Why the front row is the bravest seat in comedy

Danny Cole builds every show out of the audience, which means the front row is less a seat and more a speaking role. Here is our honest guide to surviving — and loving — a crowd-work night.

Rule one: you can say no.
A good crowd-work comic reads the room. A shake of the head is always respected, and there are two hundred other people to bother.

Rule two: short answers win.
'What do you do?' 'Accounts.' Perfect. That is all he needs. Don't give him your life story unless you want it improved.

Rule three: heckling is not helping.
Shouting the punchline early is like honking during a violin solo. Laugh loud, clap hard, save the shouting for the football.

Danny plays the Main Room on 15 July. Front-row tickets are the same £20 — bravery included at no extra charge.