I'm from Delaware, currently in a good comedy scene but my work schedule keeps me from doing stand up comedy for the most part.
Just wondering what anyone thinks of it here. I understand there's clubs on the coast and NYC+Boston are close, but is there enough open mics in town to go up at least daily? Where I am now there's half a dozen good clubs in less than an hour near me.
Thank you for reading non-comedy people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQSDrWqAx4w
Good luck.
edit: my first attempt at seeing comedy live here was when Dave Chappelle bombed in Hartford.
which is why it could use some fresh blood like OP!
That's not necessarily a bad thing. I started in a small town. I happen to personally know a few comics who've "made it" from the scenes I was a part of at the time.
No certainty of me actually moving, I just want to add a + or - to my pros/cons list.
Lot of comedy in the legislature
There’s a couple places. There’s a club in New Haven.. I believe in Hartford and Bridgeport also.
The Palmdale in Wallingford has lots of headline comedians regularly also.
It certainly has its pros and cons.
Pros- small, community like feel. Friendly, weird people, and very supportive if you're "in" with them
Cons- cliquey, boys-club type of mentality / behavior. Hive-mindset, so if you're not "in" with them, they'll be disrespectful during your set, etc. Additionally, doing the same sets in front of the same people week after week gets exhausting.
Best of luck on your decision! New haven is a great place to live and focus on artistic passions without having to pay NY prices. The train to NY is about 90 minutes long, certainly worth going there once a week / every other to check out their mic scene
Cliques are in every scene. It's kind of a "might makes right" mentality, if you're funny you're in most of the time. There's always a contrast between hard work and talent, but you have to have both to succeed regardless. I'm more on the lazy side because I have a career that is often prohibitive to comedy hours. It's difficult to justify the time regardless of where I am, but a small scene can be amazing for improving oneself if you can find a good routine. I grew a lot in a small college town. As soon as I had to start getting up at 6am for work however, my growth stopped, while I watched some of my friends hit it big.
But in the end I just prefer measuring myself in laughs than in dollars or shows.
Close enough to go to NYC
There's a couple of open mics in New Haven. Search out FB groups.
Where are these open mics/comedy venues? I know of Stress Factory in Bridgeport, and College Street Music Hall has a comedian come every once in a while. But I'd love to see more small stuff!
Stress factory in Bridgeport has good acts run through there occasionally.. I saw Mark Normand kill it
College street music Hall has big names come through, just saw sam morril there and he was fantastic, i know nikki glaser was there a few months ago, thats for established comics though for breaking through theres stress factory, the funny bone, and i think a comedy joint at the mohegan sun casino
How are they about local talent? Do they have them host/open/feature there?
Check the state senate… lotta clowns there!
I love the comedy scene down here! If you move between New Haven and lower Fairfield County (like Stamford) there are a few clubs:
In Hartford they have the Funny Bone, but I’ve never been/not heard too much about it. You’ll have better options moving to New Haven or Fairfield County because of your proximity to NYC. Good luck!!
vegetarian_slut t1_jcpjpia wrote
There is a comedy scene in CT but be prepared to see the same 20 comics at the same mics on a weekly basis