What to Expect at Live Comedy Shows at Hashtag Comedy Club (Columbus, Ohio)

Let’s set the (relatable) scene… you’re doomscrolling on your couch and see a stand up comedian or side-splitting sketch character. Let’s face it, discovering comedians online is one of the best parts of the internet. You might think, “where can I find comedy shows near me?” or “gosh, I wish I could go to a stand up show in Columbus” or maybe you even think, “trying comedy is on my bucketlist,” and then, ya keep scrolling - maybe save a recipe, watch an (unrelatable) 3 AM morning routine (3 am? Who am I, American Psycho?). I get it, that’s totally a typical Friday night for lots of people.

But what if I told you (I’m leaning in here - keep this between you and me) that just down the road in Columbus, there’s a room full of folks laughing at some hilarious off-the-cuff stand up comedian, and some of the best improvisers and live sketch performers the city has to offer? In the heart of the Short North, near Ohio State University, is The Hashtag Comedy Club, a comedy club and live entertainment company that’s been bringing laughs and slinging jokes in Columbus for over a decade. A couple years ago, we opened up our own brick-and-mortar comedy club in Columbus, and we never looked back.

A stand up comedy show can sometimes be intimidating - you might be asking yourself: are they going to do crowdwork at me? What if I go by myself? What if they make fun of my Kony 2012 t-shirt that I haven’t taken off for over a decade? (what, do you shower in it?)

Let’s break it down for you (and tbh, leave the Kony shirt at home) - comedians at Hashtag Comedy Club might roast ya a little (again, the Kony shirt) but they typically leave people alone (if you’re really nervous, just sit in the second row). We strive to create a comfortable environment for all audience members.

What’s the difference between improv, sketch and stand up comedy?
Great question! (Man, we are on the same page.) Improv is unscripted comedy scenes and games - think “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” - based on audience suggestions, improvisers create characters, scenes and stories. Some of Hashtag Comedy Company’s casts, like TBD The Improvised Musical, create full storylines, hilarious characters and story arcs, while other casts, such as The Hashtag Comedy Improv Show, create short, side-splitting unrelated scenes and explosive games based on audience suggestions.

Stand up comedy is normally performed by a solo comedian who has written their jokes, aka “a set,” beforehand (though the trick is to make it seem like it’s off-the-cuff). Stand up comedy is more of a solo-artist endeavor, while improv requires a team to be fully in sync to create real magic. If you’re reading this blog, you’ve probably heard of stand up comedians like Whoopi Goldberg or Jerry Seinfeld, known for The Bee Movie and some other tv show I can’t think of right now.

Sketch comedy is fully scripted scenes and characters. Normally sketches are rehearsed and practiced exactly as performed, but sometimes troupes/casts prefer to have a few scenes or sketches allow room for improvisation as long as they hit the right “beats,” or jokes. If done well, this can help vibe with the crowd. If done poorly, it can derail the scene #highstakes! I imagine rocket scientists say things like, “well, it’s not sketch comedy!”

Hashtag Comedy Company’s sketch cast, Hot People Near You, sparks laughter through fully scripted scenes that explore a funny character, premise or situation. For recorded examples of sketch comedy - look at any Saturday Night Live sketch, or watch Tim Robinson’s “I Think You Should Leave” on Netflix (not sponsored). Recorded sketch is amazing on its own, but live sketch comedy brings its own kind of magic by playing off of the club audience’s energy.

This probably goes without saying, but we over here at Hashtag Comedy Company love live comedy. We think building community (and bridges) through laughter is more important now than ever, and we always love to see a new face in the crowd at our comedy shows. We hope to see you at a comedy show this weekend - if you have any questions about live comedy, have a comedian you’d like to see perform on our stage, want to take a class or finally sell that Kony 2012 shirt (my offer is higher than you’d think), contact us.

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