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Comedy Clubs in Minnesota
January 31, 2012 | 
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Minneapolis Comedy Clubs are a great option for social outings, whether it is a group of people or a couple’s night out. This article may be especially helpful for those that like a few good laughs as a form of entertainment, and have an appreciation for the fun environment of a comedy club. This article will delve into the comedy scene in Minneapolis and help you take away some ideas for the comedy options that play a large role in the entertainment and nightlife of Minneapolis. Many top name acts make their way from the East coast to West Coast, and famous comedians make frequent appearances at some of the Minneapolis comedy clubs.
Minnesota comedy acts have also had a chance to perform at a comedy club in Bloomington, called the Joke Joint, where comedy is finally taking off, after a year of building the venue. Comedy acts perform three to four nights a week, and most shows don’t exceed $15, which makes it an affordable night out. Some of the local comedians, like Wayne Burfeind or Diane Ford have performed among a long list of local Bloomington comics.
Stand-up comedian fans can also expect to see some National comedy acts make their way into the Bloomington, and the Twin Cities area. For free entertainment in the Minneapolis/Twin cities area, there is free comedy offered at Acme Comedy Company, which is one of the best Minneapolis comedy clubs. They offer a local mic night weekly, so you can try your hand at stand-up comedy, if you think you have a talent for it. Acme Comedy Club has been also known as Sticks Restaurant by some of the locals, but they are better known for comedy than they are their food.
Minnesota comedy has become a form of entertainment that is popular with the 25-40 year old target audience, and is making a comeback as that crowd has gotten burnt out with Karaoke nights and Texas Hold’em games, as a form of entertainment. In the hectic and stressful everyday grind, comedy clubs can be a refreshing source of entertainment that can make you feel better and allow you to have a good time with friends. Jokes that make fun of everyday life are popular stand-up comedian material that most of the audience can relate to and take a humorous view of.
Comedy Sports Twin Cities is one of Minneapolis comedy clubs that have a funny, clean improvised and completely interactive comedy show that is suited for the whole family. This Minnesota comedy experience is where two teams of actors compete for the biggest laughs and a referee calls fouls and takes the audience’s suggestions. Their slogan is “Fun enough for a bachelor party and clean enough for your Grandma”. They offer shows on Thursday and Friday nights at 8:00pm, and offer two shows on Saturday night at 8:00pm and 10:30 pm, with student discounts with a valid student I.D.
Comedy doesn’t just come in stand-up comedian shows. There are musical comedies and theatrical comedy experiences that include Vaudeville acts and dinner theater shows. The Brave New Workshop is hosting several shows a week, and this week’s event is “How to Make Love Like A Minnesotan II: Love Is In Bloomington”. This is one of the Minneapolis comedy clubs that have theatrical offerings, but other Minnesota comedy venues might include the Plymouth Playhouse in Plymouth, Minnesota or the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, where they have a variety of shows that often include comedy, for example.
Comedy is making a comeback as a popular form of entertainment, and the Twin Cities area boasts the 2nd largest number of theaters in the United States. That leaves a lot of venues for different acts, and there are plenty of local talents that moonlight as stand-up comedians. No matter what time of year, there are comedy shows going on somewhere in Minnesota, although most likely on weekends.
This article has highlighted some of the more established venues and information can be found readily on the Internet. We hope that you have learned about some new comedy entertainment choices and piqued your interest into learning more about how comedy fits into the nightlife of the Twin Cities area. Be sure to visit one of the Minneapolis comedy clubs we have mentioned, or any of the other Minnesota venues that are near your area to enjoy a break from everyday life or maybe just get a laugh or two out of it.
Posted in comedy clubs | 
Tags: Frequent Appearances, National Comedy, Texas Hold Em Games | 
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The Exclusive and Historic Carlton Club, London
Private gentleman’s clubs in London are a big deal and have been for hundreds of years. While other countries like the US have their fair share of private member’s only clubs, it is England’s rich history that really gives these types of clubs the royalist feel.
The Carlton Club in London claims to be one of the oldest and most elite private Conservative clubs in not only England, but the world. Although its popularity has tapered off significantly since the height of its regard some hundred years ago, the club is still frequented by more than a handful of affluent members. The clubhouse was established for and still used by UK’s Conservative Party (political).
While the Carlton Club may be located in the old Arthur’s Club location now, it was originally founded in 1832. Tory Peers (the namesake of the traditionalist political philosophy Toryism, not a person), gentlemen and MPs started a private club to chat and coordinate various party activities after their party lost the First Reform Act.
