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Stand-up comic Vikas Kush Sharma , known widely for his crowdwork videos, is currently on tour across Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with shows successful shows conducted in Meerut, Dehradun, Varanasi and Lucknow. Glad with the response he got in these cities, he spoke about reading audiences, his crowdwork-driven style and the love he receives from fans in smaller cities.
‘You have to read the vibe of every city’
Vikas said every city he performs in demands a different kind of preparation. “Every city has a different vibe and you have to understand that before performing there. Your journey starts from the airport itself. The cab driver, the market, random conversations; that is where the city starts speaking to you,” he said, adding that he consciously studies local behaviour and humour before every show.
‘Room reading is the most important part of comedy’
Talking about his crowdwork-heavy style, the comic said understanding an audience before a set begins is non-negotiable. “If people are not laughing or getting entertained, then there’s no point. Room reading is the most important part. The first five-six minutes tell you everything,” he said, adding that performing without reading the room “becomes mechanical.” It’s also why he avoids putting full sets online. “My set is alive. It keeps evolving for years. People come expecting crowdwork because that’s what they connect with,” he said.
‘It happened organically’
The comic, who has built his following without industry collaborations, said his rise has been entirely organic. “Today everybody is collaborating with everyone but I never took support from anyone. Whatever has happened has happened organically, with people’s love and Mahadev’s blessings,” he said.
‘ Tier-2 audiences love you without conditions’
Dismissing the idea that smaller-city audiences are less enthusiastic about stand-up, Vikas said the love he receives on tour is overwhelming. “Tier-2 audiences love you and they love you without conditions. There is no ‘but’ in between,” he said, recalling how fans often pack him sweets, mangoes and gifts. “They’ll say, ‘Humein pata hai aapko aam pasand hai toh hum aam laaye hain.’ They make you feel very special,” he added.
He also recalled fans travelling several hours just to catch a show — from Bareilly, Faridabad and even Pithoragarh — calling it “a huge responsibility” rather than just a flattering statistic. “When people travel five-six hours to watch you perform, you realise this is beyond content now. You have to give something back to them,” he said.