(Credit: Robert Jacobs)
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Comedy Factory
This is as close as Baltimore gets to "A Night At The Improv." An established and dependable comedy club, the Comedy Factory draws both local and national comedians and provides pretty good bang for your buck. Are there national A-list names on the program? Not exactly—more like solid B-list, but who knows where today's B-lister will end up? Remember, Lenny Bruce started out as Leonard Alfred Schneider. And, anyway, just because some funny guy isn't standing in for Jay on the "Tonight Show" doesn't mean he won't be a freaking riot. The headliner at a recent Factory show was a Baltimore City police officer named Timmy Hall, and he brought down the house. Who knew cops had funny bones?
Audience: It's a mixed crowd, but they all have one thing in common; they're connoisseurs of funny and they expect to be entertained.
Damage: Tickets are $17 and there's a two-drink minimum. Comedy ain't cheap. But if it's a good show and you get a little drunk and laugh your ass off, you'll definitely think it's worth it. Sign up for the mailing list to get special coupons that allow you to pay the $17 cover price and then drink free all night. That should put a smile on your face.
Amateur night: If your inner Eddie Murphy is dying to express itself (not by cruising for trannies, silly) then this is your chance. Every Wednesday from July to November the Comedy Factory holds opportunities to participate in Baltimore's Funniest Person Contest. Grand prize is $2,000, but the possibility that you might launch a career in the world of professional comedy—priceless.
There are also fundraisers on Sundays, when charities sell tickets to raise money for worthy causes.
Showtime: Take note: There isn't a holding pen as such; however, once the headliner takes stage, the Factory closes its doors and late arrivals are not allowed in. So be punctual! Shows run Thursday at 8 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m., 10 p.m. and midnight; and Saturday at 7, 9 and 11 p.m.
Magooby's Joke House
Formerly known as Tracy's Comedy Club, Magooby's is located in the basement of the Bowman Restaurant on Harford Road near Parkville. The current incarnation of this comedy club is still finding its legs, which is understandable. A good comedy club needs time and space to develop its rhythm and audience. On the other hand, when you're forking over $17 for a ticket you expect to be bloody well entertained.
Our Magooby's experience was spotty. To be clear—the service was great, the food was good (the fries are outstanding), but the comedians were definitely uneven. The opening act was diabolical—we wanted to hide under the table to escape that empathic embarrassment brought on by watching someone utterly fail at trying to be funny. It's that feeling you get when you see your grandfather trying to get down to Earth, Wind and Fire at a wedding. However, the headliner Rich Vos was pretty good. He's definitely a professional, and his performance was even inspired at times.
Audience: This may have been part of the issue. For a Friday night, the place wasn't exactly swinging. Magooby's location is sort of a mixed blessing; on the one hand it's nice not to have to drive downtown to go to a comedy club; on the other hand it attracts people who can't really be bothered to make the extra effort. In other words, dullsville. And in comedy clubs, the audience is definitely part of the show. The crowd and the comedian are involved in a symbiotic relationship and when one of them is missing, the other starts to dry up.
Damage: Tickets are $17 and there's a two-drink minimum. Laughter must be the best medicine, since it costs so much. Light fare—like burgers, fries, onion rings and wings—from the Bowman Restaurant is also available.
Amateur night: Comedy classes are on Magooby's horizon, so we presume amateur night won't be far behind.
Showtime: Again, no holding pen. Shows are Friday and Saturday nights at 8 and 10:15 p.m.
The DC Improv
OK, it's in D.C., but that never stopped anyone from going to the 9:30 Club for great music. Why should comedy be any different? This place is worth the drive, trust us. The DC Improv is, hands down, the best comedy club in the Baltimore/Washington area. And when it comes to getting A-list comedians, this place gets some real choice stuff. We recently saw a Saturday night show with Mark Curry and, quite frankly, this was entertainment with a capital "E." Curry prowled the stage for two hours straight in front of a packed house and never missed a beat. It was a performance in the truest sense of the word. At the end he had people shout out topics for him to improvise on and the guy riffed on stuff like a jazz musician blowing tenor sax. This is the show, baby.
Audience: Both Saturday night shows were sold out. If you're going on the weekend it's probably a good idea to buy tickets ahead of time online or over the phone. This place is a big attraction and draws a mixed, but mature crowd of folks who want to be entertained. Dress is casual, but several people wore pretty fancy duds.
Damage: Tickets are $17 and there's a two-drink minimum. There are also party packages that include dinner and dessert. Food at the Improv is provided by California Tortilla.
Amateur night: The Improv hosts a whole range of comedy classes, including but not limited to Learn Improv at the Improv, Stand-Up Comedy: From Start to Finish, Joke Writing and Character Development and an SNL Sketch Writing Course. There are also comics for rent. Seriously.
Showtime: Tuesday through Thursday at 8:30 p.m., Friday through Saturday 8 and 10:30 p.m., Sunday at 8 p.m.
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