Comedy Club On State

The venue and show wasn’t bad, but the drinks were horrible! I started out with a top shelf long island. I’ve had long islands at several places before, and this was by far the worst I’ve had. The only ingredient I could taste is tequila. For my second drink, I figured I’d simplify it for them. I asked for a rum and regular coke. I couldn’t taste any rum, and it tasted like they just gave me a diet coke. Get new bartenders!

(trigger warning! If you think politically correct is a compliment please read near your fainting couch. Remember folks no matter your preferred pronoun… safety first.)
I’ve been to the club twice and never on a weekend so read the review with that in mind. I’m not a fan of the unfunny agendas poorly hidden in the comedy sandwich I was forced to eat twice over the last year by the relative who lives nearby. Fool me once? Shame on you. Fool me twice? I stuff a couple lime wedges where I hope they cause fruit flies.
Although now that I’m looking at the line ups it seems some of the weekend acts look pretty good. Most likely have enough work out there for you to know whether their material is up your alley. So if you wander in on a weekend and storm out needing group therapy it’s all on you. Remember you’re willingly sitting down where a pro comic is working. It’s not like someone broke into your parent funded, off campus apartment and started making you actually think about your world view. So if you see a touring act and find yourself scarred it’s your own fault. You should know how fragile you are and taking twenty seconds of toilet smartphone time to check if there could be words that scare you or concepts that confuse you just seems prudent. But if you do hear a no-​no word just tweet how being subjected to it was rape.
Anyway mid-​week here is a nightmare for any adult fan of real comedy. The comics blend together into that awful beige smear created by mixing inoffensive observations w/​left leaning politics. I feel bad if someone is honestly trying to break in and hone their craft here. I comfort myself imagining each performer was simply parroting the opinion of some mildly attractive/​frigid SJW and is hoping to parlay public support for their social politics into an awkward weekend of redundant consents. Who knows? Maybe it could blossom into an unsatisfying and mechanical relationship filled with super important hashtags and strongly worded letters.
This really appears to be a comedy club intended for those lacking even baseline world experience but not lacking a partial liberal arts education. But what came first the unfunny chicken or the humorless egg? Maybe the tone of the club mirrors the horrendous performers and the offense fueled children of privileged in the audience and not the other way around.
Comedy in a safe zone is just a poetry slam and poetry slams suck.
Check the weekend acts but skip the local turds.
Oh ya positive note… the bathroom was pretty clean.

I’ve been to several shows at big-​city Improvs, so I was surprised to find that this felt the same (but with a little more elbow room). 2 drink minimum, which is standard. Good waitstaff, and the sound plays in the restrooms so that you don’t miss any of the show. I’m not sure I would take a chance on anything other than national touring acts, but what a great stopover for some of those comedians! Only negative was the drinks were overpriced (not worth deducting a star for – maybe half a star).
Oh – if you are a party of 2, they will seat you with another group of 2. So if you are a xenophobe, come in a party of 4.

After calling in September to book a holiday party reservation for 30 I followed up, as instructed, a week before the show to confirm our numbers to be told that they DIDN’T HAVE RECORD OF OUR RESERVATION! After numerous calls from me, we were pretty much told we were out of luck and were offered no «severance» what-​so-​ever. In fact, when I made the original reservation I was told they could only book parties of 30 or less, but when I called to confirm and was told we were bumped I found out they took a reservation for a party of 70! Apparently if you know someone there they will bump legitimate business for you! Needless to say half of our corporate holiday party was cancelled the week of the event with nearly no apology or attempt to remedy… AVOID AT ALL COSTS FOR LARGE GROUPS!

Every time is a totally different show with a unique experience. Military id gets you in free which is a bonus I wasn’t looking for. Much appreciated!!! Such a fun little club. Highly recommended

I was visiting Madison to see my sister who is attending college here when I made the decision to indulge in some local performance art, but I was forced to settle for local comedy, begrudgingly. Immediately upon entering the venue, to my surprise, I realized that these were my kind of people and I was near immediately comfortable. What an accepting atmosphere!
Typically my experience with live comedy has been somewhat underwhelming. The lead up to the performance leaves me anxiety-​ridden with sweaty palms due to the crippling fear that an off-​color or especially crude joke might exit the comedixin’s mouth (gender neutral pronoun for comedian, since most performers very rudely omit their preferred pronouns from their act). This is because of the PTSD I have developed due to the many unwarranted Twitter mentions I have received over the years. But I digress, because the comedy was fantastic! There was not a single instance of punching down (even against Islams, who, in our current state of Islamophobia, deserve nothing short of apologetic coddling). Topics discussed even grazed some of my favorite subjects, including mentally handicapping neuroses and the failings of the Bush era presidency.
Now, I would have given this venues 5 stars, but I had to leave one off due to a few failings in my eyes. First, when I asked if the fruits used in my pomegranate martini were locally sourced, I could not get a sufficient response. Second, there seemed to be a startling lack of diversity! One would not expect such for such a welcoming city. Perhaps some diversity outreach is in order (maybe the college is not meeting its Affirmative Action quotas? This venue should look into booking that Kevlin Hart to help draw a more diverse crowd). With these exceptions noted, I would highly recommend a visit.

