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Do millennials experience comedy differently? A millennial comedian weighs in

A Calgary comedian says millennials want different things from stand-up comedians and its often fellow gen-Yers that speak to their needs.

'There is a lot of angst but there is also a lot of acceptance': Calgary comedian Victoria Banner says

26-year-old comedian Victoria Banner says millennials have different needs when it comes to comedy. (NotVictoria/YouTube)

A Calgary comedian says millennials want different things from stand-up comedians and it's often fellow gen-Yers that speak to their needs.

"I think it is different because comedy is all about observations and trying to be universal and unfortunately boomer and millennials have two different world views because we are living in two different economic times," Victoria Banner told The Homestretch.

"Millennial [comedians] are more inclusive, we are really not bullying people like Andrew Dice Clay was, because we are all sad and we are all broke and no one needs to be told that they suck," she said with a laugh.

Banner says people born in the early 1980s have different challenges compared to previous generations.

"There is a lot of angst but there is also a lot of acceptance," the 26-year-old said.

"Every one of my friends is running around self-diagnosing themselves. 'I am the first person to be clinically depressed,' because all of the doctors are trying to give us pills. Everyone has got ADD, everyone is bipolar and everyone is depressed but it's more like a party conversation starter. We still go out, we still have a good time, we still love each other."

She says social media has impacted how comedy is delivered.

"It has changed the way that jokes work, because we have memes now for jokes. So many comedians come up to me and they go 'Victoria, your writing is so weird, you've got to do set up, punch, set up, punch,' and I am like, I have seen all of your jokes on the picture of a frog."

In general, Banner says, hecklers are not as common among younger people.

"It's nice actually, millennial audiences are respectful to the people on stage," she said.

"You don't have that cocky 80s mullet guy being like, 'I am going to heckle the comedian.' People do respect the art form."


With files from The Homestretch