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Categories: Performing Arts, Comedy Clubs [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Union Square, Nob HillI went to the introductory class here awhile back and I was really really impressed with the instructor Kurtis. In just the free intro class I learned some basic joke writing stuff and the bottom line "reason" things are funny. Unfortunately, I was not able to continue with the intro to stand-up course and I have always wanted to go back.
I suppose the only critique I would have of this place which is just a critique of people in general is it seems people latch on to the identity of "comedian" and start using words like "set" and "killed" a little too soon for my taste. Somebody I worked with attended a number of classes here over the years and she was always talking about how great her "set" was at the open mike at the dry cleaners or her grandmothers house and so on and so forth.
One painful time she performed for our work group at some holiday party thing. Her writing was ok but she was laughing at her own jokes before actually getting to the punch line so I was forced to pull one of these at the end of the show......
Oh my god! You were on that stage!!!!! You were holding the microphone!!!! You walked around!!!!! Oh my god you were on that stage like a person on a stage with a microphone!!!!
Five Stars for sure though as my co-worker at least tried and all I can do is poke fun from behind an anonymous projection of myself on a website.
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What a great surprise! This recommendation from Yelp made a great evening. At $12 per person, Scantily Clad Friday was a deal. All of the comedians were great, but Kevin Munroe and Ali Mafi led the pack. The crowd is pretty great too--willing to be entertained and ready to laugh. As the other reviewers note, it's BYOB. I'll add that bringing a few extra for the talent doesn't hurt.
For $12 you can't go wrong. It wasn't the funniest comedy show I have been to, but I did burst out in to laughter several times. It's a smaller club, so audience participation and banter with the comedian should be expected.
The best part was the BYOB, although here are a few pointers.
1. They only have small plastic cups, no glasses, or even wine glasses. You might want to stick to beer in a bottle if you are a wine glass snob like myself.
2. No ice! You better buy something cold otherwise you will suffer.
3. No mixers, which means you have to bring soda if you are making a cocktail. But, they do have a soda machine, in case you don't come prepared.
4. Buy your liquor somewhere FAR from Nob Hill, the mark-up at the nearby liquor stores in insane. $30 for a cheap bottle of wine, $50 for decent vodka, and $4 for a red bull. Yikes.
My friends and I went to the Unladylike show last night. I've been to SFCC before and it was pretty good. All three of us were totally shocked at how un-funny the women were. Not one of them talked about anything we could relate to. We had no idea "Unladylike" meant white trash but I guess at SFCC it does. I hate to be mean but they were all overweight and unattractive and not very bright. They talked about stupid things.
One of the "comedians" Gretchen Noel was all into being white trash but it was just sad. Who wants to hear about poor people living in a trailer park? We just felt sorry for her but no one laughed. Kelly McCarron talked about really dull things but nothing funny. We couldn't believe we were at a comedy show. We just kept looking at each other waiting to laugh.
In case the show producers don't know, there are actually women in San Francisco who read, are smart and actually have relationships with things other than vibrators and text messages.
We totally felt like we were in some skanky bar in Sacramento.
**FYI I am giving 3 stars because it takes spirit to get on stage and the other SFCC show I went to was cool BUT the female scene happening at Unladylike/SFCC is BEASTLY.
Hey Jennifer, I think it's weird that you can't spell wierd. You made me reconsider my review back to what I originally wanted to rate it - 1 star. Maybe if you took the hardware out of your crotch, your brain would stop violently shaking against your skull and you would understand what I was trying to say. Then again if you were "rolling in laughter" you might be special ed. in which case, you will never know better even with proper meds. Katie Compa? Wasn't she the woman who was a size 7 from the waist up and a size 14 from the waist down? It looked like she was made from two different people. Yeah, she was funny Jen.
I've always been a fan of the Clubhouse, and have been there several times to see several different shows in the past few year..hell, I've even made a friend or two there and have seen several of the comics at different venues in the city. I was bummed by the negative review of the UnLadylike show by one reviewer....and yes, apparently one bad review does make or break a comic. I checked the SFCC/Clubhouse Schedule to see when the next UnLadylike show was, and couldn't find it. Like I said, I have made friends there, and they told me that the show has been cancelled!! WTF?!?!
