbanceDisruption of order
- outburstSudden emotional release
- commotionNoisy, confused disturbance
uproar · ruckus · chaos · clamor · noise · hullabaloo · tumult · brouhaha · shouting · ejection
- annoying peoplepest, nuisance, meddlers, bore, busybodies
- campaigningcandidate, campaign signs, canvassing, campaign manager, fundraising
- criticscritic, critics, criticizer, criticizers, faultfinder
- ralliescrowd, crowds, speakers, speeches, podium
- Elizabethan theaterBlackfriars, Globe Theatre, groundlings, heavens, trap door
- scornersscoffers, mockers, deriders, sneerers, jeerers