Veteran comedian and events host Dr Hilary Okello has weighed in on the growing trend of comedians interrupting performances to solicit money from audience members, describing the practice as unprofessional and unfair to paying revellers.
Speaking during a recent interview, Okello argued that once performers step on stage, their focus should remain on entertaining audiences rather than pausing to collect cash.
According to the comedian, audiences attend shows expecting value for their money and should not be subjected to repeated interruptions during performances.
Okello stressed that entertainers already know who is responsible for paying them and should therefore concentrate on delivering a quality show instead of turning attention toward financial handouts from the crowd.
In his view, while voluntary appreciation from fans is understandable, stopping a show to actively seek or repeatedly acknowledge money can easily ruin the atmosphere and disrupt the experience for everyone else.
He suggested that people should imagine attending an event only to watch performances constantly paused because someone wants to hand over money.
The veteran entertainer also pointed to situations where performances have reportedly stalled for several minutes as artists repeatedly stop to recognise audience members offering cash.
Okello noted that such interruptions can break momentum and take away from the purpose of a comedy show, which is meant to keep audiences engaged and entertained.
While tipping performers has long existed within Uganda’s entertainment scene, especially in music, the practice has increasingly become visible at comedy events, with some comedians openly encouraging contributions during performances.
However, Okello believes this growing habit may also reflect a lack of preparation among some performers.
According to him, comedians who are fully prepared for a show rarely feel the need to rely on crowd contributions to sustain attention.
For the seasoned entertainer, professionalism should always come first.
A comedian’s responsibility, he insists, is simple: keep the audience laughing, not waiting as money exchanges hands.
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