Acomedy club is a venue where a variety of comedic acts perform to a live audience. Although the term usually refers to establishments that featurestand-up comedians, it can also feature other forms of comedy such as improvisationalcomedians,impersonators,impressionists,magicians andventriloquists.[1]
Some forms of comedy can have distinguished venues such asimprovisational theatres, which host improv or sketch comedy, and variety clubs which may also host musical acts along with comedic acts.
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The documentation of Moroccan comedy spaces traces its roots back to the 17th Century, encompassing rich performance practices likeLabsat andSultan Talba.[2] The origins of comedy clubs can be traced toLabsat, an extravagant performance arts festival, with the noteworthy milestone of the first show staged within the king's,Sultan Mohammed ibn Abd Allah, palace. The evolution continued withSultan Tabla, a theatrical celebration that served as a precursor to more modernal-halqa.Al-halqa, characterized by storytelling circles infused with elements of humor, played a pivotal role in shaping comedy performance spaces and practices.
The period of French colonization from 1912 to 1956 marked a significant chapter in the history of comedy clubs in Morocco, having heavy influences on artistic practices.[2] Following the decline of French colonial dominance, comic theaters emerged as distinct spaces, gaining prominence in the 80s as a response to the heightened cultural interest in addressing humorous real-life concerns. The theatrical landscape saw a flourishing of comic theater, employing humor and cultural critique to entertain audiences while fostering a connection with real-life experiences.
The spaces theaters and comedy clubs provided created cultural space for a future of comedy in Morocco. Now, Moroccan comedy clubs function as important spaces for humour and cultural commentary.
The emergence of Japanese comedy clubs can be traced back to the 18th century with the establishment ofYose theatres. These early iterations were constructed for various forms of entertainment, such asKōdan,Rōkyoku,Rakugo, and other varieties.
Over the years, a notable convergence occurred betweenYose andRakugo, with the two becoming increasingly intertwined. In contemporary times, the majority ofYose theatres exclusively featureRakugo performances, underscoring the prevalent association betweenYose theatres and this particular form of comedic storytelling.[citation needed]
Rakugo is a traditional Japanese storytelling art where a hanashika enacts stories by embodying characters through distinct voices, gestures, and wordplay. The narratives typically conclude with a punch line, referred to as "ochi," akin to the structure observed in contemporarystand-up comedy, which often utilizes punchlines and wordplay for comedic effect. In this way, Yose were the first comedy clubs hosting stand-up comedians (hanashikas) through the art ofRakugo.[3]
The firstYose theatre was organized in 1798 by Karaku Sanshotei 1st at the Shitaya-jinja Shrine inShitaya,Tokyo. The stone monument commemorating the birthplace ofYose is located in this shrine, initially referred to as yoseba before later adopting the term "yose." Towards the end of theEdo period, multiple Yose theatres emerged, providing a primary source of entertainment in towns where options were limited.
The subsequentMeiji andTaisho eras witnessed the appearance of large-scaleYose theatres. However, with the advent of various entertainments like television, the number of visitors to Yose establishments significantly declined, leading to closures. In recent years, the dwindling interest in performance arts within Yose has resulted in the survival of only a fewYose theatres. Consequently, the overall Yose industry faces challenging business conditions as it contends with changing entertainment preferences.[citation needed]
Since the late 1960s and 70s, hundreds of comedy clubs have adopted a similar formula.
The first of these pioneers wereThe Improv andDangerfield's.
The Improv opened as a coffee house in 1963, within theHell's Kitchen neighborhood ofNew York City. While it hosted its first comedian in 1964, 5 years beforeDangerfield's opening in 1969,[4] it only shifted into a comedy club after hours.The Improv became exclusively a comedy club over the years, before its closing in 1992.[5]
Dangerfield's was built ground-up as a comedy club on theUpper East Side ofManhattan. It closed due to the pandemic in 2020.[6]
Comedy clubs advantageously use their space to cater to their audience and create an optimal experience. Most clubs adjust their lighting to darker tones with the aim of creating anonymity in the crowd. Anonymity has the effect of producing more genuine responses in individuals, while also decreasing amount of external stress produced by being seen. The darkness factor is a key element to get the crowd feeling more relaxed in their space, especially for more controversial jokes which most comedians often make use of.[7]
Comedy clubs use low ceilings and small interior spaces to create fuller looking crowds. Low ceilings are especially important for most comedy clubs since laughter is an important part of their ambience. Laughter is proven to be contagious in humans, and low ceilings allow for the sound of laughter to bounce back from the ceilings and be heard throughout the space. In higher ceilings and bigger spaces the sound of people’s laughter vanishes almost instantly. Lower ceilings contribute to a more joyful space.[8] The bare redbrick wall ofThe Improv in New York, a result of the venue not having the budget to cover it withdrywall, would go on to become a common design feature of comedy clubs.[9]
Comedy clubs opt for colder temperatures for multiple reasons. A main reason for colder temperature is that the comedian does not get too flushed and tired under the hot spotlights and cold room. The second and more influential effect is on the psychology of the audience; audiences become more alert and evidently more focused on the performance which usually elicits more laughter as a result.[10]
Where a venue has multiple stages, an "A Room" is typically the largest and best room, used for popular acts, while a "B Room" is for local, lesser-known performers.[11]
Comedy clubs often serve as the venue forstand-up comedy specials, where comedians are filmed at comedy clubs and theaters as they perform. These humorous spaces are also featured heavily in the showSeinfeld, where a staged comedy club serves as a vital place where the lead character,Jerry Seinfeld, performs and socializes.
