bringers
Bringer shows, this is a topic that comics argue for and against nearly every night in this town. I'm opening this thread to see what the overwhelming consensus is with seemingly necessary evil.
First of all, I understand the reason for bringer shows, and I sympathize with promoters and bar owners in this town but I have a major problem when it comes to the comedy clubs. Comedy clubs should be held responsible for packing their own rooms. Just as restaurants don't make the chefs find the patrons, comedy clubs shouldn't be asking the comics to find their own audience. I agree that comics should promote their own show, but this Pimp and Whore mentality of the clubs in this town is completely unacceptable. The talent pool has become greatly diluted in this town because anyone that can get ten people to show up will get stage time while a seasoned grinder has to continue to hump the open mics in the hope of getting a break. If the clubs did away with bringer rooms, stage time would become more scarce and more valuable, but it also would become higher quality.
Comedy clubs are taking advantage of the dreams of comics. Currently there is a post on this site (no offense to the poster) for a spot in a show for the low, low, price of $100 dollars. This is ridiculous! Comedy clubs are trying to eliminate their own risk, under the guise of "you can sell the tickets for you OWN profit!". The behavior of clubs profiting off the comics and not the crowds is one of the main reasons that stand up comedy is in the state it is in today. The average weeknight bringer show in one of the established LA clubs is a painful two hour hodgepodge of first timers and friends of the club. Anyone who's spent anytime in comedy can recall playing a room where the entire audience is restlessly waiting for THEIR friend to get up and try out his 3 minute set of knock knock jokes and bad impressions. And the moment that comic leaves the stage the audience hits the door leaving the rest of the comics on the list doing their sets empty chairs and waitresses.
My mission in dropping this note was not to *censored* and moan about not getting booked, but rather I'd like to know the opinions of other LA comics. When I speak face to face with comics their seems to be a sense of solidarity, but the bringer shows keep becoming more and more popular. My opinion is just say no, to bringers.
What's your opinion LA?
Matthew Sager
First of all, I understand the reason for bringer shows, and I sympathize with promoters and bar owners in this town but I have a major problem when it comes to the comedy clubs. Comedy clubs should be held responsible for packing their own rooms. Just as restaurants don't make the chefs find the patrons, comedy clubs shouldn't be asking the comics to find their own audience. I agree that comics should promote their own show, but this Pimp and Whore mentality of the clubs in this town is completely unacceptable. The talent pool has become greatly diluted in this town because anyone that can get ten people to show up will get stage time while a seasoned grinder has to continue to hump the open mics in the hope of getting a break. If the clubs did away with bringer rooms, stage time would become more scarce and more valuable, but it also would become higher quality.
Comedy clubs are taking advantage of the dreams of comics. Currently there is a post on this site (no offense to the poster) for a spot in a show for the low, low, price of $100 dollars. This is ridiculous! Comedy clubs are trying to eliminate their own risk, under the guise of "you can sell the tickets for you OWN profit!". The behavior of clubs profiting off the comics and not the crowds is one of the main reasons that stand up comedy is in the state it is in today. The average weeknight bringer show in one of the established LA clubs is a painful two hour hodgepodge of first timers and friends of the club. Anyone who's spent anytime in comedy can recall playing a room where the entire audience is restlessly waiting for THEIR friend to get up and try out his 3 minute set of knock knock jokes and bad impressions. And the moment that comic leaves the stage the audience hits the door leaving the rest of the comics on the list doing their sets empty chairs and waitresses.
My mission in dropping this note was not to *censored* and moan about not getting booked, but rather I'd like to know the opinions of other LA comics. When I speak face to face with comics their seems to be a sense of solidarity, but the bringer shows keep becoming more and more popular. My opinion is just say no, to bringers.
What's your opinion LA?
Matthew Sager
posted by Bagack at
5:02 PM
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