Comments on I Went and Saw Improv and Standup in the University District on Saturday Night, and It Was Actually Funny

Does EVERY article written about stand-up comedy by ANYONE in ANY publication in Seattle have to start with the premise that the expectation is that it's going to be shitty...and then the surprise when it isn't?

Dartanion London is an incredible performer who has been highly active in the local improv scene, he's done sketch work, he's done film work (including having been a Seattle Neutrino member) and video work (type "Stamos" into your YouTube search bar) and he's been an engaging presence in the stand-up scene for a few years now...

He's also one of the people behind the Week of Fun comedy festival (the second year of which should be happening soon).

The guy is an undiscovered gem in town and deserves to be profiled AS AN ARTIST PURSUING HIS ART IN UNIQUE AND OFTEN SUCCESSFUL WAYS.

And isn't it really time to get past the "Hey, I thought I'd need to get drunk to enjoy this show, but it actually turned out to be pretty good" attitude?

Seriously--it's great that you enjoyed the show, Christopher...but there are plenty of people in this world who don't automatically think of stand-up comedy like it's nasty tasting medicine...

It would be nice if the people who go to the Wing-It productions would spend time/money in the neighborhood that it's located in. The clientele there is odd. A bunch of eager people (often families/teens for the earlier shows) will show up for a show and then disappear when it ends. You never see them again. Business owners in the area rarely see them. I think their audience is usually from Bothell or the eastside or a few UW dorms. It's bizarre and should be analyzed.

Hey Peter. I definitely understand your frustration, but speaking as a non-comic who sometimes tries to get other non-comics to comedy shows, it can be a lot like trying to convince someone to go to the dentist for a root canal.

Combine that with the fact that Dart-Mondo combines stand-up comedy with IMPROV and it can be more like trying to convince someone to go in for a root canal without anesthetic.

This is definitely too bad because Dart-mondo IS a hell of a good time. The comics are always the best in the city and the improvisers are brilliant. So I agree with Cristopher's assessment that it can be a hard sell and most of the first-timers who I am able to convince to go to a show usually exhibit the same, "Wow. That was actually fun!" attitude that he expressed.

To someone who has been seeing these shows for awhile (especially as a comic), it is probably painful to watch the discovery process, but it doesn't change the fact that it is still reality. Sure there are plenty of people in the world who don't view comedy as nasty tasting medicine, but you already have those people showing up. I think Christopher is just trying to clue in some of the folks who aren't hip to it yet.

Point taken, Clint.

And I'd much rather have Christopher report on this show than not.

It just gets so tiring.

It's like if every restaurant review started with "HEY! It doesn't taste like shit!"

Come to think of it, that would probably be rather effective...

In my experience, most improv IS shitty and it's a pleasant surprise when it's actually funny. That doesn't keep me from attending, since the appeal doesn't lie so much in the hilarity of the planned jokes but in the weird psychology that it takes to pull off an improv show. Same with stand-up.

the truth is, most places you go standup can be pretty crappy. but standup here in seattle is actually pretty fuckin good, a fact of which the stranger seems to be dimly aware (as well as the wider entertainment industry--MTV had a talent scout here for a few days last month)

even open mics here are better than actual showcase shows in many other cities including LA.

Nah... I wouldn't say that The Stranger doesn't give a rats ass about comedy I mean they sponsor the Laffhole and that's something. That place is packed every time. It's great!

However there are a lot of clubs around the Seattle area that comics go to that people often forget:

The Comedy Underground
Giggles
Laughs
Mr. Spot's Chai House
Cafe Amore
Pegasus

It's starting to really take off. I have a couple of friends who are comics and I'm noticing that they are spending more time doing comedy than their 9-5 jobs.

But I do agree with pgreyy that it doesn't come off to journalistic, but rather incredibly biased to pass that much judgment over a show that you haven't seen before you even are seated. It makes me a little skeptical of the next article or blog posting that I read by this guy, but I'm still glad that he wrote it.

I want to check it out now.

-Chris

Don't forget that the Sunset and the Mars Bar both have great comedy at least once a month.
I love the Dartmondo. It is fun to watch and to perform in. Telling jokes and then seeing them disected through improv can be gratifying and humbling at the same time.
Dartanion has been producing this show all over Seattle for the past year and this run at the HUT should be the best one yet. I think the improvisers have really come together as a team and the quality of comics that have agreed to perform is really high. The Datmondo is great example of the quality of Seattle comedy, both improv and stand-up.
I am such a fan of the show, that I will be there every week by the bar with a flash light in hand, drinking whiskey and making sure the comedians behave themselves. Make sure come by and say hi.

Emmett Montgomery
People's Republic of Komedy

Well, I saw Dart-Mondo for the first time on Saturday as well.
And even though I may be a BIT biased only because I work at the HUT, I was VERY impressed in the show.
People tried to explain it to me, and it was SO hard to understand what they were talking about.
I didn't want to see it, but stayed anyways.
I laughed my ass off! it's DEFINITELY something to check it out!

and ignore the obnoxious girl like laughing really hard in the front row. that would be me :D.

In response to: wongit | January 8, 2008 12:48 PM

As the Artistic Director of Wing-it, i have to whole heartedly disagree! We have created more traffic and exposure for area businesses, and we are working with local bars and restaurants to create packages to drive more business their way. Our demographics show the majority of our crowd from the surrounding housing areas, the University of Washington and Capital Hill. I don't know where you get your facts, but we have questionnaires we do every year to support my facts. We have seen positive economic upturns since we took over this building, and we have purchased it to show our commitment to the community to stay around and keep providing community benefit.
This is above and beyond our work providing free classes to homeless youth, and other charity work in the University District.
If you want more info on all our programs - call the office: 206 352-8291. I'll be glad to show you all the programs we are currently involved with.