I find shows with women comics in them very refreshing (go see Five Funny Females at the Purple Onion) in such a male dominated genre of entertainment!
The SFCC needds to get a clue (or a new booker)! We are tired of seeing the same people week in and week out at the so called "pro-showcases" on Fridays and Saturdays. I swear, if I see Damon Fergason host one more time, I'm going to "shit myself on an airplane"!! With the exception of a decent headliner now and then, it's always the same old "filler" comics! I'm sorry, but I thought it was a "college"?? Why don't they "graduate" some of the new talent into these shows?? For these reasons, I had to give them a low rating...change up the rotation, have more women, and maybe I'll be back! After all you really can't beat $10 and BYOB!
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Yeah for SFCCC!!! Went to the unladylike show on Friday and it was a ton of fun. Ali Wong and Katie Compa were hysterical. I loved having an all women lineup. As with any comedy show, every single comic didn't toot my horn as much as Ali and Katie did, but they had me rolling in laughter and we had a blast (hence the 5 stars). Plus it's byob so really, what's not to like (unless you're the stuck up unladylike post below who sounds a little too self centered for comedy. Honestly, if you only laugh when it's about something in your life directly (and let's note here that this person apparently has never interacted with a vibrator. Boyfriend or not, that's wierd) then why go at all?)
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I've never seen live stand-up before, so I thought I'd take a chance on the Unladlylike show last Friday. I had a great time. I agree with most of the reviews here: the comedy is hit-or-miss, but there's a lot of "hits", it's cheap and it's BYOB. Definitely not a bad way to spend a couple hours on a Friday evening. Plus, there's something exciting about seeing comedy live, especially from untested amateurs as they sharpen their wits and hone their acts. I was surprised at how strong a stage presence these comedians had (even the less funny ones)-- they may have been nervous, but it rarely showed. I don't think I could stand on stage in front of strangers, expose my neuroses and laugh at my self-doubts. Those women have balls!
Special shout-outs to Ali, Jenelle (Jeanette?) and Katie who were my favorites. Great timing, great presence, great jokes. It's refreshing to see women who aren't afraid to let their strong personalities come to the fore, and they provided a funny, thoughtful antidote to the endless slew of male comedians you see on TV mocking women in a most stereotypical fashion. While the "female perspective" defined the show, I think most of the comedy transcended gender and sexualtiy and would appeal to a lot of people.
To the reviewer below who disliked the show because the performers were "white-trash... overweight and unattractive and not very bright", you might want to reconsider your criteria. This is a comedy show, not a beauty pageant (nor a vice-presidential contest). Would you level the same criticisms at male performers? It's fine if you didn't like their jokes, but to dismiss them based on their appearance and your perceived cultural superiority is more than just mean-- it's smug and pretentious, and it tells us a lot more about you than it does about the comedians. If you weren't laughing during the show, perhaps you should have spent the time thinking of the roots of the body image issues about which these women fearlessly joked.... Besides, I'll take Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen, Lily Tomlin and Gilda Radner over their prettier counterparts any day.
Of course, everyone is entitled to his/her opinions, and one Yelp review does not a comedian make/break. In fact, I think Yelp offers an interesting lesson to stand-up comedians. Despite a plethora of positive reviews, after one or two bad reviews, a business may be tempted to throw in the towel or revamp their offerings. But one would be wise to heed the lessons SFCC no doubt teaches its students: don't give up and don't try to please everyone all the time. Stick with what you do well and don't forget what draws your customers. I mean, it's $10, it's BYOB and overall, it's pretty funny-- what's not to like?
