The Athens Pyramids Hookah Bar harkens images of groups of friends encircled in smoke and now the venue offers entertainment in the form of stand-up comedy.
"It's a much smaller setting, so you are much closer to the action," said organizer Reuben Bresler, who has done stand-up comedy for seven years. "Every seat is in the front row."
Tonight marks the third Comedy in the Round, a stand-up comedy show held at 10 p.m. every Thursday at The Athens' Pyramids Hookah Bar. The phrase
"comedy in the round" comes from a stage term that means the audience surrounds the performer on all sides, said Bresler, a senior studying education.
"I'm very nervous to have the audience all around me," said Katie Ross, who will be performing at tonight's show and has been doing stand-up since Fall Quarter. "I'm also worried I will knock over a hookah and burn the place to the ground."
Stand-up comedy is performed every other Saturday in the Front Room and every Wednesday at Jackie O's Pub and Brewery. The new show is a place for veterans who want the challenge of performing up close to the audience, Bresler said.
Comedy in the Round is also unique because each comedian is given 10 minutes to perform, as opposed to five-minute spots in the other shows, he said.
"It's great if you're looking to try out new material," said Ben Nutter, a freshman studying communications, who goes by the stage name B.J. and has been performing stand-up since the beginning of Winter Quarter. "If you only have five minutes, you have to stick to jokes you know will be funny."
The art of stand-up is both challenging and rewarding because it is a one-person show, Bresler said.
"There is no crutch," he said. "If a joke doesn't go over well, there is no one to blame but yourself. On the flip side, if it's the best you've ever done, no one else can get credit but you."
If a joke is missed, normally a stand-up comedian can talk their way out of it, said Ross, a freshman studying math.
"Stand-up is like verbal gymnastics," she said with a laugh. "My philosophy is there is no point in getting nervous because each performance you are only doing one time. Just do your best."
For this performance, none of the comedians are first-timers, so they have experience with the art of stand-up, Nutter said.
"There are no newbies," Nutter said. "There may be some nervousness, but they are all experienced comedians; you can expect laughs."
