A shy looking guy with curly blond hair takes the stage. With a brightly painted warped ‘50s living room behind him, he introduces himself to the audience. He is the master of ceremonies tonight at Cobb’s Comedy Club.

Fifteen local and visiting comedians wait off stage for their turn to try out material on the half-packed Wednesday night Showcase crowd. The crowd, consisting of mostly 20-somethings, is most likely due to the low cover charge for college students tonight; with a college ID, there is no cover.

SF State child development student, Dorresh Cullett said, “It was definitely worth the trip.”

Cullett visited the club after hearing about the free admission and enjoyed most of the comics. Cullett said the club has a nice atmosphere, and very laid back and relaxed.

When attending any comedy club it’s unrealistic to think you’ll enjoy every comic, but Cobb’s does a great job of mixing up styles. There were a few comics that didn’t go over well with the crowd, but
most were really funny. The jokes ranged from politics to classroom freak outs.

Cobb’s General Manager, Max Messier, said he tries to mix up the lineup and bring out a high-energy person before a low-energy one.

Messier tries to create a flow with the 15 comics that can appeal to the wide spectrum of comedy people enjoy.

The Showcase lineup isn’t put together until that day.

Comic Kristopher Tinkle, a former SF State student, said, “Wednesday night at Cobb’s is something that the comics here really need and rely on. It’s one of the few nights that a comic can get up in front of a paid audience of 75 to 200 people and practice material.”

Tinkle explained that it’s hard to get on Wednesday at Cobb’s.

“At 3 p.m., every comic in SF or any comic passing through that wants to get a set calls the club,” he said. “There is only 15 spots for roughly 50 to 75 comics trying to get on.”

Messier said he fills the lineup by 3:05 p.m. “I get about 50 calls in five minutes,” he said.

The comics perform anywhere from five to 15 minute sets. Messier said there’s a hierarchy system. A new comic might call for 5 months before getting on the lineup and then someone gives them five minutes, he explains. If it goes over well, he’ll have seven minutes next week.

Comic Kamau Bell has been performing at Cobb’s for six and a half years. He is one of the comics who has earned a 15 minute spot. “The more college students that come down, the better,” Bell said.

Bell explained college students are more likely to watch Comedy Central, “If they like Comedy Central they’ll like my act. Older crowds can be more squeamish and skiddish. Younger people are more like ‘I don’t know, let’s see what happens.’”

After their sets, some of the comics hang around in the back to watch others perform. Tinkle said, “Even when I am on a show, sometimes I pull up a chair and sit in the crowd for a while and get that perspective. The best compliment is when younger college-aged kids come to the show for the first time and are blown away by the live aspect of it.”

The comics not only enjoy watching others but love feedback from the crowd on their performance.
Bell said if you like a comic talk to them after the show. Get their email address and support them.
There is a two drink minimum, but you don't need to make reservations.

For more information on Cobb’s, check out their website at www.cobbscomedyclub.com.