represents a sort of Changing of the Guard, as the former premiere comedy club,
, recently closed, leaving the field open to the Spokane Comedy Club. When
in an attempt to learn their take on the local comedy scene. A tiny bit of the resulting article can be read below.
The club has entertainment six days a week, being closed on Tuesday. Tickets range from $10 to $20, depending on the notoriety of the act, with free open mic nights on Wednesdays. They have cabaret seating, each table seating four. One may purchase premium seating prior to the show as well as tickets online. Instead of a "Two Drink" minimum, they have a "Two Item" minimum, which takes in snacks, as well as drinks.
Spokane comedians work together
to raise profile of the scene
The future of Spokane comedy
Club owners and comedians in Spokane recognize the limitations of the scene, but they’re working and supporting each other to produce top talent.
Don Parkins, the longtime owner of Uncle D’s and a Spokane-based performer and promoter for decades, said the lack of venues these days could hurt the young crop of comedians looking to go pro.
“There’s not enough places to work and get paid,” Parkins said.
The Spokane Comedy Club took over as the city’s most visible comedy location just as Parkins closed his club earlier this year to get back to touring and performing.
Adam Norwest, owner of the Spokane Comedy Club and himself a traveling comic, said he sees the space as a hub for the local scene where they can learn from observing and performing with not only celebrities but mid-level comedians earning a living.
“It’s no different than a football player watching tape,” Norwest said.
Parkins said the key was establishing a series of shows on the weekends that encourage performers not to work without pay, a goal that’s tougher with the advent of social media. Established comics can use it to grow their audience, but the focus for up-and-coming acts serious about performing should be on looking past open mics and toward a paycheck, Parkins said.
Norwest said pay for comics varies, but usually hosting or performing as a featured comic will net the comedian between $25 and $100 a night, plus drinks and snacks.
Comic Mika Lahman, 31, said the current crop of Spokane comedians have had to work hard to establish their own rooms and a support system. She’s gotten over her own fear of being onstage and has hosted open mic nights at the comedy club, as well as performing in the Drink and Debate show and other competitions.
“I do think that Spokane has a really nice, supportive scene,” Lahman said. “I think it’s a really cool place to start doing comedy.”
From the Spokane Spokesman-Review