One of the aims of this site has always been to extol the virtues of attending live stand-up comedy shows (honestly, it’s literally in our ‘About Us’‘). There’s something unique about experiencing comedy in its rawest form – a room, a comedian, a mic, lights, and a slightly tipsy audience hungry for original comedy gold.

At this juncture, it’s important to emphasize that this is NOT a review of Sean McLoughlin. On this particular night, he was simply testing out new material. However, his performance provided us with a revealing glimpse into the reality of life as a stand-up comedian.

Imagine this scene: you enter a small room (later aptly described as a basement that has somehow been placed on top of a building), a man checks your ticket and instructs you to sit wherever. It’s an awkward 60-seater venue that actually turns a corner to reveal the other half of the seats. Minutes later, our ticket-checking doorman takes to the stage and introduces himself as our comedian for the evening – and thus, the show begins.

Sean McLoughlin has performed at international venues with capacities well over 10,000 people. He’s appeared on shows like Mock the Week and Live at the Apollo, as well as making appearances in various TV series. So, why is he here? It’s a question he asks himself multiple times during his set. The good news is that it’s not down to anything negative; this is simply how the best comedians improve – by subjecting themselves to a ‘worst-case scenario’ and testing whether their new material sinks or swims… it’s quite masochistic, really.

On this particular night, his audience consists of people who have paid different prices for the same ticket and feel inclined to grumble (thanks, Dice), tourist fans who decide to take selfies mid-show, a woman who believes that relocating from a flat in Greenwich to a house in an incredibly affluent part of Kent constitutes PTSD, and just behind her, a group from Ukraine who truly comprehend the absurdity of that statement.

Yet, despite all of these distractions, our comedian prevails, even extending his set by an extra 15 minutes. Not every joke lands perfectly, but he knows how to turn a flop into a win – those that don’t resonate won’t make the final routine, but they also haven’t derailed this set. I always believe that the most challenging task for a comedian during these types of shows is to resist falling back on tried-and-tested material. They know their usual material would easily win over the crowd, but it’s a testament to their professionalism that they refrain. These nights of trial and error ensure that when they perform on their tour, they are as relevant and on point as possible.

These ‘new stuff’ shows offer a fantastic insight into the art of stand-up comedy and allow us to witness elite-level comedians for a fraction of the price they could justifiably charge.

Ultimately, it was an incredibly enjoyable night for me and my pals. Sean has an endearing stage presence and is a natural storyteller. His current tour is in progress, and if you manage to grab tix, you’re in for a fabulous night with a true ‘man of the people’ – he honestly asked us to say that 🙂

Clown Stars : (-unrated-)

@Camden Comedy Club – London