In modern times, this club would be called a think tank, and the Carlton Club played perfect host to the men as they transformed their party from the Tories to the Conservatives. However, after the franchise grew in the late 1800s, Carlton Club lost its appeal. It still remained the principal headquarters for talks, but only ministers, party managers and MPs frequented the location.
The Carlton Club was named as such due to its location, Carlton Terrace. But with the expansion of the franchise and growth of members, the location quickly became too small to host any meaningful event. Pall Mall, London would be home to both the second and third clubs, and the club is most famous for the party’s overthrowing of leader Austen Chamberlain in 1922.
During the Blitz in 1940, Carlton Club took a direct hit that was absolutely devastating to the exterior of the club. However, and most astonishingly, no one inside the building was killed. Even with the complete outside of the building reduced to rubble, all inside remained relatively unharmed.
Deciding that the party’s principles were worth fighting for, the men immediately changed the location of their club, taking over the 69 St. James’s Street location where Arthur’s Club was housed. The club has remained there for nearly 80 years, even seeing a drastic shift in the UK to a more “social” political philosophy.
The Carlton Club would be attacked yet again, only this time by terrorists and not during a war. On June 25, 1990, the IRA (Provisional Irish Republican Army) bombed the club, injuring nearly two dozen and killing Lord Kaberry.
The club was ultra-exclusive, only catering to men who were Conservatives and could be expected to help further the ideals of the Conservative Party. In order to obtain membership previously, you would have to be recommended by another member and then seconded.
In the 1970s, Carlton Club changed their uber-traditionalist ways and started allowing women to become associate members, meaning they could participate in the club but not be granted voting rights. This too changed when, in 1975, Lady Thatcher became a Conservative leader and thus an honorary member of the club. But this honor was only for Thatcher. Carlton Club didn’t grant full rights to women until 2008.
Stand-up Comedy in Las Vegas
Headliners play Vegas on an irregular schedule but usually at the same venue.
Jerry Seinfeld-Caesars
Jay Leno-Mirage
Dana Carvey-Orleans
Ray Romano-Mirage
Howie Mandel-MGM
David Spade-Venetian
The box office prices for big name comedy acts start from about $49 to a high end of $150 for Seinfeld. When scalped, prices have recently been around 2 to 2.5X the box office price. For example, the highest Dana Carvey box office ticket is $115 with scalpers offering in the low-mid $200 range.
There is usually an additional handling or service charge that varies from a few dollars to over $10. Sometimes the LET (Live Entertainment Tax) is not included. For a Fire Marshal rated capacity of under 7,500 LET will add 10% to the price. It is 5% for over 7,500. Most venues are under 7,500.
Vegas’ Top resident stand-ups:
Carrot Top-Luxor
Rita Rudner-Harrah’s
Vinnie Favorito-Flamingo
George Wallace-Flamingo
Amazing Jonathan-Planet Hollywood
Louie Anderson-Excalibur
Ticket prices start from $39.95 for the 2 Flamingo based comics up to VIP tickets for Louie Anderson that top out at $79. These acts are often discounted substantially or are comped to active gamblers. There are 2 seat filling organizations in Vegas that help fill out crowds and if you know a Vegas local, they may bring you as a guest.
Although most of these comedians have toured or done enough national TV to be recognized, Vinnie Favoritio a Don Rickles like comedian is a true undiscovered gem with a quick wit. Carrot Top is the prop comic with a tight show and excellent verbal humor that you may not expect that places him at the top of the list.
Top Vegas Impressionists are:
Gordie Brown-Golden Nugget
Terry Fator-Hilton
Although impressionists have very high levels of talent, their acts can have generation gaps where their humor appeals to either older or younger audience members at times. Terry Fator is the ventriloquist who won America’s Got Talent and Gordie Brown was the opening act for Celine Dion’s tour.
Gordie Brown pricing starts at $43.95 to $99.95 with Fator’s pricing in his new venue at Mirage from $59 to $129.
Comedy Clubs:
Bonkerz-Palace Station
Comedy Stop-Tropicana
The Improv-Harrah’s
LA Comedy Club-4 Queens
Riviera Comedy Club-Riviera
Quality of comedy varies with the lineup of acts. There will be at least 2 comics and rarely 4 with some of them still developing so you can see some great comics on their best nights or some not-so-great comedians on their less-than best night. It depends.
Ticket prices are reasonable at under $40 with frequent discounts to the under $20 range available from half price ticket booths to coupons in flyers or promo magazines. Often the best value, the comedy clubs are unfortunately also hit or miss.