Friday July 6th, 2012 – Rosemont, IL
Now THIS is what standup comedy is all about! Zanies Comedy Club just opened a brand new location in Rosemont, IL and tonight was opening night. I was fortunate enough to be a part of it and it was one of the best nights I can remember in decades. It was like the ‘80s were back again.
Everything about this place is absolutely first class, from the physical layout of the room to the location to the sound and lights to the staff. If there’s a better comedy club in America, I have yet to see it. This place has major success written all over it, and I hope it happens. Comedy needs it.
Too many comedy clubs have closed in recent years, and unfortunately most of them deserved it. This is a very tricky business, and there’s a delicate balance needed to stay afloat. It’s not like a traditional bar, club or restaurant - even though those are all tricky endeavors in their own way.
Comedy has a lot of subtleties, and the right acts have to be put in the right combination in the right location on a consistent basis to keep customers coming back. It’s not easy, and few places ever figure it out for the long haul. Those who do become leaders of the industry, like a Zanies.
I’ve been associated with the Zanies family for more than twenty years now, and I’ve learned a whole lot about the off stage business of comedy during that time. Zanies has always advertised, as they understand that it’s a business. Too many people in comedy never get that, especially the majority of comedians. I freely admit I was an idiot too. I thought customers would just show up.
Location has a lot to do with long term success, and if a club is near other entertainment outlets customers will just show up. The Funny Bone in St. Louis was a prime example in the ‘80s when they opened in an area called Westport Plaza. There were bars and restaurants and people walked around looking for fun things to do. That club exploded, and Rosemont Zanies has a similar vibe.
There are all kinds of bars and restaurants in the immediate vicinity of the club and a spanking new multi screen movie theatre is right across the way. There’s also a new casino right down the road in Des Plaines, and a ton of hotels along the road the club is on. Convention business should be huge, and I’d have to think all kinds of relationships could be made with all those businesses.
The show tonight was beyond spectacular. A bunch of comics showed up to do guest sets for a packed audience, who were all there to laugh. The mayor of Rosemont was there and there were all kinds of pictures taken. It was like a movie premiere or something. I can’t remember when if ever I’ve had this much fun and everybody had a fantastic set. The audience was over the top.
These aren’t the shows we get paid for. Anyone would have done it for free tonight. I knew the crowd was red hot as soon as the show started, and I went up and took no prisoners from the first five words. It’s fun when it’s like that, but far too rare. Like I said, it reminded me of how it used to be in the ‘80s when comedy clubs were new. It was like this almost every night, but I wasn’t a headliner then. Now I’ve got the experience and know what to do. This is better than any drug.
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