You didn’t plan on going to a comedy show.
It was one of those last-minute “what are we doing tonight?” decisions, and somehow you ended up squeezing into a small room, not totally sure what to expect.
Ten minutes later, you’re laughing harder than you have in weeks. And it’s a comic you’ve never heard of, in a room that feels more like a hangout than a venue.
And that’s when it hits you.
Maybe Vancouver’s small comedy shows might be the city’s most underrated night out.
For real, who doesn’t love to laugh?
I actually did a quick interview with an amateur comic based right here in Burnaby. A great guy by the name of Markus Warde. I asked him how it feels to stand up in front of so many people with, essentially a stamp on his head that reads, I’m funny.
One thing he made clear is how small and intimate the rooms are, “It’s intimate, the best comedians make you feel like it’s just you two in the room… can take a small space and make it feel cozy instead of cramped are special.” What I find funny about this statement is that it echoes some of the things our media performance instructors have beaten into us at BCIT. Markus also mentioned that the lights on stage can be distracting because of how hot and bright they are. So, it’s possible that all the eyeballs in the room aren’t the only thing burning into you while you’re on stage.
Smaller comedians are also more relatable. Some of the bigger names out there kind of lose their ability to connect after reaching a certain level of fame. According to Markus, its a charm you just can’t fake.
There’s also more of a connected culture between smaller comics. They’re funny for one, but there are very few stand-up comedians at a small level who aren’t passionate about comedy. Trying to tinker with and perfect their craft until maybe one day it’s ready to take on the road. Or maybe some just find joy in telling a good story. A favorite of mine on that kind of comedy is Josh Wolf, who will perform in Vancouver in early June.
A concern that Markus brought up is that, “Comedy is very much a “boys club” which is unfortunate because funny isn’t gendered.” and he’s absolutely right. Don’t let Amy Schumer fool you, women are funny too.
At smaller shows, not every joke is perfect. But it doesn’t have to be. You’re seeing comedians test out material and adjusting on the fly. They’re workshopping themselves.
It’s that unpredictability is what makes it engaging.
Small comedy shows in Vancouver aren’t about big production or big names.
They’re about connection, and most important of all, laughs. It’s the best medicine