Part of WUWO Magazine’s ‘Comedy Take Over’ edition.
Not just for the Fringe, the Stand Comedy Club makes Edinburgh laugh all year long. Their aim is to promote and develop live comedy in Scotland with high quality comedy entertainment.
The club opened its doors to a weekly event in 1995 and built up a following that allowed them to start a second weekly event in 1996 and the rest is history. Stand Comedy Club is now Scotland’s premiere comedy venue that operates all year round fringe or no fringe…
WUWO Magazine caught up with Dave McGuire an insider at the Stand Comedy Club to pick his brain and find out a little more about the operation.
Interview
Stand Comedy Club has been around for over 17 years, what do you think is the key to its success?
Providing audiences the very best in both comedians and an environment best suited for this art form. The treatment of our acts is a key factor, as an example, we are one of the only Fringe venues that doesn’t operate pay to play, so none of our acts have to worry about their show losing money and can concentrate on being funny.
What feedback do you get from your performers about the venue?
Performers love it, because of the venue itself, the feel and layout of the room. They love the fact that we don’t allow stag and hen parties, so they get audiences that have actually come to hear the show that they have been working and developing. The Stand treat performers with respect, they are the focus of all that we do, as opposed to being background noise in a booze selling machine.
Do any performances stick out in your memory?
I loved the live reunion of John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman last year at the Fringe, with three special editions of Political Animal, which featured Daniel Kitson as the voice of god. They posted some of it on a Bugle podcast, it was late, sweaty and stunning. Also, the first time I saw Tony Law live was a revelation, his moment in the sun must be on its way.
What do you like about being a part of the Stand Comedy Club?
Simple, we care about what we do, and about the people we do it for. We’re the opposite of the chain bar, beer offers, groupon grabbing, generic places where the comic might as well be a jukebox. Also, we get to see many of the finest comedians in the business for free, and the beer is quite cheap.
Can you recommend any up and coming comedians?
Hari Srikantha is flying through the ranks in a very short space of time, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s not doing a Fringe run somewhere in 2013. Elaine Malcolmson has a one off Fringe show with us this year (20th) I also predict her doing a full run in 2013, she’s fantastic.
Do you have any local comedy success stories – people that first performed at the venue to go on and make a big name for themselves?
I can give you two right off the bat, both Frankie Boyle and Kevin Bridges started their careers at The Stand, and both continue to support the venue by doing a lot of nicely prices preview shows in advance of their arena tours. Greg McHugh also started out at the Stand before finding TV success with Fresh Meat and Gary Tank Commander.
WUWO Magazine wants to celebrate the Stand Comedy Club, and by looking into their fringe shows we find two Scottish comedians that will be performing their show ‘Look At The State of Scotland’ over the Fringe period.
Vladimir McTavish joins Keir McAllister to ponder on the state of affairs of Scottish life and the political state of the land. This show promises to be full of satire, razor sharp observations and cheap shots at the celebrity culture that we are all subjected to day after day. It is the only comedy show at this years Fringe to tackle the Scottish political and social situation.
A must see for anyone that like their comedy sprinkled with intelligence.
Name of Show: Vladimir McTavish and Keir McAllister Look at the State of Scotland
Where: The Stand Comedy Club III & IV
Time: 19:00
Date: 12-26 August excluding 13
