It's better to play to the host as though in a real conversation and let the audience listen in- which they are.
Franklyn AjayeYou can't wait forever for an audience to get the joke, but you should give them at least two seconds to join in before you go on to the next one.
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 AjayeTaping yourself and making yourself listen to the tape of each performance no matter how bad is really important. There's always a nugget line or a direction pointed out to you in even the worst show.
Franklyn Ajaye