Want a stomach workout? Go here and laugh your abs into shape! (Comic Strip Live NYC (New York City, USA))

Member Name: lilmissmup

Product:	Comic Strip Live NYC (New York City, USA)
Date:	11/05/09 (37 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: See some of the best comedians and future stars in an up close setting

Disadvantages: Not for ther weak hearted, it might collapse from laughter!

Whilst I was in New York for my boyfriends 30th birthday present I really wanted to do two things, see a Broadway show and go to a comedy club so when I saw a promoter in Times Square selling tickets for Comic Strip Live we had to grab them.

Comic Strip Live was founded 24 years ago, is the worlds oldest comedy club and is based at Manhattan's Upper East Side: 1568 2nd Ave., between 81st and 82nd Street, this is where the club has always been since it opened.

The club is open 7 days a week and show times are as follows:

Sunday, 8:00 p.m.
Monday through Thursday, 8:30 p.m.
Friday, 8:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m., 12:30 a.m.
Saturday, 8:00 p.m., 10:30 p.m., 12:30 a.m.

The shows on Friday and Saturdays are 1.5 hours each with a host and 4 comics and it is a $25 admission charge per person with a 2/$40 drink minimum per person.

The shows on Sunday - Thursday are 2.5 hours long with a host and 8 comics so they are better value too at only $20 admission per person.

Most of the drinks were nearly $20 each though so its not hard to meet the minimum.

We went to the 8pm showing on Sunday and we only had to pay $10 each to get in, not sure if this was because we did it via a promoter but you do have to make a reservation before you go, we did this via our ticket seller in Times Square, don't just turn up or you will be disappointed if its sold out as its not a big venue but it is hugely popular.

Some well known names who have started out at the club are Jerry Seinfield, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Tom Hanks, Robin Williams and Sarah Silverman to name just a few!

Now onto our night.....

We decided to walk to the club from our hotel and it took us approx 45 minutes to walk there alongside the beautiful Central Park for most of our journey.

When we entered the club we were quite early so had a drink in the bar and were politely reminded this did not count towards our two drink minimum.

Shortly afterwards we entered the club itself, and were seated.

We were hoping and praying to be sat at the back, but no, we were put right next to the stage, they must have seen us coming, easy English pray to take the mickey out off!

A waitress came round and took our drinks order (they also do pizza, nachos, peanuts and popcorn for nibbles) and we settled down to watch the show.

Our host for the evening came out and started to ask where the audience was from etc and I got picked on, said I was from England and he started on about our weather, was it wet? At the time of our trip it was very wet in NYC so my reply was "Not as wet as here!".

Once my humilation and others had finished our first act came on and so the laughter ensued and didn't stop for the whole 2.5 hours we were in the club (the alcohol helped it flow more too!), we were picked on a few more times as well but I can honestly say it was the funniest night of my life, my stomach ached from laughing and I would love to go back there.

I apologise but I have forgotten the names of most of the comedians I saw but we did see Ben Bailey who is the host of a Discovery Channel Show called Cash Cab which we had been watching on our hotel TV a day or two before, one of the writers for the new Sacha Baron Cohen film "Bruno" was performing and an actor from Law and Order was also appearing amongst the comedians that night. I really wish I could remember the names as I would love to follow one or two of them! I blame the booze!

If you love to laugh and are in NYC you just have to go here, we spent $110 in total with entry and drinks but we got a good couple hours entertainment and it was worth it for all the laughing that we did!

For more details check out the site http://comicstriplive.com/

Summary: One of the best nights of my life!