No joke

No joke -- Rochester loves to laugh
Fri, May 5, 2006

The Post-Bulletin

A long-time proponent of a comedy club in Rochester , comedian Bill Bauer had a good inkling that comedy would flourish in this area.

About 20 years ago, Bauer, a Minnesota native, said he helped book a weekend comedy room at a hotel in Rochester . "We had about 100 people a night, two nights a week," he said.

But while Bauer was living in Los Angeles , the comedy nights here ultimately ended, he said.

So what did he think when Goonie's Comedy Club opened in January? "It's great," Bauer said. "Finally a full-time room. It's what Rochester needs."

Yet it took a "gun to his head" to get him there, he said.

Performing at the club meant a pay cut, but one that would ultimately be worth it, Bauer said.

Booking the comedy at Goonie's is Funny Business is the largest agency in the country. It books comedy in 63 cities with a roster of 3,000 comedians including Tim Allen and Drew Carey. And so far the big-name booker has been pleased with entering the Rochester market.

"I don't think I've had any club open with as much praise from comedians as that room," said John Yoder, owner and president of Funny Business Agency. "I think Rochester is turning out to be a good, hip market for comedy."

The room, and it's owners Mark and Jasmine Klampe, are also well received among comedians, Yoder said, adding that comedians are calling him to work the room. By fall, patrons can expect some bigger, special shows, he said.

That's because the club owners did it right, Yoder said explaining the room, which seats about 130 people, is set up and run well.

"You want that intimacy," Bauer agreed. "I worked at a room in Cleveland , it was a 600-seat room and no matter how well you're doing you don't feel like you're doing well. It's hard to tell when you're killing. It's just too big."

As a comedian Bauer earned the nickname "Wild Bill" for his manic delivery of his bizarre observations and weird personal tales. He's a regular guest on the nationally syndicated "Bob and Tom Show," with his most recent visit on Wednesday.

Bauer has also appeared on NBC, ABC, MTV, Showtime, Comedy Central, A&E and received writing credits for episodes of Tom Arnold's sitcoms and a script re-write for the movie "Carpool." Most recently, Bauer's best-known bit was made into a short film called "Live Coverage of The International Russian Roulette Championships" by Dark Sun Productions.

Opening for Bauer is one of his long-time comedy collaborators, Craig Allen, a Twin Cities-based comedian known for his smart comedy style.

Allen, who's appeared at comedy nights in the area before said he is looking forward to working the room this time.

"There's a different atmosphere to a place that's a comedy club as opposed to a hotel bar that has comedy," Allen said.

Remembering his first gig at an area bar, Allen said, "When we walked in the manager of the place said, 'I want you guys to know these people have been here since 1:30 p.m. drinking.'"

New to comedy, Allen said he was just happy to get a gig, but ended up ditching his act and just dealing with the crowd.

"In a regular comedy club setting, people are used to a few rules," Allen said. "Turn off your cell phone. Keep table talk down. It's more conducive to doing your act."

Similar sized towns, like St. Cloud , which has supported a weekend room for years, and La Crosse , which has comedy nights going at two or three places, helped prove that comedy would go over well here, Allen said.

" Rochester a really nice city. It's one of the best cities to live in America , isn't it?" Allen said. "Now with a comedy club it should be even better."

Go & Do

What: Comedians Bill Bauer and Craig Allen

When: 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. May 12 and 13

Where: Goonie's Comedy Club, 7 Second St. S.W. in Rochester

How much: $10, call 288-8130 for reservations