denim

I went to a comedy club last night with two other singles, both female. Yay. We did dinner first, which went fairly well, then made an 23:00 show I'd managed to get reservations to the day before. We were seated up-front in the center.

The advertised headliner wasn't there. Instead they had some schmuck who was really rude to me and (more so, IMO) one of my compatriots. The prior acts weren't much better. Being seated front-and-center, I found it difficult to leave. Also, I don't think I'd been to one of these places before, so I didn't know if that was an "okay" thing to do.

After the ordeal, I was just totalled, but I had nightmares about it. This morning, I posted a review to the people invited, including the people who were there. One of the people who didn't come appreciated it, as did one of the people who were there. I just sent a copy to the other one, since she wasn't in the original group.

Anyway, is this a normal experience? Are comics best viewed on TV, where they can be turned off? What have you people encountered at these places, and can you recommend anything in the Springfield MA/Hartford CT area?

ibis

The one closest to me is actually pretty good. I've had wonderfull experiences so far. Mabye you just went on a crappy night.

The only thing that bothers me is the smoke. I know people have a right to smoke - it just really gets to me.

denim

Smoke isn't a problem in MA and CT. Can't say I like the law, but I do like the effect. Allows me to go places I couldn't go before.

KMA-628

I worked at a comedy club in West Palm, be carefull where you sit.

Sides and the backs are best, stay away from the front and center, you're just a target there. Some of these guys were so weak, they couldn't get a laugh unless they made fun of an audience member.

/Flashback - Jimmy Schubert was a regular of ours and loved to be heckled. My all time favorite anti-heckler line: "Hey buddy! I'm fucking this cat, you're just here to hold the tail!"

That being said, I recommend that you watch the clubs' websites and look for nights that have a national headliner. Those guys cost a bunch so the usually back them up with better openers.

Ray Romano was good, so was Chris Rock, Wendy Liebman, the guy from the T.V. show with the Olson twins, etc.

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maleficent

I've been to two different comedy clubs in NYC, and one in Chicago, and to be honest, none of them were worth the make up applied to go out. I would have had more fun at home watching tv.

One club, I had the misfortune of sneezing at an inopportune time, and the "comedien" heckled me the entire time, so much so, that people I didn't know, came over to me and said how uncomfortable it was -- I couldn't even tell you what this idiot was saying, it just wasn't funny.

Another club I got dragged to see Andew Dice Clay, when he was actually popular, and while admittedly i am a prude, I have no problems with foul language, heck I've been known to cuss like a drunken sailor on shoreleave myself, but damn - 10 minutes into the act, my ears were bleeding, it was just excessive.

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canuckguy

that sucks, sorry you did not have a good time. sometimes comics are funnier on tv when they are not just picking on people in the crowd.
in university we went to a couple of comedy shows, yuk-yuk type shows, saw some funny people, once we were seated up front and a comedian if you want to call him that was picking on my friends and i for having shaved heads. kept calling us skinheads..etc. he finally asked my friend closest to the stage why we all had shaved heads. my friend told him that one of our close friends had cancer and we all had shaved our heads to show support to our sick friend. well that shut the dimwit up fast. but killed the mood at our table with his comments. that comedian ruined our night but we did get our bar tab paid for though by the comic! btw my friend is doing well and has been cancer free for years.

denim

We thought we were going to see Davin Rosenblat but ended up with Tom "The Coach" Whitely. Recommendation: stay AWAY from The Coach.

KMA-628

denim,

That sucks. I have a lot of very similar stories relating to "big name" comedians.

Sometimes they were annoying and a pain-in-the-ass to babysit.

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Cynthetiq

If the headliner wasn't there... you could have asked for a refund.

as for the seating.. yes, I don't sit within "earshot" of the comedians.... I have comedian friends and it's not the wisest since that's where they can quickly see and reach for new material.

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denim

Y'know, I hadn't thought of it that way.

kurty[B]

I purposefully sit (not dead center) but in the front row on a side of the stage. These seats usually never fill up (cause no one wants to be heckled), and if I'm getting drunk (which I usually am at a comedy club) then gives me an opportunity to practice some witty comebacks with some hopefully witty people.

I have walked out of a comedy club once, from that front row position, the headliner went from poor jokes, to worse, to going on about pot and beer (anybody can get potheads and alcoholics to laugh at pot and beer jokes), to simply heckling the lady who couldn't stop laughing in the crowd, my friend got tired of it and we all agreed to leave, just got up walked away. The comedian did his usual "what, I'm not good enough for you", my friend yelled "You suck!" and the crowd clapped. I kind of wanted to stay just to see where the act deteriorated from there. But, in general I have a good time at comedy clubs.

Destrox

I simply LOVE my local comedy club.

Its called "Jr's Last Laugh" and we get a number of large name comedians. I've been there A good 12 times in the last 2 years, and literally got front row seating a good 8-9 of them times. Seating is random might I add.

There has only been two occasions where I was thinking this is a waste of my money:
1) Victoria Jackson - WORST I've ever sat through. She almost got boo'd.
2) Some no-name locals that will never play there again.

Otherwise, it has been some of the best experiences I've paid for legally.

Mike Green and Lewis Black are my top two performers for favoritism. But otherwise you can sure bet it will be a good time. That is with or without alcohol.

Shit I even spent a portion of my 21st birthday there, even got front row seating too!


As for getting picked on, while yes it somtimes seems like its going to far. You simply need a HUGE sense of humor if you are about to sit anywhere near the front, if you are in anyway sensitive, ask to sit elsewhere.

People go there to laugh, and that will include at others expense.

I have been picked upon 3 different times while there for the butt of a joke. One was even on my 21st bday, but I laughed no matter how rude the shit was cuz I knew the guy is only trying to make others laugh. Being picked on wont kill you, or even minorly hurt you, everyone there will forget about you withing 10 minutes.

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spectre

Sorry to hear about your experience.

I've been to a club only once and saw Dom Irrera and it was great.

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braindamage351

The only time I've ever been to a comedy show was on a cruise, but he was great. He didn't heckle anyone in the croud, and none of his jokes were offensive. It was a good act.