This place is where comedy goes to die. I sat through a bunch of open mics with the least diverse and unfunny acts I’ve ever seen. You’d find more diversity and humor in an episode of Downton Abbey. I thought it was just the open mics but I looked at their upcoming calendar and it was a line-​up that would have made Hitler blush. I heard that they booked Kurt Metzger for a night and then fired him. Really? You finally got a great act and you can the guy? Who runs this place… Emo Philips? I would honestly give this dump a 1 rating but their bathrooms were immaculate. I guess the best stage that night was for the turds.

For the most part Ive had a great time here. Comedy is fickle to the whims of the crowd as it;s a performance art so bad times are expected for some at times.
That being said I love the Comedy Club and recommend it to friends, take dates there, and have always said good things about it.
Ive seen well known comics as well as unknowns (to me) and had great times. The 2 show times are at great times and convenient if you want them before or after dinner. The wait staff is prompt and friendly.
Ive also gone here just to sit in the bar and order drinks al a cart and listen to the comics on the TV and PA. Its a great way to listen to some comedy if you want to drop in and don’t have the time or are unsure of the comic. It can get loud at times but its free so you cant balk at that.
Drop by for open mic on wed. and see some good talent in short bursts for next to nothing!

Fun place to go with friends. It is perfect for small birthday groups. Sign up for their list and occasionally score free tickets.

Twice a year I head out to NYC to catch some comedy, and was surprised to find it’s often better right here in my back yard.
On any given weekend, they are bringing in the good stuff from all over the country, and selling it out. The $ 2 open mic on Wednesday is the breeding ground for how it all happens, as you can tell by the stains. The funniest comic in Madison is not something you’ll find in other cities our size.
This is the fall back on any weekend we don’t have something to do: Check out comedy here. We are rarely disappointed.

Not a bad comedy club, tho the 2-​drink minimum always blows at these places. The overall caliber of the slate is a little lower than what you’d find in clubs located in larger cities, and many comedians are now opting to just do theater shows instead of club dates. Still, if you prefer getting your comedy at a club, this isn’t bad.

My husband and I were visiting Madison for the first time and saw this place near our hotel so we decided to check it out.
The comedians were great, and the staff at the club was really nice and helpful. I would recommend getting your tickets online before the show. When you buy them ahead of time you get to go through the VIP line when you get there. They also seem to seat you closer to the stage when you’re a VIP.
Just be sure to get there at least 30 minutes before the show or they release your tickets to people who show up at the door. There is a two drink minimum (you can include non-​alcoholic drinks in that minimum), but we only paid $ 12 a piece for our tickets, which isn’t a bad price at all for a great night out.

I think this is the first (/​only) comedy club I’ve ever been to? I don’t want that to discount my experiences here because I had a blast.
The bartenders/​waitresses/​other various employees were kind and enjoyable to be around. Service was speedy. Drinks were good.
The space is great. You have to walk past the entrance to Associated Bank, which is super odd but once you get past that, you’re golden. The bar area is appealing (its fun to look at autographed pictures of past performers on the wall) and the performance area is large with a variety of seating options. Don’t be a newbie idiot like me and check something quickly on your phone because they’ll ask you to put it away. I missed the sign outside, but its common courtesy. I done goofed.
I’ll definitely be back! Good environment, fun times!

Went here last night for my future mother in laws birthday. She’s a regular but this was only my second time. The comics were hilarious and we had a great time! The only thing I don’t like is the two drink minimum. Not that I had a problem getting my two in, I just don’t like that it’s required.

Amazing time and amazing experience with friends. We came here on a Saturday night for Theo Von and John Stringer. Theo happened to be filming his performance for his DVD, so we were asked not to talk or heckle during the show. I loved that because I can only handle having shows ruined for me by inconsiderate people yapping during shows so many times.
Tickets were only $ 15, and we were seated in a row of tables to the side. The show was at full capacity, and we had great seating because we were all together. We weren’t squeezed together, and we had room to walk past people to get to the restroom (which is greatly appreciated because I hate having to ask people to move so I can go to the bathroom). The bathroom had speakers so you wouldn’t miss any jokes.
Server was upbeat and efficient. She gave us great recommendations, and she got us our drinks in minutes. There is a two drink minimum, but soda is considered a drink so order that if you don’t want alcohol. Alcoholic drinks ranged from $ 5 to ~$ 20, so you can find yourself spending a total of $ 25 for show and drinks.
The comedians were amazing and absolutely hilarious. So many cheese jokes, but that’s expected in Wisconsin. Overall, I truly enjoyed myself. Whether you’re happy, sad, stressed, come to comedy club. You’ll find yourself laughing so hard that you won’t feel anything but pure happiness during the entire show.