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Even if you think you don't like stand-up comedy, give it a try. You'll laugh your ass off because the comedians are just that relatable. They're like your best buddies who know how to get a smile out of you, except better. They might start at the comedy college, but they definitely know how to teach there. We tried the Scantily Clad Friday night show hosted by Joe Nguyen. I only wish his skit was longer. He was a great intro, and the comedians that followed kept the laughs coming. It's BYOB and BYO-food, too, if you need. The place was pretty nearly full, so reserve early and support the very talented locals!
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So another cheap venue with another cheap date. I went Friday night with my boyfriend to the SF Comedy College and it was a fun night. We went for the open mike and stayed for their main show. There were a lot of people from out of the country so it was fun to talk to them. The comics were all great. Ali (iranian dude), Reggie , Marsella (tall chick) were all hillarious. There was a comic called Elles Martinez who was really sexy. We got a picture with him which I will post soon.
Tappan or something. He took care of the heckler - which the club should have taken care of earlier - they were harassing all the comics and when the comic asked if they wanted him to leave there was a HUGE response from the crowd. Why the club didn't take care of the heckler is beyond me ? Any other club would have thrown the guy out in the first 5 minutes.
The comic - Tappan was really very good. He brought the tempo back up and had us laughing in just a few minutes. I really liked his jokes about getting married and his wedding. Kinda got my boyfriend - who is Asian - talking about it . Whoo Hoo!
This place only costs 10$ to get in and you can bring your own booze. I even scored a Bud Light on my own . Its a good atmosphere and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to have a good cheap night of comedy.
The good parts - really cheap, great talent, byob.
The bad parts - cheap drinks and no security means hecklers go unchecked.
Rad. Cheap, BYOB, laid-back, great talent. What's not to like?
It's also a great place for under-21 guests/younger siblings - one of the few in the city.
Its a super affordable night out, BYOB in a smaller, more intimate venue than the other commercial comedy clubs in town.
Sure, the comedy can be a little hit-and-miss with the mix of pros and students. Its like going to open mic nights, picking out the comics who are not too TV/ club polished.
The comics on the night we went were super intelligent - not the Comedy Central slapstick comedy, but hella darker, funnier. More subtle.
My kinda stand-up. Will absolutely be back.
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BRING YOUR OWN BOOZE! It doesn't matter who the line up is on friday night, it's a fun place to go for an hour with some friends, kill a sick pack and mozy on out early enough to still catch a show.
Still Amazing. Now they Have a 5th Floor thearter that is huge comparitively. Great comics, great set up.
Ice, Glasses, Chaser, Take home Bottle Openers.
But you gotta provide the booze.
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11/24/2007
Went to the Scantily Clad Friday comedy show on Black Friday. Got there about 20 minutes early to… Read more »
Hilarious! and inexpensive.
How do you spell awesome? B-Y-O-B.
The rumors are true. This place actually lets you bring in your own drinks, which means cheapskates like me can buy a bottle of Carlo Rossi for like $7, pay $10-12 at the door (depending on the night), and have an amazingly good time laughing at inappropriate jokes for under $20. In San Francisco, that's practially impossible.
The added bonus? The comedians are actually FUNNY. I don't know who the people are giving this place bad reviews, but apparently they have sticks up their bums. I was laughing to the point of tears in some cases, and was otherwise extremely entertained. Maybe I just went on a good night? Maybe I have a horrendous sense of humor? I don't know, but I definitely enjoyed myself.
FYI: There is a liquor store across the street, but it's HELLA expensive. I spent $15 on five tall cans (yes, I know, I'm a classy lady). Best to stop at a cheaper corner store before you go. Otherwise, your $20 night becomes $30 (which is still not bad).
Oh, and I highly recommend this place for a first date. If you both laugh at the same jokes, you know s/he's a keeper.
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Ummm...Not funny. Maybe because I was already watching previews of Comedy Central's Pablo Francisco before hand, and although it's a place where you can bring your own alcohol....NO amount of alcohol could make me laugh. I was seated next to the video recording of the show, and I think my jokes were a lot funnier than theirs. I even looked to my left and to my right seats and the people there were all passed out snoring! I actually wouldn't have minded a few racist jokes here and there to break up the monotony of their political satire...
