Spanish comedy club makes you pay per laugh

A Spanish comedy club has introduced a pay-per-laugh system using facial recognition technology.

The Teatreneu club in Barcelona has no cover charge but each time a customer laughs a tablet on the back of each seat keeps record.

Customers are charged 43 cents per laugh, with the maximum charge for one night capped at $35.

The experimental system was launched in partnership with advertising agency The Cyranos McCann, after audience numbers plummeted following a decision by local authorities to increase taxes on tickets.

It has so far been a success with the new ticket prices coming out at around $9 on average, more than before it was implemented.

Audience numbers have also reportedly jumped by 35 percent.

The system has been picked up by other Spanish clubs, with an app also rolled out to make payment a breeze.