Comedy is an artform that puts a monetary value on our elation and delight. It is often easy to forget that art must run as a business and comedy is no exception. In our viewing of, Phunny Business, our instructor encouraged us to look closely at how Raymond Lambert ran his comedy club. In the brave new world of stand-up, it would be tough to run a club of this nature. Moreover, it would be even harder if that club caters to a predominantly African-American crowd. In this paper, I will argue that Raymond Lambert ran a successful comedy club because of his business minded approach. Raymond Lambert, the prodigy of Chris Gardner, opened All Jokes Aside in 1992. His idea for a club was based off the current scene for African-American comedians.
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During the film, there were many performers who talked about how hard it could be to get paid after a lot of gigs. There was never any question about if a comedian would get paid at All Jokes Aside. Lambert and his crew ran a tight and concise ship that always paid their acts. The comedians also had a standard to uphold. Raymond required all his acts to be dressed appropriately in suits. He had a strict language code as well as requiring none of his acts to berate hecklers. Lambert had his staff deal with hecklers in a more discrete and professional matter. Most importantly, he was strict of set times. There were fines set in place for comedians who went over their time. Lambert realized that if every comedian runs over then the show will run impossibly long. This sort of mentality is part of the reason All Jokes Aside ran so well. Raymond Lambert ran his comedy club as a business man and that’s what made him such a good presenter. The level of involvement in the little details is what sets him apart as a presenter. Lambert not only created a comedy club, but he created a staple of entertainment. He saw a market that had yet to be tapped into and reaped the benefits of it. This feat could not have been accomplished if he had not used the professional tactics he used throughout his career. All Jokes Aside was far more than a just a club, it was the Chicago comedy
During the film, there were many performers who talked about how hard it could be to get paid after a lot of gigs. There was never any question about if a comedian would get paid at All Jokes Aside. Lambert and his crew ran a tight and concise ship that always paid their acts. The comedians also had a standard to uphold. Raymond required all his acts to be dressed appropriately in suits. He had a strict language code as well as requiring none of his acts to berate hecklers. Lambert had his staff deal with hecklers in a more discrete and professional matter. Most importantly, he was strict of set times. There were fines set in place for comedians who went over their time. Lambert realized that if every comedian runs over then the show will run impossibly long. This sort of mentality is part of the reason All Jokes Aside ran so well. Raymond Lambert ran his comedy club as a business man and that’s what made him such a good presenter. The level of involvement in the little details is what sets him apart as a presenter. Lambert not only created a comedy club, but he created a staple of entertainment. He saw a market that had yet to be tapped into and reaped the benefits of it. This feat could not have been accomplished if he had not used the professional tactics he used throughout his career. All Jokes Aside was far more than a just a club, it was the Chicago comedy