Almost all stand-up comedians have experienced this embarrassment. Some even joke about the humiliation.

"When there is only one person watching, it is not the performer but the audience member who feels more embarrassed," he said.

"Once, there was only a woman in the audience. She wanted to leave for a bathroom break, but was very shy to say. She looked at me, embarrassed, and I stared back at her. Then she said, 'How about I leave my cell phone here?'" Xijiangyue quoted, explaining that the gesture was an implicit promise to return.

"I was very afraid of losing my audience," he said.

He did not give up. The club always brings members together to discuss and rehearse. Some began reading professional books, while others loved to take notes about every funny or embarrassing moment of their lives, even while sitting on the toilet.

In the past six years, their audience has grown, and ticket prices for their shows have increased from 30 yuan to 120 yuan. Members also bring their performances to campuses, communities and the military in Beijing and other cities. Many fans have become comedians.

ROCK MUSIC OF COMEDY

Many Chinese people have come to know stand-up through Chinese American comic Joe Wong, who was invited to speak at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in 2011. He became an instant celebrity after his 15-minute video swept Chinese social media. Though he spoke English with a strong accent, his speech made the American audience laugh, including Vice President Joe Biden. Some called him "the Yao Ming of Comedy."

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