Can Michigan City Have A Comedy "Scene"?

Written by Jon David

Monday, 18 January 2010 12:34

I found myself in the midst of accomplishing a dream that has played in my mind for many many years: I was listening to the host, of the "New Faces of Comedy" showcase at the Edge Comedy Club in Chicago, introduce me to a full room of Chicago comedy fans. The set went on, the laughs came, and my dream was fulfilled. As customary with comics in a showcase type environment, the mingling following a show began and we all started sharing our background, hopes, dreams, accomplishments, credits, and as always the case with comics, we all trashed each other in a perfectly acceptable and expected way when comics meet. Among the banter one comic asked where I was from. Here's a transcript of the conversation as I recall it, with a bit of license taken for entertainment purposes, after all I'm a performer, I can't just tell a story I have to perform a story.

Jerk Comic: "Where are you from?"

Hometown Hero (as played by Jon David): "Michigan City, Indiana. About an hour and change from here."

Jerk Comic: "What a stupid name for a city that is in Indiana, what a stupid city, your stupid, I hate you, stupid!" (this is the license part)

Jon David: "What? I didn't name the city, that's where I'm from"

Jerk Comic: "Why are you in Chicago, stupid?"

Jon David: "I want to see if I have what it takes to get into the "scene" here."

Jerk Comic: "Why don't you start you own "scene" there and leave Chicago to Chicago comics, stupid Hoosier?!" (More license)

The conversation went on for a while and I listed some credits from around Michigan City but nothing seemed to impress the eight year veteran. He did hit on something that I've wondered and discussed with other people many times before: Can a comedy scene exist in Michigan City and can Michigan City handle a "scene", just in case I fail miserably at breaking into Chicago and am left with little choice? Self-serving question, right? But valid nonetheless.

Well, lets quickly define what I consider a "scene". To me, a comedy "scene" would be area establishments, of many types, giving comedians the chance to start, develop, and regularly perform their craft within that given area. So if a scene had ingredients like -insert your favorite meal here- does, they would be:

1)Comedians. You can't really start a comedy scene without 'em. By comedians, I mean people who want to be, think they are, or really are funny and can be funny on stage. Comedy is learned through doing and not just by being funny. Funny is the backbone of comedy, but it has to stand on a foundation of hard work and development, it has to reach the audience with personality and creativity, and it has to be your voice behind it. You can't accomplish all that without the following ingredients.

2)Places, yes the plural "placeS", to perform. These can literally be any place that can provide this stuff: a microphone, something for the microphone to plug into so the crowd can hear, a crowd, seats for the crowd to sit in, and somewhere for the comedian to stand, preferably NOT in front of the big screen while a game is on and disintegrated from the seating arrangement.
2.1) Open Mics. This is just like it is for musicians. Let anyone who wants to try stand-up try stand-up for x-amount of time. Open mics are how potential comics get the testicular fortitude to get on stage, the experience of an audience, and a chance to work on material so they can try it for "real" at clubs and gigs. These are easy for bookers and owners to pull off because stage time is the payment to the performer and the crowd it draws is the payoff to the booker/owner. A regular schedule of open mics is the absolute best way to get a group of people to transform into a group of comics. Some people will try and and never want to do it again while others will try it and never want to anything else. Open Mics (which can be held anywhere that can handle number 2....wait that came out wrong.... not THE number 2, but the number 2 I listed. I suppose a restroom could be...never mind..moving on.

3) Owners/Bookers, yes plural again, that are willing to put on comedy shows at their venues with 2.1 and by booking established comics (local, regional, national just anyone who can draw a crowd) and plug the better open mic performers into spots like MC or guest spots where the local comic gets to interact with the established comic. This helps grow and mature the local talent like a nice field of flowers. Feminine example, yes, but women have a place in comedy too so I'm trying to include everyone, give me a break. Established comedians do not need to be Larry the Cable Guy or Dane Cook, they can be any comic who has a career in comedy that pays the bills. They aren't that hard to find if you know what "google" means. If you don't know what "google" means then I don't want you booking comedy at all....ever. These established acts don't break the bank and they give the local guys advice and knowledge faster than I give my business card to anyone within a block of a comedy club. These established guys are why I'm doing Chicago now, so it can happen for anyone.

Bon Appetit! Add those ingredients to a city and you've got yourself a "scene" where new comics are created, developed, gain exposure, gain gigs, and gain the most valuable thing a comedian trying to start can ever receive: Stage Time.

Can Michigan City handle a scene? Yes. But just like Hillary Clinton borrowed from an African Proverb, "It takes a village". It takes people who want to do comedy, people who want to let comedy take place at their place, people who want to see comedy, and people who want people who want to do comedy, people who want people who want people who...You get the picture.

For the business owners in the area, a great comedian, who has taught me so much about the business that I'm thinking of getting a tramp stamp of his face, once said to an owner, "If you can book a band, you can book a comedian." We just need the microphone part....Oh, and we'll beg for drinks too, don't get me wrong, but comedians are fewer in numbers at each show than the Flock of Seagulls tribute band.

A "scene" isn't defined by how much money is changing hands, or how many people "make it" within the scene, it's defined by just being there. If anyone "makes it" or hits life's lottery while being a part of local scene, then that is what makes a scene known to the world and remembered. Nirvanna is an example that comes to mind as one of the groups that started the swoop on Seattle's grunge scene for the next Nirvanna. I wouldn't expect Michigan City to become Seattle, I would expect Michigan City to become it's own place where dreams can be born, nurtured, and hopefully fulfilled. Plus it'll save me a s***load on gas.

A "scene" can exist here, but the question that remains is are there enough people who want it? I'm talking to you business owners and the people who have always wondered "what if I tried it?". I'm also talking to the people who like to laugh. If you don't like to laugh then I don't like you. Seriously, is there anyone on the face of the earth who doesn't like to laugh? Why not try to get a scene going here people? It can't hurt.

Last Updated on Monday, 18 January 2010 12:40