A collection of both local and non-local comedians will gather for the monthly comedy show at the Grange Hall in San Luis Obispo on Saturday.
The comedy show is held as a function of the Central Coast Players, the longest running local theater and entertainment group started in association with the Entertainment Industry Associates (EIA). The Central Coast Players began simultaneously with the Grange Hall comedy shows.
The event will feature comedians Kevin “Tex” Bennett, Sal Espana, Cal Poly graduate Casey Campbell, and Myk Powell, who will serve as the headliner.
“It’s the best five dollars of comedy you can get in San Luis Obispo,” Powell said.
As headliner, Powell will be the last comedian to take the stage for his 10 minute act. Powell describes his style of comedy as an “observational pissed off old man.”
“If (the set) works, then I won’t get off stage until Monday,” Powell said.
Campbell, who graduated in June and is a self-proclaimed “comedy junkie,” also does observational comedy. He compares himself to famous comedian Jim Gaffigan, who has appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Comedy Central.
Campbell’s act on Saturday will last approximately 15 minutes.
In order to prepare for their monthly sets at the Grange Hall, Powell and Campbell rehearse all of their new material. Campbell isn’t a person to practice, however, Powell uses the three hour drive from his home in San Jose to San Luis Obispo to rehearse his material. He also drinks tequila, but not at the same time.
Local comedian Espana, who first began stand-up comedy at the Grange Hall in 2003, rehearses his material as well, but drinks coffee to prepare instead. He also writes, rewrites, and tries his material on other people.
Espana describes his comedy as “social satire with some political elements.”
“I like to assume the audience is smart or reasonably intelligent,” Espana said.
Bill Moneymaker, owner and founder of the Grange Hall and the Central Coast Players, said he enjoys Powell’s energetic approach to comedy.
“If the audience is down, he will bring them back up,” Moneymaker said.
Many other comedians who started their careers at the Grange Hall now are successes in the comedy and entertainment industries.
“A lot of people go on to bigger and better things,” Moneymaker said.
The Grange Hall shows “give them an opportunity for stage time in order to test their material,” Moneymaker said.
Former Grange Hall comedian Carol Hughes has been featured on “America’s Got Talent” and “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” Other former Grange Hall performers have starred in the “Last Comic Standing” on Comedy Central.
Even so, Moneymaker is cautious about who he allows to perform at the Grange Hall.
“I am cautious about ‘dead space,’ or those awkward moments of silence when someone isn’t funny,” Moneymaker said.
Moneymaker wants comedians who are genuinely funny so that the audience can appreciate the show.
However, the Grange Hall “rarely gets an audience who doesn’t appreciate what’s going on,” Moneymaker said.
The Grange Hall has a bar with $2 drinks during the monthly shows, but Moneymaker said that the event is “not like a bar” and “not a place for (drunken) heckling.”
Instead, Moneymake said the Grange Hall welcomes and encourages a “warm audience.”
Overall, the show is “always a good time,” Powell said. “It’s been a fun show since I started, so that’s why I make it out there (to San Luis Obispo).”
Grange Hall is located at 2880 Broad St. Saturday’s comedy show begins at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door.
I am surprised to see an article about this event put on by Moneymaker in the college paper. It has been my experience that Moneymaker has consistently made sexist and racist remarks in the 6 years I have worked with him, and he has shown these traits in actions I have personally witnessed. This is not limited to an occasional comment, but declarations on a regular basis and the fact that people of various races and women have shunned him when they experienced it for themselves. I do not suggest the college student body attend a show run by such a person. Shall the students be tolerant of intolerance and prejudice? I speak only from my personal experience with this man.
I should also add that comedy does involve blue language, sexism, and racism. That is not what I am talking about. The comedians are not the racist and sexist people my comment may make them seem like. Many comedians have even commented about Moneymaker’s actions and comments. Please do not let my comments reflect on the comedians that appear at this show. I suggest catching their performances at other venues.
I am talking about personal traits by the man that runs the comedy club and other events at the Grange Hall. He is also not indicative of the good people of the Grange organization. Moneymaker does not own the Grange Hall. He simply re-elects himself as Grangemaster there, so he can run it. Do not take this out on the Grange, a very worthy and great organization that is not fully aware of the damage Moneymaker can do to their reputation here in SLO.
I do not believe the author of this article was aware of the problems that exist, and if she wishes to contact me, I would be happy to help her with an expose’ piece on the local Grange management.