” YOU [les francophones] like to go out. You have the joy of living! Anglophones are more difficult. But we are starting to have them, to take them out of the house. »
This is how Sid Khullar, president and founder of MtlComedyClub, sums up the difference between the famous “two solitudes” when it comes to frequenting comedy shows.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Sid Khullar, President and Founder of MtlComedyClub
On this Thursday evening in May, at the Deli Planet, located inside Central Station in Montreal, we notice that Sid Khullar is rather modest when he says “we begin”. At the back of the restaurant, which looks nothing like a comedy club if you just peek in while waiting for the train, there’s a nice big room full — about 90 people — for another comedy night. Another, because Sugar Sammy’s little brother produces 12… a week!
“I do it every day! I make it in other bars or restaurants. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we have two shows every day. We also go to Laval, Vaudreuil, Hudson, Brossard…”, lists Sid Khullar.
Its business model is simple: it finds establishments in need of customers. He draws from a pool of about 150 English-speaking comedians. He announces the shows on social networks and with mailing lists. It sells the admission ticket for between $10 and $20 — the owners keep the profits from the food and alcohol served. Then the halls fill up.
Sid Khullar was a manager at ComedyWorks before it closed in 2014. It was there that he met just about everyone in the business. He also accompanied his brother on his stage debut. “I was in the back, with the other comedians, and I saw a lot of sick things,” he recalls. Comedians sometimes fought because one thought the other had stolen jokes from him. I was 16 and didn’t even have the right to be there, so I stayed in my corner. But it was still a great experience. »
Get your chance
Like almost all English-speaking comedians, Sugar Sammy began his career at open-mic nights. That didn’t mean that anyone could grab the microphone and tell jokes.
“When I was doing stand upI called Works and [The Comedy] Nest, then I prayed they would call me back to get me five to seven minutes in a open mic, says Paul Ronca, now director of development and partnerships at Just For Laughs. It was the only way, here and everywhere in North America, to practice his art. »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY PAUL RONCA
Paul Ronca, Director of Development and Partnerships at Just For Laughs, on a recent trip to London
He says a lot has changed since then, including the creation of nights like MtlComedyClub that allow more comedians to perform on different stages. Some organize their own shows themselves, which was frowned upon at the time, underlines Paul Ronca. Social networks have also given comedians the opportunity to make themselves known and find their audience even before meeting them in person.
“There are also a lot more shows that reflect the diversity of our city,” he says. In my time, only 10 to 15 comedians could develop on stage, while the others waited their turn. Today, there are about 100, which gives us more choice when it comes time to bring them to our stages. »
stand out
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Akeem Hoyte Charles hosted the Just For Laughs auditions at Deli Planet on May 4.
Before dreaming of participating in the Just For Laughs festival – which remains the largest in the world – you have to be spotted. The party Sid Khullar invited us to at the Deli Planet was just one step in the selection process for the festival. Hosted by the talented Akeem Hoyte Charles, these auditions brought together 10 comedians who each had about ten minutes to get the most laughter from the crowd. We can say that the majority succeeded in its mission.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY GINO DURANTE
Gino Durante on the Brothel stage
Before leaving, I spoke for a few minutes with Gino Durante, who presented a number mixing English, French and Spanish.
“How long have you been doing comedy?
– Ten years.
“In French too?”
— Yes, I often go to the Brothel. I started in English, then there, I do more and more in French. It’s different, not all jokes translate. In French, there is a little more support. All week, the halls are full. But to succeed, you have to be funny. If they like you, if they get on board, they’ll follow you. »
Gino Durante is not the first nor the last who wants to make people laugh in both languages. Paul Ronca remembers when Maxim Martin, Mike Ward or Sylvain Larocque came to try their luck in English during open-mic evenings. He also remembers very well when Sugar Sammy asked him to do a number in French in his establishment, the Comedy Zone, which he held from 2001 to 2005.
“I had never heard him speak French, so it made me laugh when he asked me that. Not that I didn’t believe in him, but I’ve seen many who have tried either way without success. But as soon as he got on stage, he destroyed everything. If you had been with me that night, you too would have said that this guy was going to be a star. »
Where to see humor in English?
The Comedy Nest is the only comedy club traditional still in operation in Montreal. Located in the Forum, it presents shows from Tuesday to Sunday. In addition to the many recurring evenings of MtlComedyClub, other places hold weekly or monthly events. Le Bordel 2 and M Montréal offer evenings on Tuesday and Sunday, respectively, while the Maison du jazz, in Laval, entertains its customers in English one Tuesday a month.
A word from Sugar Sammy
The English-speaking comedy circuit in Montreal is where I proved myself. This is where I had my first successes, my first failures, where I evolved as an author and comedian. It is a difficult and complex environment to navigate. I have a lot of affection and empathy for those who go through it. The comedians who immerse themselves in it must work hard to create their path. It’s the best school I’ve ever had. I learned a lot of career and life lessons there, and it became my first stepping stone to a career in English.