'Social media kills comedy culture' - Kevin Hart

29 March 2016 - 17:53 By Kgothatso Madisa

American comedian and actor Kevin Hart doesn't want fans to spoil the fun by sharing his gags on social media. Speaking to the media ahead of Wednesday night's show in Johannesburg‚ the third leg of his What Now? Comedy Tour in South Africa‚ Hart explained that strict rules on photography at his stand-up shows are due to his need to protect his craft."Comedy isn't music‚ you can hear a song over and over again‚ you can sing a song over and over again. A joke is different‚ you've heard a joke once it's funny that time‚ the second time you'll chuckle‚ the third time you get it."Social media‚ as much as I love it and embrace it‚ it's the killer of our culture because people can't do anything and sit and watch without it being recorded‚ without it being shared."If I allow people to record or have their phones out during my show‚ then there would be no element of surprise with me being here today. The people that are going to the show tomorrow would've seen the show virally thirteen or fourteen times."When you look at some of the biggest tours this year‚ there was no surprise going into those tours because you know what the artist had because everybody shared it‚ every blog picked it up.Scented candles and fruity vodka await funnyman Hart"You don't see anything about my shows because I want to save it. I want each experience to be amazing for the people I'm giving the experience to. If I don't‚ I feel like I'm doing a disservice."At his shows‚ fans are given about two minutes or so to take pictures and videos at the beginning‚ anything beyond that is strictly prohibited.Hart also said that he will be making regular visits to South Africa."You know what‚ this needs to be something that's now on my list to do yearly. I need to frequent these parts and treat it the same way I treat my fanbase domestically. You know I mean‚ if I'm trying to become the international success that I wanna be‚ you have to be seen on an international level and South Africa is on that list of international places with amazing people so you'll see me here a lot now‚" said Hart.Commenting on why he chose to come to South Africa now‚ he said: "... This [trip] is something that is long overdue‚ it was on a list to do and didn't happen for quite some time because I felt the timing wasn't right"."I'm glad that I was patient about it and waited until now because it paid off. It's turned out to be something really really special."..

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