Nope....actually the key is to bring in more people.
Most of these cover bands are complete crap....but they have a ton of friends who come out every weekend.

On the contrary I know a bunch of brilliant bands who cant even get in to play some of those bars....

In fact I bet you could throw the best musicians in the world in one of these bars, but if they don't play Livin' on a Prayer followed by Pour some sugar on me, people will leave.

Bottom line...

I don't realize the sin in quoting another performers lines.

To hack or not to hack that is the question?

Comedy is as egocentric as magic is. Most comedians start off in their career parroting successful comics. Magicians do the same. As do singers. BUT once they rise to a level of competence they are encouraged to write or think for themselves. More often than not most comedians find a formula that works for them.

Formula Comics are Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall, Jacky Mason, henny Youngman.

Comic geniuses are people like Mitch Hedberg, Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce and Steven Wright.

With formula comics they can take Hack or Stock material and make it their own. Geniuses twist the basic joke till it doesn't recognize its self. This is where magic needs to stride.

saying a line like "No the clean one" if not said with heart is just mean. Many times as in art it is not the space you color that makes a painting but the space you don't. Learn to use silence to your advantage.

Wow .... I feel so Zen

The speed limit is not absolute in all states. It is presumed too. Meaning if you can safely handle a vehicle at a higher speed than posted and conditions are well enough to, then you may speed.

A couple of my favorites that I heard a few comics say...

"My girlfriend has crabs...I bought her fishnet stockings."

"I used to date a little person, but we broke up because we didn't see eye to eye."

(this one above can also end like this)

"I used to date a little person and we broke up. I miss her greatly. I was nuts over her".

Take out your next trick Cards or whatever say : This next trick I learned in Prison (Pause) Just kidding I was never in Prison . This gets a great laugh before you go on with your trick great for kid shows ...
Tophatter

I was going to predict the future but I have to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances.

The next trick has been passed down the generations to me...I guess no one
wanted it....