Laughing is the best medicine.
Brian Regan, a nationally renowned comic, will be performing at the Baton Rouge River Center on Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. The event is sponsored by Comedy Central.
But Baton Rouge comedy isn’t limited to national headliners. It consists of competitions, amateurs, experts and troupes.
Phil Brady’s Bar & Grill hosts an open mic comedy night.
Red Stick Comedy runs the show, which happens each Tuesday at 8 p.m.
“Anyone who wants to participate needs to sign up 30 minutes before the show starts,” said Patricia Hamilton, show manager and comedian. “If you are new, you go first.”
Hamilton, who got her start the same way three years ago, took over the program in May of this year.
“This is a great place for beginners to start,” she said. “I try to help them out and give them advice.”
She said the general lesson is not to make fun of the audience.
“Do not pick on the crowd,” Hamilton said. “Make fun of yourself.”
Hamilton has toured around the country and headlined the Funny Bone and the House of Blues.
“I want to show these kids what is it all about,” she said. “If you listen to me, you can go farther than this place.”
Hamilton said the show is to meant give them more confidence, too.
The host this past Tuesday, Jenna Erwin, outlined the basic rules for the audience.
“We are not getting paid for this,” Erwin said. “It is practice. So don’t boo anyone.”
Every comedian is given five minutes.
“My one-night stand turned out to be a ficus plant,” said Steven Grouchy, an experienced performer. “It’s still one of my better relationships.”
Between performances, Erwin performed a short sketch.
“People think it’s easier to date women,” she said. “It’s not. Ladies, you are Casanovas at lying!”
The Funny Bone hosts comic shows three nights a week. Danette Daigle, office manager, said most performances are stand-up.
“We get people from all over who want to perform,” Daigle said. “All they have to do is send a promotion package to our office, and the general manager reviews it.”
She said the club never has a problem filling its seats.
“We sell out often,” Daigle said. “Everyone from all age groups come to see the shows.”
The Funny Bone also books hypnotists.
“They hypnotize people and make them do ridiculous things on stage,” she said. “It is very funny.”
The Station Bar and Grill has comedy competition night called Stand Up Stand Off on Wednesday nights.
“After you perform, the winner is picked by applause,” Hamilton said. “If you win, then you perform there for the next month.”
Hamilton was voted Miss October for comedy at The Station.
“The downside is, if you bring 40 friends, they will all clap for you, and you will win no matter how funny you really are,” she said. “I didn’t bring anyone and still won.”
In December, all winners for the year perform to win the title as funniest person in Baton Rouge.
The Family Dinner, a comedy troupe, performs improvisational comedy at Perk’s Coffee and Tea on Fridays.
The group was formed in 2002 by 12 former University students.
—-Contact Ashley Norsworthy at anorsworthy@lsureveille.com
Baton Rouge full of national, local comic acts
November 8, 2007