Local Comedy Club Faces Post-Pandemic Success
As the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic dwindles, Hudson Valley residents are itching to go out and have a good time.
“To be able to escape [the news] for a night of laughter, people are just gung-ho about it,” Laugh It Up comedy club promoter Kal Getter said. “That’s why we’re seeing such good results.”
Located in Mahoney’s Irish Pub & Steakhouse in Poughkeepsie, Laugh It Up hosts comedians who’ve been seen on Barstool Sports, Comedy Central, Netflix, Showtime, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime. Getter regularly visits New York City comedy clubs like the Comedy Cellar, the Stand, and New York Comedy Club to scout up-and-coming talent.
“I try to bring as much [talent] to the area because there’s such a need for laughter right now,” Getter said. “We’re filling up night after night. We just got done with six sold-out shows with my good friend Mark Normand.”
Like many comedy clubs, cell phone use and video recording are prohibited during Laugh It Up performances. Cell phone use is a distraction to audience members and the comedian who is trying to entertain the audience, but it also increases the likelihood that patrons record and share a comedian’s act which infringes on the comedian’s set.
“It’s an art form, and it needs to be treated as such,” Getter said. “It’s like going to the movies. Why would you have your phone out?”
Laugh It Up guests can enjoy access to Mahoney’s full food and beverage menu, but walk-up bar service is unavailable throughout the duration of the show. Guests who take advantage of Mahoney’s food and beverage selection are given their checks after the headliner to avoid the disruption that comes when paying the bill.
“You’re trying to pay your bill while the comedian’s trying to give you their absolute best ending material? It just doesn’t make sense,” Getter said. “We feel it’s just so much better for the show when there are no phones in the way and no chatter at the tables.”
When audience members are disruptive or difficult, they are given a warning, but if their behavior intensifies, they are removed from the show, and management explains the proper etiquette at a comedy club.
“We have security on hand, and a lot of the time, we’ll walk around policing the room,” Getter said.
Laugh It Up attracts and retains audiences through social media and word of mouth. Kal Getter adds that the club’s success is influenced by the relationships he and Mahoney’s staff build with audiences and the result of the high-quality experience Laugh It Up and Mahoney’s provide.
“If I’m not laughing, why would I book them?” Getter said. “It’s just a wonderful experience getting to bring all this laughter to the Hudson Valley.”
Laugh It Up’s next show is Friday, April 21, at 8 p.m. with comedian Kerryn Feehan who’s been seen on Comedy Central, TLC, and TruTV. For more information, visit Laugh It Up Comedy Club’s Facebook or visit Laugh It Up’s website.
