FAQ/Glossary

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF AN MC/HOST?

A: This is a very specialised skill set as they are the backbone of your event. They introduce your other speakers/entertainers and set the tone. Their experience with a variety of audiences allows them to manage expectations and any unexpected interruptions.

Q: WHAT IS A CORPORATE COMIC?

A: These entertainers have a thorough grounding in the corporate environment. Mediak Services can find you a corporate comic who has a related career background and can tailor a performance to your industry, working with you to target specific goals of the key stakeholders in a corporate event. Alternatively, one of our many comedy or cabaret professionals can be booked to delight your guests with pure entertainment designed to provide some welcome relief from corporate intensity.

Q: WHAT IS CABARET?

A: Cabaret can be described as many things, the common thread being a theatrical experience incorporating wit and style to delight and amuse. In cabaret you will find singers, dancers, circus performers, acrobats, magicians, burlesque artistes, actors and comedians - the choice of performer is yours.

Comedy Glossary

This glossary is structured around related concepts, not alphabetically.

Open-Mic’er

In Australia, an up-and-comer doing a 3-5 minute set as part of a stand-up comedy show. In the UK, an audience member taking up an offer from the MC/host to get up and tell one joke.

New Comic

A more confident and experienced up-and-comer doing an 8-10 minute set as part of a stand-up comedy show.

Supporting comic

The first featured performer(s) of the show. In the US, these are known as the first and middle comics in a traditional 3-act-plus-host comedy show.

Headliner

The main featured act, whose performance is the last set of the show.

MC/Host

An experienced comedian who opens the show with a warm-up set, introduces the other acts, ties the show together and farewells the audience briefly after the headliner closes. Also refers to a comic entertainer filling a similar role at other social or corporate events.

Joke

a humorous device typically consisting of a setup containing a target assumption intended to misdirect the audience into accepting a bogus 1st story; and a punchline containing a reinterpretation which builds a 2nd story that shatters the target assumption.

Reveal

part of the punchline; the key word, phrase, or action that allows the audience to “get” the 2nd story’s reinterpretation.

Shatter

the point in the joke at which the audience realises that their assumption is incorrect (ideally at the reveal).

Tag or tag line

an additional punchline immediately following a joke’s punchline without creating a new setup.

Routine

jokes all on the same subject or story that can be repeated on a regular basis

Bit

a section of a stand-up comedy show or routine, also a short routine or a section of a routine.

Set

a string of routines that make up a performance for a show.

Call-back

a joke which refers to one previously told in the set. The second joke is often presented in a different context than the one which was used in the initial joke.

Running gag

multiple callbacks; a recurring joke within the same set, sometimes within the same show from each comedian in the line-up.

Segue

a connecting sentence leading from one joke or routine to another.

Ad-lib

to make up a joke within a scripted show

Improvisation

similar to ad-lib, but in stand-up usually refers to the spontaneous creation of a bit or the continual comedic conversing with audience members. Not to be confused with those fully improvised comedy shows that don’t rely on stand-up comedy conventions e.g. Theatresports(R).

On a roll

a string of jokes delivered so that the audience keeps finding laugh after laugh without interruption.

One-liner

strictly speaking a joke made up of only one sentence, but also used to describe a joke with a one sentence set up and second sentence punchline.

Schtick

(Yiddish origin)a comic scene or piece of business; often implying physical comedy.

Sight gag

a physical joke meant to be watched.

Heckler

an audience member who interrupts a show, usually by exchanging insults with the comedian, sometimes by trying to top their punch-lines.