Booking stand-up at a homeless shelter
I once invited a comedian to perform at a homeless shelter. There were several factors at the time that went into this decision. One) Everyone appreciates a little humor Two) Those starting out need a little help and feedback ie they need an audience Three) At the shelter day program you have a built-in audience ie they aren’t going anywhere, they love the extra attention, and, sometimes, participation is mandatory In Chicago I was part of an artist resource network and occasionally there were on-line notices from up-and-coming comedians working on a schtick looking for feedback, bookings, etc. I contacted one of them to see if they were interested. Thus, I booked someone I’ll call Frank. Frank arrived in the alley separating the two across-the-street shelters. I found him nervously smoking a cigarette. It’s gonna be fine, I said. To be honest, Frank wasn’t great. His routine needed a lot of work and polishing. But the guys were generous with their laughter and, at times,...