Where do you start? The staff was rude-​especially the «manager»…the RULES are out of line… comedy is supposed to be a good time-​at least the last time I checked.
Our host, the birthday girl, made reservations for 20… a flight landed late so a couple of people didn’t make it on time. We were told RUDELY that we would have to pay for all 20 people. (Last time I went to a restaurant with a reservation, and showed up short a person, we surely did not have to pay for their dinners!) Eventually the crabby manager told the cashier that we only had to pay for 15 after all-​but that was due to him not being able to start the show on time! Well, change your business practice in that case…
We were there as a party of 15. 2 people laughed out loud. The rest were sitting with their hands folded on their laps because they were afraid to laugh! You are not allowed to even talk to the person you are sitting next to-​my significant other. God forbid you get up to go to the bathroom! Apparently that disrupts the entire show.
The «security» guard stared us down like a hawk-didn’t keep his eye off of our party. We were there for a 50^th birthday party… the youngest being the birthday girl and host. Average age was 55… all professional people-​attorneys, an accountant, a speech pathologist, a professional photographer, a supervisor of a construction crew and me, the state worker-​Corrections, among others. I spent more time keeping an eye on the security guard than I did the show. Believe it or not, I don’t treat my maximum security inmates with such disrespect.
DON’T TALK AT ALL — not even the people sitting next to you or that same security guard will be telling you that there is to be no talking during the show. We spoke to each other in a very low tone to allow for others to continue to enjoy the show. We were «warned» by this security guard.
TWO DRINK MINIMUM AT YOUR TABLE… don’t think you are going to buy a round at the bar, and drink that drink as your two drink minimum… I had to buy 2 sodas at the table even though I had one already. The sad part is that the club lost a boatload of money on alcohol sales as this group would have spent money. Because we all felt uncomfortable… we had their 2 drink minimum and returned to the Governor’s Club at the Concourse where we stayed.
This night was a waste of time and money. I have been to many nightclubs and comedy clubs in my 52 years and found this one to be ridiculous. The staff is in need of serious customer service and hospitality training. Maybe a business procedure change would be the way to go…
I wouldn’t even give it one star if this site allowed it.

My husband and I came here for a date night and I am so glad we did! Since we bought our tickets online, we were VIP (LOL) and were sat right away.
However, we were sat at this little rinky-​dink table with another couple! I mean, this table was meant for two people, but they packed four people AND their drinks at it. It didn’t help that the other couple was unfriendly and the girl was bitchy. I was hoping to have our own table.
Anyway, our server was OKAY. She gave me the wrong bill twice which was super annoying.
The comedians and the DJ were hilarious. I would definitely come back here if I could get my own table next time.

I had a 5 star time! Amazing! This was my first time and I went with three other people. The weird part? They say get there first because there will be a long line. Tickets are not guaranteed. We paid an extra dollar online for a Friday night show and there was no line about 20 minutes before the show. There does not seem to be a terrible seat in the house.
The show is not too long but still a really good set up. There were three performers. It was amazing because you could meet them and chat with them after the show.
Here is why they lost a star. I do not mind the two drink minimum. However, I do mind automatically applying a tip. It is annoying. I was with a total of four people. We did not have complex drink orders. I generally tip 20−30%. This time, I added nothing more to the automatically applied gratuity of 18%. Please do not nickel and dime when your menu says that you only add that gratuity to large groups.
The drinks are decent and are fairly prices. Get pitches of beer and try the cocktail specials.

We went with a group of 12 and had a blast. Usually for large groups you need to pre pay or order online. I have never had a problem getting a group in the afternoon before but plan ahead if you have people coming from out of town as much as you can. Online ticket ordering is way easier than playing phone tag because there are not always people there during the day. The have an answering machine and call you back within an hour or two most of the time.
I had a martini that I thought was pretty good but my husband had a old fashion that he wasn’t too impressed with. There is a two drink minimum per person with admission. Soda can be bought as part of the minimum. There are some pretty good beers on tap and in bottle also. I would give the drinks a 3 star.
The comedians we have seen there have all been good to great! We have gone about 6 – 7 times and have never been disappointed in the talent. I am not sure if it makes a difference but we have only gone on Saturday nights. Might be something to consider.

$ 2 dollar cover and no drink minimums to boot? Sign me up!
Came here on a Wednesday night for open mic night, and was treated to a number of acts from the standup scene in Madison.
The jokes were exactly what you’d expect from a comedy club: Raunchy, over-​the-​line, offensive, etc… Now I know that while not for everyone, it is good to throw away your inhibitions once in a while and just laugh. And this place will do just that.
So please keep your political correctness out the door when you come, because trust me, these aren’t your knock knock jokes.
Once in a while, someone goes a bit too far, and an awkward silence settles over the crowd. The good thing is that they sell alcohol, decently cheap ones at that, so there’ll usually be one slightly drunk dude laughing his ass off during the awkward silences.