Used to do standup regionally and hosted a comedy night at a local club. We talk about being poor because you get paid shit unless you’re big time. And even a lot of the people who get spots on the late night shows aren’t driving shiny new cars. They’re driving ten-year-old Honda Civics.
The club I was doing it in only did comedy two nights a week. It did other nightclub stuff like host bands on other nights. There was a regular jazz band that played there on Monday nights with some pretty well-known musicians. They also showed art-house films, which is how I started before I did comedy- I was the projectionist there. Then one day, the regular host, who thought I was really funny, had me do an opener. It took off from there. Eventually, he hosted one night and I hosted another so we could tour regionally other parts of the week. This was way back in the 1990s- the club is gone now. The building has been demolished.
However, that town now does have a locally-owned comedy club that is apparently successful enough to draw really big-name acts, so I guess the answer is yes.
Sorry if my answer wasn’t clear- it is possible to run a local comedy club that stays in business, but I don’t know if it pays well. I do assume that the big-name acts are paid well. Michael Kosta from The Daily Show was just there. I doubt he would have come to Indiana for cheap because it must have been an overnight gig since he hosted the show that week too.
Used to do standup regionally and hosted a comedy night at a local club. We talk about being poor because you get paid shit unless you’re big time. And even a lot of the people who get spots on the late night shows aren’t driving shiny new cars. They’re driving ten-year-old Honda Civics.
is it possible to run a local comedy club that pays well and stays in business?
The club I was doing it in only did comedy two nights a week. It did other nightclub stuff like host bands on other nights. There was a regular jazz band that played there on Monday nights with some pretty well-known musicians. They also showed art-house films, which is how I started before I did comedy- I was the projectionist there. Then one day, the regular host, who thought I was really funny, had me do an opener. It took off from there. Eventually, he hosted one night and I hosted another so we could tour regionally other parts of the week. This was way back in the 1990s- the club is gone now. The building has been demolished.
However, that town now does have a locally-owned comedy club that is apparently successful enough to draw really big-name acts, so I guess the answer is yes.
I’m sure the pay is still shit though.
i love the insight, great answer to a different question.
Sorry if my answer wasn’t clear- it is possible to run a local comedy club that stays in business, but I don’t know if it pays well. I do assume that the big-name acts are paid well. Michael Kosta from The Daily Show was just there. I doubt he would have come to Indiana for cheap because it must have been an overnight gig since he hosted the show that week too.