Ok heres the deal, I've started to figure out that any line which came from Gazzo is not ok for the midwest. Because people here are too uptight. Funny I was actually born and raised here. What I would like to know is what types of humor one can get away with out here. BUT I REFUSE TO DO SELF DEPRECIATING HUMOR. I AM NOT GOING TO LOWER MYSELF JUST FOR SOMEBODY ELSES AMUSEMENT.

the skilled performer will not only know his material but, also, be very adept at reading & choosing his crowd of viewers and knowing what kind of patter, including humor, can be presented in an appropriate way.

WRONG ATTITUDE!! When I tell jokes and use myself as the butt of the joke I am NOT in any way lowering myself for someone else's amusement. I am being friendly with my audience. I am telling stories, much like Garrison Kellior, that are funny and so everyone can relate to me. I am busking for one reason. Entertainment be d%^&%d I am there to make money! During, and at the end of my show I am asking these people to put "$5, $10, even $20 bills into my hat" (That's the exact phrase I use.) So I have to entertain them AND, most importantly, I have to make friends with them. If I am just Peter doing tricks, so what. But if I am Paddy, a guy that remembers their names, and has opened himself up so that they could laugh, I'll get money.

Self deprecating humour is the difference between a $5 hat and a $50 hat for a 10 minute sidewalk show.

^^^ What he said.

Self-depricating humor is very easy for the audience to laugh at. They don't think any less of you for it, in fact they probably admire you for it.

Some things I say to draw a crowd are along the lines of "Come here, I'm desperate for attention!" or "Please stay, I don't know any girls."

Those always get big laughs and help me build a crowd. With the wrong delivery they could probably go really wrong, but they work for me.

I've always found that if you can't laugh at your self, no one else really wants to laugh with you.

I always thought a good sense of humor starts with being able to laugh at yourself. Otherwise you are just faking humor and repeating banter. To get to the level of improvisation, I'd say you NEED to be able to laugh at yourself. Self depriciate? Who says that by laughing at your own faults you put yourself down?