Be mindful that these comedians are STUDENTS to a mediocre, cynical comedian. So, I guess you should cut them some slack. A little advice...Don't go here for a bachelor/bachelorette party. Why a comedy school? You can't be THAT cheap! Go duck hunting or something. At least that's SO much more entertaining.
Oh, and P.S. Ken Thompson...Even MovieFone is funnier than you and a magic eightball is definitely way more entertaining. So, stop being such a sore ass, just because I didn't like the show. It's sad that you had to open up a YELP account just to retort back to my comments. Don't worry though, to the future comedians of that school...I'll never step foot in that place again anyway....
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This place even works for 50 something geezers like us.
Yes, it is bare bones and BYOB, but hey, we walked right in to the Saturday late show, paid our $12 and laughed for 90 minutes straight.
Can't beat that.
Awesome place. Very low key and friendly environment. Went there on a Saturday night, there were 6 or so comics, including the owner of the place. It's BYOB, so everyone goes to the corner liquor store and brings in a six pack / bottle of wine / 40.
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Soooo much fun. I mean really, $12 and BYOB? I'm there. Apparently the night I went (sat. may 24th), was the first time they sold out the room. Needless to say there was some loud, wasted people in the audience and the comics were great about it. I'll definitely be back soon and am spreading the word.
I repeat, BYOB.
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Good cheap fun. Always good for a laugh. Feels good to support the community.
$5 + BYOB = Success
Officially on the go-to cheap Friday list. The comedy was hit-and-miss, ranging from hysterical tear-inducingly funny to oh-man-i-better-drink-more. But who can complain for the money?
Atmosphere is fun and laid-back. There was a table in the back with cups, ice, and a few complimentary Budweisers if you were so inclined. We brought a six pack and some Jameson, but others were showing up with grocery bags full of booze. There's even a little snack machine in the back!
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Funny stuff. I think I spent more time laughing than breathing during my time there.
Support local talent!
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This plce was fun. We laughed pretty hard most of the time. There were a couple of jokes that didn't go over vey well but these people are students. It is BYOB which was not a problem. Just be prepared for a good time.
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I had a friend in town and we wanted an affordable night out, thus I found this place on Yelp and had an AWESOME time. We grabbed Blondie's Pizza and brought two bottles of wine from 7-11 and were all set. Our friday night it was the Unladylike show and while you could tell some ladies were nervous, overall we left the place with our sides hurting from laughing so much.
Really appreciated the cups and bottle openers at the front, plus the cookies! I recommend buying tickets online for the convenience factor. Definitely a fun, BYOB night (next time we might bring more than a bottle each though!).
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UPDATE: 4/22/08
Okay, I can't express how awesome this place is. You guys must give it a try, if you haven't. My second time around and I just discovered a comedian who has made it to my list of favorite stand ups: Joe Klocek. This guy is brilliant. He needs no material on stage, simply feeds off the energy of the audience, and is hilarious. My cheeks were literally in pain from laughing too much on Friday night.
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This such an awesome Yelp find! This place is great for locals, out-of-towners, and just about anyone who wants to have a couple hours of good laughs for only $10-12. No $20+ admission or 2-drink minimum here. You gotta love the BYOB! They are even well-equipped with bottle openers, corkscrews, and plastic cups to accommodate your alcoholic thirst. They have complimentary snacks at the front door too! For about 2 straight hours, you are entertained by 7-8 comics. They'll humiliate themselves, their loved ones, and of course, lucky members the audience. Be sure to snag a seat in the back if you're afraid of being victimized. The room seats about 60 people, and can get pretty stuffy during the show. Saturday night shows are called Naked Comedy and feature newbies and experienced comedians alike. My favorite comedian by far is Ali Mafi...I think he performs every weekend at SFCC.
I have absolutely no complaints about this place at all and will be recommending it to everyone I know. The headlining comedian made a joke that he really wanted a glass of 7&7 that someone in the audience was drinking but that if he took the drink, he would not get his $50 for the night. When you think about it, let's say it was at maximum turnout for $12/person x 60 seats (=$720), $50 for the headliner and probably a smaller denomination for the newbies is such a meager salary for a starving artist. So, come to SFCC to support up and coming artists and if you're looking for a really good time!
