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Bakersfield Stands Up
Topics: Bakersfield, Bakotopia, Bakotopia.com, comedy, stand-up comedy, Dane Forst, Tyson Paul, Chase Brockett
Posted by Chase Mon Jun 23, 2008 11:57:34 PDT
Viewed 401 times
0 responses 2 comments Location: 706 Oak St., Bakersfield, CA 93304

Bakersfield Stands Up
Stand-up comedy hits The Empty Space theatre July 5^th @ 8:00 p.m.

By: Chase Brockett, Bakotopia staff

You really have to search in this town to realize that good stuff is going on.

The Jim Trino show with Dane Forst and Russ McGaffin at the Nile this past March was the first I’d heard of it in town.  Not fully expecting to find even one local comedian, it was a bit of a shock to find a small hoard of them.  Then up popped Bobby Detrick.  And Tyson Paul was well on his way in establishing himself by the time I found out about him.


Comedian Tyson Paul

Comedy is hard.  I’ve found few situations that make you feel as awkward as standing up in front of a crowd of strangers and trying to get them to laugh about the mundane.  Having gone down and witnessed Bakersfield locals trying their hand at what, when done right, seems like anyone can do it, but, when done wrong, makes you cringe in uncomfortable stillness, you realize just how much effort the type of performance requires. 

I’ll be honest - there was a mixture of both a sense of effortlessness and awkwardness the night of the Jim Trino show.  Which garners those who take on the scene that much more respect.  You need emotional skin like bondage leather (or a couple pints of beer) to be able to take on a crowd of strangers. 

 Comedian Dane Forst

Much like hearing old demo tapes from a band that has come to tour the world ten times over, local comedy shows and open-mics are the comedian’s garage. Missing out on amateur comedians trying to hone their skills never allows people to realize just where those at the top of their game had to start.  

Whether overlooked in the past, or whether the momentum has been building recently, it seems like comedy shows have started to creep into the Bakersfield nightlife, with both local and nationwide comedians taking to Bakersfield stages.

And now for those of you missing out, the Empty Space theater at 706 Oak street on Saturday, July 5^th at 8:00 p.m. will see locals Tyson Paul, Dane Forst, Joe Alaniz and more, for “Bakersfield Stands-Up” comedy night.  The night will guarantee a mix-matched pastiche of local comedic styles and will not only hold laughs from the night’s entertainers, but also $1 dollar beers for patrons 21 years and up. 

So come see what Bakersfield has to offer and show some support to one of the few unregulated medicines of our time – laughter. 

706 Oak st. Saturday, July 5^th at 8:00 p.m.

$5 benefits the non-profit Empty Space Theater

Also Printed in Bakotopia Magazine issue 31: 6/26/08

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Comment From: matt

Will guffawing be allowed in place of traditional laughter? Comment From: Detrickcomedy

This was the only other thing I could Think of that Might Be More fun to do on the 5th. BUT Im still going to pick the Empty Space