European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 19, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse A night at the improve minor leagues of big time humor by Thomas Ferraro United press International Oung stand up comics with dreams of becoming another Eddie Murphy or Joan Rivers Are pitching jokes and Fielding laughter in the burgeoning minor Laagus of big time humor comedy clubs. From catch a rising Star in maw York to the improvisation in los angelas they wind up and deliver sly wry and raucous stuff before Bright lights loud crowds and Hollywood Lamont scouts i went to school at Southern Illinois University Joey Gutierrez says on stage at zanies a top Chicago club. It s kind of a party collage. Actually it s More Lika going to school at a bar. There s no tuition just a $2,000 cover charge Tho crowd howls. At the comedy store in los angelas where comics Robin Williams David Letterman and David Brenner won giggles and guffaws before signing fat to and movie contracts aspiring comic Paul Mooney serves up racial humor you White oils see ufos in your dreams. You don1 hear about mar fans in Mooney wins a big laugh. Everybody Hills bugs comic Ron Darian cells the crowd at the Bottom line a cabaret in new York even Ghandi kills he draws a loud groan. Two decade ego there were Only a handful of comedy clubs in America today there Are More than 200, plus hundreds of bars hotels and night spats that Host comics a Lew limes a week. Industry experts estimate there Are More than 700 run time comics and say untold hundreds of other people from cab Drivers to teachers Moonlight at Small local clubs with Hopes of going on the Road. They Ere All ultimately striving to get to Hollywood and be on to or in the movies says Chris a Petta owner of the punch line a respected 5-year-old Chain of a dozen comedy clubs in the South. A lot of comics can now make a decent living even a great living says Rick Messina a new York Talent scout. An average Road comic can make $60,000 a year. Before they were Lucky to get cab the Down Side is that a lot o entrepreneurs see comedy like mud wrestling Messina Saya. They just throw up a stage and make Money. And they hire a lot of Cut rate comics who should be Selling shoes pay on the circuit ranges from plenty to not enough to pay or a decent meal at showcase clubs in the entertainment centers of new York and los Angeles Young upstarts get big exposure but Fust $7 to $30 a show some established comics also perform at the same Cuba Tor the same Money to hone new material. A few clubs in these cities like Carolines in new York and in the lop rooms at the comedy store pay Haydl Leafs upward of $1,000 a week. Headliners at big clubs in other major cities can earn As much. Those further Down in the Billing generally get from $300 to $800 a week. The smaller the club and the cry the smarter the Money. David Lotta Man Toft and Pomn William started out hand tip comic of la t to com the Stan. To Runty Dongir title Honor graduate Otth comedy club circuit. On open Mike nights at big and Small clubs Rookie comics get nothing but a Chance to make people laugh. These Are the class clowns he office clowns says Tony Camacho a partner of Messina s. Ninety percent bomb. The others Are invited Bach maybe to a a late night weekday show and a Chance to move up the ladder. It s like baseball. All of a sudden things Start to Click Liming movement besides those basics Jeff Garth 24, has Learned How to Deal with hecklers. On a recent night moments after he said Welcome to zanies a woman suggested he get of the stage and let on the next comedian. He s funnier than you she snarled. Thank you Lor making your judgment out loud a smiling Garlyn replied. Now i want you to know that i think these other women in the audience Are much better looting than the crowd roared. The woman cringed. Qenan Tlly the largest crowds the biggest Money and the lop comics Are in Chicago new York los Angeles Boston and san Francisco the a league of the comedy club circuit. The first comedy clubs pip3 and the improvisation began in new York in the Early 1960s. A decade later in los Angeles the comedy store opened mowed by the West coast edition of the improvisation. For years they were a part of the underground entertainment world. But within me last five years they be exploded into a National craze. Clubs popped up like one liners in cities and towns across America. Why he Boom in the funny business baby Boomers suggests de Pema. They got older and got tired of gelling their ears blown out in Rock n Roll bars and getting hit on in meat markets. Comedy clubs provide a Nice night out of live entertainment Barry Weintraub a new York comic and publisher of comedy u.s.a., a Trade publication says. Comedy clubs enjoyed a snowball effect the More clubs there Are. The More demand there is Lor them. It s still Betsy barns author of a new Book on stand up comics comic lives cites these reasons plug a few others like Cable to and big Money. Cable television showed stand up comics unedited including raucous routines she said. They piqued National interest. And Eniree Enkurs who had discos realised there was Money to be made in comedy clubs the Money includes cover charges of s5 to $1 2 and a requirement that patrons buy at Leat two drinks. Many also offer dinner. It s Good Yuppie Boms says. Most comics want a shot on commercial to particularly the talk shows of Johnny Carson Joan Rivers David Letterman and Davit Brenner Stags to stardom. To. Get on these shows they have tone Able to do Gutter free routines. Still Many Cornea offer fare that is often vulgar and crude. Routines run the Gamut sax and drugs Arcond and race relationships and politics. At Dangerfield s in new York a place named for co owner Rodney Langerfeld an Honor graduate of a comedy club circuit Weintraub 26, a a regular. He specializes in political humor. The problem with she Iran arms scandal is that Reagan s hearing out was t working. Cover North told him they were sending arms to Iran. But Reagan thought a said we re having fun on
