FORT MILL --
Three guys walk into a bar...
There's no punchline. That's because local Comedy Zone owners Derek Page, Kenny Kobulinsky and Binh Thai are very serious about growing Fort Mill's only venue for professional standup.
By all apparent measures, they're succeeding.
"We're real happy with how it's going," Page said.
The club opened earlier this summer, and the crowds "are right about what we expected," according to Page. "Generally, we're putting about 200 people through the doors on the weekend."
The partners have transformed what used to be their sports bar, Hooper's, into a seven-days-a-week family restaurant called Madison's on the Corner.
Tucked in the rear is the Comedy Zone Fort Mill, which operates Thursday to Saturday nights.
Page, a veteran of the Charlotte entertainment scene who owned the popular uptown pub Angry Ale's, said he decided Fort Mill needed a "destination" that's a change of pace for the area.
"We wanted to change [Hooper's] from a drinking place to a family-oriented restaurant," he said.
"I had a previous relationship with Heffron Talent International, which owns The Comedy Zone comedy clubs, and we figured the stage we have was perfect for a cozy little comedy room and we decided to remodel."
Now, off from the bar and restaurant area is a door that leads into a room that has the same intimate look and feel of the underground clubs in New York City, San Francisco, or any other big city where major comedians make their name. It seats 77 people and is serviced by wait staff throughout the 8 and 10 p.m. shows.
A major difference between Madison's/The Comedy Zone, (the restaurant is named after Page's daughter) and the big-city venues is the cost of admission. Tickets for all weekend shows are $10 and the club offers dinner and a show package deals.
"We wanted to offer people a destination and for 10 bucks, you can't go wrong," Page said.
In exchange for using The Comedy Zone brand, Page and his partners book all the acts through Heffron, which handles the talent for all 63 Comedy Zone locations across the country. The company's comedians travel the circuit.
"Every week, we're going to have someone who does this for a living," Page said.
Each show features three acts -- an emcee who warms up the crowd, a second act and a headliner. One recent Saturday included a packed house for both shows.
"You will [wet] your pants!" Ben Grindstaff, a Tega Cay resident who saw the 8 p.m. show, told those going in for the nightcap.
The headlineer that night was James Sibley, a regular on radio's "The Bob and Tom Show" and "The John Boy and Billy Big Show" who has also been on TV.
"I'm used to paying big bucks to see someone that funny," said Kyle Monet, who recently moved to Fort Mill from Chicago.
"They were good," said his friend, Logan Bentley. "If they keep bringing back that level of talent, I'll definitely be coming back."
Proving ground
Although The Comedy Zone Fort Mill emphasizes its talent, it's not all about the pros all the time. Thursday night is open mic night, and while it's a chance for anyone with the desire to give standup a try, it's also an opportunity for those with higher ambitions to work on their chops.
Debbie Millwater, whose husband Johnny Millwater is a well-known comedian, runs the open mic nights. She explained the format:
"I believe open mic should be just that -- open to say and express yourself however you feel, so I rarely ever impose any language or content restrictions. Our biggest rule, though, is to keep your set to only five minutes of material and that's because we often have more than 20 comics wanting stage time and no one wants to sit through a three-hour comedy show."
The open mic is actually preceded by a showcase show -- improv or sketch comedy -- that begins at 8 p.m. Admission is $5. Then, around 9:15 the mic is turned over to all who want it. There's no charge to patrons to enter for the open mic segment.
Open mic participants who perform a good set can parlay that into a spot in the showcase.
"When the open mic comics are ready to stretch their legs with longer sets, I place them into a showcase show," Millwater said.
Chris Corrado, a Rock Hill resident who graduated last year from Winthrop University with a degree in journalism, is a regular at the open mic. Working as a manager at a pizza restaurant while waiting for an opening in his chosen field, Corrado saw standup as a vehicle to express his creativity.
"Right now, I'm just doing this to have fun. I wanted to do something with writing and this is the closest I can get right now," he said.
"I'll take it as far as I can get. Right now I'm just experimenting with jokes I think are funny and then I put it front of the crowd and see how they respond to it."
Already, Corrado learned how to deal with a heckler.
"I just made fun of him right back," he said. "Everybody laughed."
His advice for newbies who may be too shy to sign up:
"If you have an interest in getting started in comedy, just look at it as an opportunity to vent. Just take your personal stuff and make a joke out of it."
Kobulinsky, who also tends bar at times, said some of the regulars who frequent the bar area at Madison's are tempted to get into the act.
"A lot of people keep telling me they're doing skits some [open mic] night, but so far they haven't show up yet. It's easy to talk about it."
Kurt Green will perform at the Comedy Zone in Fort Mill this weekend. Advance tickets are recommended. Call 803-802-3990 or go to www.thecomedyzonefortmill.com.
For more comedy news, go to CharlotteComedyLIVE.com. Also, to subscribe to a free e-newsletter that lists the sketch, improv and stand-up comedy events in the area, send an e-mail to DebbieMillwater@gmail.com.
