"Easy, spicy, and real," said one audience member with the surname Zhang. "Although some jokes are a little exaggerated, you can still find traces of real life."

The growing enthusiasm for stand-up mirrors changes in Chinese society. Its audience is mainly educated young people with high salaries. Some have experience studying or working overseas.

"More and more Chinese people have begun developing a global outlook. After money, they have more spiritual pursuits," said Tony.

Club members view stand-up as a remedy for depression. Most of them are single, living alone and always working overtime. "Huanle" (which means joy) works for an IT company. He does not have a house, a car, or even a girlfriend. But the audience's laughter gives him a strong sense of satisfaction. On stage, he feels happy.

CULTURAL CONFLICT

It hasn't been easy for stand-up to catch on in China.

Club members recounted a time when an audience member from Henan Province rushed the stage to argue with a comedian who made fun of people from the province.

Having performed in the United States and Ireland, Tony found that foreign performers engage with the audience frequently, making fun of them freely. "But the Chinese audience does not like to be the butt of jokes," he said.

In Chinese cross-talk, a comedic art that usually features a two-person dialogue, the performers traditionally flatter the audience while belittling themselves. After all, the audience is the hand that feeds them. But in stand-up, the audience and performers are on equal footing.

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