Stand-Up Comedy hit its boom in the 80’s. Shows like SNL were bringing sketch comedy to American TVs for a good number of years, and big name acts like Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy, Jerry Seinfeld, Sam Kinison, and Billy Crystal were both touring to clubs-and thanks to HBO, had specials in constant circulation on TV.
Everyone wanted to be a comedian. So in the 1990s (when admittedly some great comedy was still happening) there was just…too many. Cities like DC which had several big name comedy clubs saw demand drizzle and drip-folks weren’t flocking to live shows anymore because, frankly, there was a bit too much exposure and a bit too many people to see. Now DC has one club, the fabulous Improv which is where I learned how to do some stand up( strong language btw ) and-apart from the occasional appearance at Warner Theater for a mega act like George Carlin-is the only place to see a real headliner in town.
The strange thing is that even though there aren’t a lot of places to play there are a ton of comics in this town-a lot of them very good. Where are they all you ask? Well the circuit here in DC is mostly relegated to coffee houses or backrooms in bars once a week. Open Mic-which is where a schlep like me has to go to learn how to be a good comic-is kind of hard to come by. Here is a list of the shows available now-you’ll notice a lot of them aren’t in the beltway or even metro accessible making opportunities for a PT comic such as myself very limited.
Most of the reason I don’t do stand-up anymore is the hassle-Even the guys who do treat you right can only put you on once-tops twice-a month if you are a green like I am: You’re not filling in the seats with your following yet and its lame to have the same comic come up and do the same thing week in and week out. Just a few places to play on any given night and an incredible number of comics (one promoter once told me he gets a 150 emails a day looking to get time) makes for long open mic sets (I’ve seen 17 comics do 5-10 minutes each in one night. Yikes!) and not a lot of opportunity. No opportunity means no growth as a comic. No growth as a comic means less and less for you, the audience to see. So its a problem.
All of this is by way of setting the stage for the punchline-if you will. John Xereas is Riot Act Entertainment and I’ve always found him to be a pretty good guy. No longer at HR-57, John has been looking for a new place to open up not just a once a week show-but a full on, 7 nights a week, comedy club. Unfortunately a big box corporation furniture company is also bidding on the place and he fears it isn’t going to go his way.
Now look-I know this is a strange post and some of you might be reading it as “feel bad for my buddy who wants to open a comedy club” but it is a bit more than that. If you are a person who enjoys comedy, who would like to see more comedy take place or just have a competitor to the Improv in town (and I think this is a situation where competition would help both parties by the way) then I encourage you to read the letter John sent below (after the jump) and help act. If not-hey, no worries. I don’t know if it will do any good, but if you would like to give a try, as I am, then I invite you to do so.
Thanks and Happy Halloween everybody!
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The Oscars are only days away but the recession is now. My friends at Funny Or Die couldn’t wait to poke some fun at another possible hero that will rise from the ashes- Uncle Sam.
LEWIS BLACK: LET THEM EAT CAKE @ PATRIOT CENTER, FAIRFAX, VA
