Going to a stand-up comedy performance in Ann Arbor is
definitely a unique experience. There’s something about the
dark (and usually somewhat smoky) room with its intimate proximity
to the lit stage that adds to the anticipation of a live
performance wholly designed to make you laugh.

I became hooked on stand-up comedy my freshman year after
watching a show at the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase. I have
transitioned from audience member to being onstage, but the special
chemistry is still completely unique and different every single
time. Sitcoms and even watching stand-up on television simply do
not compare to the live performance.

There is a slightly risky element about going to see a stand-up
comedian perform. Chances are, unless you’ve already seen
them on Comedy Central or the like, you are trusting a comic to be
funny. I was reluctant to take a chance on a name I’d never
heard of before my first few times. Each time, I walked out of the
room still laughing at a joke, wanting to repeat the material to
someone. I still have yet to be disappointed, after dozens of
shows. All of this for less than the price of a student movie
ticket.

Roger Feeney, owner of the Comedy Showcase, says, “My goal
is to mix it up so there’s variety every week. If you
don’t like it one week, then chances are it’ll be a
different type of comedy the week after.”

The Club has seen many big names through the years, such as Tim
Allen, Drew Carey, Ellen DeGeneres, Louis Black and Norm MacDonald.
This is no accident, as Ann Arbor is known to comics as a great
place for comedy.

“The industry says the coasts have the highest caliber of
comedy while the Midwest doesn’t, but I think Ann Arbor
comics compete with the best. It’s a very smart comedy
here,” says LSA senior John O’Donnell, a seasoned
comic.

Brent Sullivan, an accomplished stand-up comedian and LSA
sophomore, said, “Ann Arbor, because of the University, is
incredibly unique. When someone can go on stage and tell a good
refreshing joke that doesn’t involve bedroom or bathroom
humor, and still get a good response, that’s amazing. The
audience is very unique in that sense.”

Sullivan also attributes Ann Arbor’s liberal qualities as
contributing to great comedy, saying, “I think comedy is a
very liberal thing. If you look at big names and their acts, such
as Dennis Miller or Jon Stewart, there’s a lot of free
thinking. Liberal people like to debunk things and look at them
differently, which is what comics do naturally.”

O’Donnell described student life as a key reason for Ann
Arbor’s healthy stand-up scene, saying, “The culture in
Ann Arbor is great. . . there’s a lot of cool people just
hanging out, open to dialogue and discussion.”

A night of comedy, as opposed to the usual dinner-and-a-movie,
is relaxing and provoking at the same time.

Sullivan says, “The best comics are the smartest. Comedy
has to be somewhat stimulating and introspective.” You could
argue the same is true for a movie or television, but the live
aspect is a huge part of why stand up comedy is so exciting.

“It’s real interaction,” said LSA senior
Elizabeth Rourke after watching a performance at the
Heidelberg.

When asked why he preferred watching stand up comedy to other
entertainment, LSA and Music sophomore John Hartman answered,
“I wanted to do something that wasn’t as
common.”

“Ann Arbor is a great town for comedy because the audience
is intelligent, sophisticated and will honestly listen to what you
have to say,” Sullivan says.

Both Sullivan and O’Donnell are aware of the competitive
and cutthroat nature of the stand-up business. “Comedy is one
of those jobs that is not guaranteed at all. You could be huge
tomorrow and still have no one want to see you in three
years,” said Sullivan. He added, “It took me two years
to get my first paying gig. You need friends and connections for
jobs, and I relied on people liking my jokes.” When asked why
he was still drawn to such a volatile career, Sullivan said,
“Comedy is the kind of thing where there’s nothing like
it. . . there’s simply no job that compares with the
excitement, the thrill, the respect.”