It's better to play to the host as though in a real conversation and let the audience listen in- which they are.
Franklyn AjayeIn addition to listening to the audience's laugh, you want to listen to their silence. Is it bored or interested silence? The silence is quieter and filled with energy when they're interested. You can hear a pin drop. When they're bored, you can always hear it.
Franklyn AjayeWhen I've mentioned things that I thought only happened to me, or thoughts that I felt had only had crossed my mind, the audience response indicated that they seemed to have happened to, or been thought of by many people.
Franklyn Ajaye