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This is the best place to be in San Francisco on a Friday or Saturday night, hands down.
As others have said, it's cheap, it's BYO, and the comedians are great. (Sure, some are more experienced than others, but this is the genuine article -- rest assured that at least one major name in comedy will come from here...)
As of this weekend (May 2, 2008), they've expanded and now have a huge room with plenty of seating for everyone. Awesome!
This is my go-to for when out-of-town people are visiting me, and we always leave happy.
(And I'm not just saying this because I'm dating one of the comedians... Jealous?)
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What a fun way to spend an evening! BYOB and standup are nothing short of a brilliant combination. Nothing turns me off of standup more than having to pay a big cover and then buy overpriced drinks from waiters that are blocking my view of the comedy during the show...
This place has neither of these things. Dirt cheap ($5, $10, depending on the night) and BYOB. There's certainly a range of talent, since it is after all an amateur establishment, but on the evening that I went nobody truly bombed and some of the performers were really very talented. Highly recommended for a night of inexpensive fun!
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Took my boyfriend here last year just to try something different and had a fun time. The intimate venue provides the budding comics plenty of chances to call on everyone. Bring your sense of humor because you will be made fun of. Because you can bring your own booze sometimes you encounter a group of obnoxious ass-clowns who are seemingly amateurs at handling alcohol...quiet at the beginning then all of a sudden brave and loud because they are drunk. Embarrassing! But that night the comics had a field day making fun of those dumb out-of-towners.
What do you get when you mix a bunch of strangers who bring in their own beers and wine by the box, the occasional heckler who'll call out but quickly be put back into his place by the comic on-stage, the smell of fear from the audience as the comic scours the room in hopes of finding the next contestant of "Please Make a Fool Out of Me" (obnoxious sorority types are easy targets), comedians from diverse backgrounds that are sometimes hit-or-miss but share a passion for comedy? They call it Saturday night here.
I find that stand-up comedy speaks to me, not in a condescending talk-show host type of way, but it's a great way to relieve stress and I get a kick out of the spontaneous interaction between comic and audience--this venue is particularly intimate. The "oh-my-God-I-know-someone-like-that" moments, and the "oh-wow, I-can't-believe-she-just-said-that" moments and all the less-than-stellar material in between, I enjoy them all.
Just in case, reserve your tickets online the day of the show to ensure you get a seat!
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I agree with other yelpers...support local comedians! Love the concept of bringing your own alcohol! Staff members were extremely nice and the performances were 'college' standards. They provide cups, ice, bottle openers, and some snacks.
Not Chappelle's "I'm rich biotch!" skit by any means but nonetheless a great night with friends filled with laughter.
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Awesome spot for a night of comedy on the cheap. Saturdays is Naked Comedy, showcasing a lineup of amateurs plus a headliner for a mere 12 bucks! Amateurs might be hit or miss but the headliners are spot on. Besides make up for bad jokes by bringing your own bar -awesome. No brown bagging here. Just a bunch of roughty strangers in a hot purple room. Knees, get ready to be slapped!
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I must say that BYOB plus comedy equals certain greatness. Add an intimate (close in proximity) environment, a central location, and solid comedians and you get a comedy club that has 5 stars all over it.
On another note, one of the comedians joked about suicide/suicide notes...I mean I know all topics are supposed to be fair game but some should really be considered off -limits. Oh well, I guess I'm just sensitive to that one, just as others would be to politics, etc.
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Good place to go and have some fun for cheap.
The place was small and intimate which was nice and in general all the comedians were pretty funny. It's BYOB (in case you haven't ready any of the other reviews) which I thought was nice b/c I know other places have a two drink minimum. The only problem is that people will get pretty drunk and start acting like idiots and start to take away from the acts.
