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Joke Books Comedy

It was Valentines Day, and when looking to do something fun and different to celebrate, my Valentines looked to Eventbrite for suggestions. I have had many bad experiences in the past, so have stayed away from this app, but thankfully she knew not of them and booked this adventure for us anyways. Getting there was half the adventure.

I was unaware that there was a comedy show happening on the 14th of February, let alone that the venue was in the Strathcona area. And I grew increasingly skeptical reading that the entrance was though a back alley, graffiti-worn door. Given the area and time of night, this was not a comfortable walk. We passed by and avoid a makeshift bar held in an old freight container. Despite the handwritten sign stating, “Welcome and to Come in”, the crowd did not look that hospitable. At this point we thought to turn around, but pushed forward as the tickets were nonrefundable.

Eventually we came across the advertised door and was relieved by the sight of friendly door man that guarded it. Behind him, a red lit room and hallway where they check you in and you proceed forward, towards the only direction available. Here there is a place to check in your coat. From there, you continue around the bend to a makeshift stage and a collection of mix and match chairs. The show was fully booked, and each seat sat. This was a hovel of sorts with low ceilings and a splash of whimsy from plastic plants. This one-of-a-kind setting made the night and made the experience all the more underground, literally and figuratively. I would later learn that this abandon building with its boarded up front street facing entrance is called Dolly Disco.

Doors opened 30 minutes before the show, and like at any other larger comedy shows, guests were invited to purchase an alcoholic beverage from the cash bar at the back. A collection of canned beers and coolers were available at above cost. All the talent we would get to watch were local to Vancouver, often getting together and preforming on smaller, more intimate stages such as this. The theme surrounding this one was the idea that these fresh-faced comedians will share with the audience anecdotal stories and ideas that they have written down as notes in their “Joke Books” to later flush into full sets. This is Joke Books Comedy.

And as far as comedy shows one of the best bangs for your buck. You watch 9 different comedians in 8 different sets, each with their own perspective, and the odds are that you will find at least one of them relatable. For me, it was our host hailing from China and recalling her first generation, immigrant trials. Common experiences for an immigrant, coupled with her day-to-day life, living with her poor boyfriend and navigating her distant, but still fully judgmental relationship with her mother.

Our first comedian spoke to her life growing up in suburban Canada, not being well off and how it compared to the people she has met since moving away. The joke that really spoke to the mish mash audience in the room was her eating rink snow as a child. The manmade snow that has been scrapped off the ice by a Zamboni and swept aside to melt naturally. The punchline was how her childhood friends were okay with putting than in their mouths, but worried over what went into the Covid vaccine.

I especially enjoyed the voice of the non-binary comedian. I do not know anyone who classifies themselves as such in my immediate life, so was nice to be able to hear their voice and get to experience what their day-to-day life is like by proxy. They also made the lifestyle approachable by making jokes about themselves and their specific situation. They also overlapped by being an immigrant with traditional Filipino parents.

A nice change of pace from the standup routine was the comedic improv of our next set. The duo interrupted the show under the guise of being from Human Resources and were addressing the crowd like employees, directing us on what to do and what not to do. Speaking to what is politically correct, but not following suit themselves. My favourite bit was when they took the crowd’s suggestions when putting a skit together of what not to say when dealing with sexual harassment. It was all over the top and yet relatable.

Our next comic came in at 6ft tall, and gave us a rundown of all the tall girl jokes she has heard in the past, and how it has given her “Big divorce energy”.

The first male comedian of the night was noted as being the first ever Juno award winning comic, for his comedy album. He spoke to what he knew: being Jewish and his long standing married relationship with his wife.

The next comic was an engineer by trade and was here tonight moonlighting. She melded the two and offered up musings from her educational experience. Like how a toy water gun can be a substitution for a poor man’s bidet, whereas water balloons do not work. I appreciated how candid and vocal she was speaking on the appearance of her vulva.

And our headliner was a character. He led with his Latino heritage and won the crowd with his accent and euphemisms on being a short Latin man. The dived into the things he needs to do when dating a tall woman and how he was tricked into getting a Harry potter tattoo with all his machismo. The “short king”, as he referred to himself, was most memorable for me.

Having attended several comedy shows of different formats and at different venues, I liked how this one was casual and intimate. The comedians could see the audience from their platform on the stage and used our facial cues to further their sets. The awkwardness of looking for material was encouraged, and the audience was engaged by the act. And best of all the talent was local and the venue was like no other. Truly, I have been speaking about the experience since and have recommended people to take the alley stroll to Dolly’s Disco. So keep your eyes open for tickets for the next Joke Book Comedy on Eventbrite, you won’t regret it!

1 thought on “Joke Books Comedy”

  1. I thoroughly enjoyed the humor recommendations in this blog! Laughter truly is the best medicine, and these joke books seem like a fantastic prescription. The witty reviews and insightful picks make it easy for anyone to find their next source of laughter. Can’t wait to add some of these to my reading list!
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