Live comedy “popped up” Friday night on Nov. 3 in Pacific Beach with seven hilarious – often outrageous – performances delivered by up-and-coming comedians brought in special for a YouTube taping.
Sponsored by Don’t Tell Comedy, a grassroots group producing pop-up comedy shows in unique locations nationwide, the “secret” venue for two live comedy shows turned out to be the backyard outside at The Movement Warehouse at 1425 Garnet Ave.
The comedians who performed were as diverse and extraordinary as their material. They were Brad Silnutzer, Andrew Orolfo, Rob Haze, Emily Van Dyke, Matty Ryan, Adam Pasi, and Wolves of Glendale. They all brought something unique to the stage. One comic “toyed” and “teased” with the audience. Another, a mom, joked about pregnancy. A comic of Samoan extraction, as part of his 10-minute set, quipped about members of his nationality being born bouncers.
“This is something I started in 2017, the concept being trying to make stand-up comedy shows more accessible, more affordable, more of a community event bringing shows to different businesses, people’s residences, etc.,” said Don’t Tell Comedy’s founder/CEO Kyle Kazanjian-Amory speaking before the Nov. 3 show. “The first shows were in my friends’ backyards and living rooms in Los Angeles. Six years later we’re in 120 cities, six international.”
It wasn’t the first, or the last time Don’t Tell Comedy has chosen PB as a live comedy venue. “We’ve been doing shows here since 2018,” said Kazanjian-Amory. “Every month we’ll have at least one show in Pacific Beach, sometimes up to three or four shows. Pacific Beach is kind of our home down here. We do the most shows in this neighborhood.” He added they’ve also done shows in Point Loma and Downtown San Diego, as well as in North County.
Discussing the successful launch of his homegrown business, Kazanjian-Amory pointed out that “live experiences are such an amazing way to connect with people and we didn’t have it (due to COVID) for almost a year. So, after we were shut down for about nine months, we saw that there was a huge appetite for comedy for live events and just being in-person laughing together. That’s been great for our business.”
Concerning how Don’t Tell Comedy selects venues, Kazanjian-Amory noted people and businesses will reach out to them expressing willingness to host a show. “But initially, I just started going door-to-door asking people: That’s how it started,” he said.
He said prerequisites required for hosting live comedy include, “Any place that can fit 40 or more people that has open spacing, with things that are easily movable.” He noted they’ve even done shows in bookstores, where things are on wheels and can be easily displaced. He added an average show accommodates 65 people.
Regarding comic selection for the two special taped Nov. 3 performances in PB, Kazanjian-Amory said the comedians were flown in from New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland, Ore. “It’s a mix of the best of the next generation of comedians from all around the country that we bring here,” he said. He added that “normal” shows in San Diego are a good mix of some of the best local talent, comedians living in San Diego who have been doing stand-up for at least three to five years, along with rising comics that Don’t Tell Comedy brings down from Los Angeles for every San Diego show.
“A big part of what we’re doing is trying to bridge the gap between comedians and audiences, connect them,” concluded Kazanjian-Amory. “It’s a beautiful thing because everyone loves it. People producing our shows love it because they’re able to organize events. The comedians love it because they get good stage time in front of really good, young audiences. And the venues love it because it brings people into their businesses. So it’s a win-win all the way around. It truly feels grassroots, even though we’ve been doing it for six years.”