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Lotsa bang for your buck at SFCC! For your ten-quid investment (sometimes only $5 if you keep your eye on Goldstar Events), you are guaranteed an amusing, if not always uproarious time.
The talent level is generally mixed--some of the comedians are more polished (and probably experienced) than others, but I've always had a bunch of belly laughs every time I've gone; and even the more tentative comics get an A+ for effort. Who in their right mind would open themselves up to that kind of self-immolation?? I have yet to encounter a performer so painfully unfunny that I felt compelled to force an uncomfortable laugh. And let me assure you, that has happened at places where I shelled out a lot more than five smackers!
Go with a gaggle of friends, bring a bottle of wine, and have a ball! If you're lucky, Melissa will bake you some brownies.
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Even though the show was pretty much sold out, they were nice enough to squeeze a couple more chairs in for us. I didn't even think to buy pre-sale tickets. Thank you!
The show was $10 and BYOB. We ended up right in front and were a little worried that we'd be picked on, but there were two other birthday parties there to distract the comedians. Note: if you say its your birthday, you will be brought attention to.
I cant even decide who was my favorite. There were about 6 comedians and they all pretty much made my cheeks hurt and turned my face bright red...or was that the stiff vodka ginger ales I kept pouring myself?
Either way it was a great time and well worth it. I recommend it to visitors and locals.
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Here is what you need to know about this cool little comedy Shak...It's small which is coo because if you have bad hearing....you won't miss a good joke. There is no 2 drink minimum which is sweet because you wont be feeling broke after you leave this joint. You can bring your own booze which is awsome...stop by a local LQ store grab a 40 and your good to go. For the most part all the comics I saw were above average...and aren't afraid to pick you out of the group.
Speaking of that...if you do not wish to be picked on...DO NOT SIT IN THE FRONT ROW...the comics are know for picking on the front raw folks and giving them some some harmless shit. I know because I got to experience it first hand.
Over all it is a great place and it's cheap for people like me.
And if you r in a dancing mood after there are is Ruby SKY and Slides directly next door to the Comedy Club.
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I made the suggestion to some friends after seeing this place on YELP that we should try it out. BYOB and only $10 Euro? Awesome! I figured if it was a miss at least we would buzzing and not paying $5 a drink at a bar.
I was pleasantly surprised, it was awesome. Half the comics were good, half were bad, but I was a couple of beers under, so I didn't really care at that point and I definitely was laughing my a** off.
Fun and a great way to spend a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night...I think the funniest thing about the whole experience was the amount of beers being opened during the routines. Hilarious...
Get some laughter in your life.
The only thing good about standing near Ruby Skyee.
So this place is a little hard to find, but well worth the search (i.e. B D). I've been over a dozen times and laugh my ass off to almost all the comedians. Best two to check out? Laura Gallegos and Ali Mafi: best gay jokes ever and always keep me entertained with the great new material. Remember that this is a "college", so you might come across some comics that aren't too funny...but they all have to learn somewhere, right?
Best part, you can bring your own booze. Second best part, very cheap price of admission and if you buy the tickets online (www.brownpaperbag.com) you can donate some of the money to a charity of your choice.
So, all around great time. Whenever you are looking for something to do before going out on a Saturday night, this is your place...
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The shows here are hilarious- you want to see the same comics you'd have to buy expensive drinks at at clubs in a smaller, more intimate setting where you can sit and chug a box of wine while watching? Come to the SFCC Clubhouse.
The Saturday shows are always packed, and in the end a lot of people get turned away, so make plans to go see the Friday night showcase at 9:00. It's cheap, it's BYOB, the comedians are hilarious.
Go on a Friday!
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Let's see - $5-10 cover, BYOB, great original stand-up comedy, and located right across the street from the world-famous Biscuits & Blues??
Count me in.
The Clubhouse is really what comedy shows should be. Like others said, they don't depend on bar sales to make money, so there is not a push for the comics to do material "for the masses". What a great experience. I recommend this place to anyone and everyone who likes to laugh. If you don't like to laugh - go see "Wild Hogs".
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