By: Luke Moran

About a year ago, before transferring to UCLA, I remember reading this post about the sort of sporadic nature of the comedy scene here. For years now, the consensus has been that while we do (in fact) have one, unlike other universities, student-run organizations don’t nurture talent so much as individuals burst onstage and fizzle out (or graduate, rather) almost as quickly as they arrive. The “collective effort” is about as relevant here as, say, those bicycle repair kits everyone seems to scooter past.

Prior to reading that, I had spent a number of hours scouring the web for any sign of a comedy “scene”. A school of this size and reputation, I figured, had to have something. Anything. (Our rivals have their own fippin’ improv festival, for frick’s sake.) What I found, of course, was anything but: archived Daily Bruin articles profiling “x” satirical newspaper that has since folded, blurbs announcing shows for “y” improv team that disbanded seven years ago along with the graduation of its founding members. Nothing that really screamed “thriving comedy–exit here”.

Whereas other universities have genuine institutions dedicated to the humor arts, long-established mags and improv teams where every college kid with the vaguest comic inclination is welcome to come and repeatedly fall on their face until they get it right, the comedy scene in Westwood tends to grow unevenly and in spurts, rising and falling like stocks with collective interest the medium as a whole.

At least, that’s the impression one gets looking back over the years. A glance at the state of things today, however, tells a somewhat different story.

A lot has changed over the past year. Not only has every organization mentioned in that post become more well-established (including Satyr, the one responsible for it in the first place), but several more have been created as well (ok, us, but not just us). These days, there is definite sense of optimism regarding the trajectory of the scene as a whole, and while it remains to be seen whether it is naivety or wisdom at its heart, I think it is our duty to do everything in our power to pass that sense of optimism on.

It is this attitude that compelled a non-blogging type such as myself to write this. Because what this is, beyond a simple summary or guide, is a natural update to that introduction, I like to think. A slightly more current state of affairs from a part-time insider, full-time enthusiast’s perspective. My hope in writing this is that any new Bruin and aspiring humorist reading it might more easily find the place where they can best hone their talents than I did, in turn making a greater positive impact than was once possible. With plenty of “lols” to go along, of course.

Think of this then as less of a guide for what is and more for what could be–another line in the blueprint for that safer, more nurturing type of alternative to this fickle, yet talent-filled scene we’ve known for so long.

Because who says we can’t have both?

The Low-down:

When it comes to performing comedy, the first place I’d point you to would have be the Improv Space in Westwood, located on Gayley right next to Inn N Out. What it is is not only the sole comedy theater you’ll find in Westwood, but one of the few on the entire Westside.

The line-up is diverse, especially for such a small, intimate space–in addition to a staple of longform improv teams, you have stand up nights on weekends, sketch shows, tournaments, even an occasional play or two. Personal fanboying aside, not only is this a great place to interact with people involved in the LA comedy scene (some of whom actually get paid to do it (wut)), this is a great place to get regular stage time–something that can be surprisingly rare in LA. The basic schedule is as follows: Open mics on Mondays, improv jams on Wednesdays, mainstage teams on Thursdays and Fridays. You can also take classes at a discounted student rate where you can learn the basics to the sort of freestyle UCB-influenced longform that has become so common in improv circles.

In addition to this, there are several excellent campus-based improv groups as well. Rapidfire, who occasionally performs at the ‘Space comes to mind first (they’ll be having auditions at beginning of the quarter most likely, so keep eye out). Another is Lapu the Coyote that Cares (LCC), a theater troupe that in addition to producing and putting on student-written sketches and plays, (comedic and dramatic alike) also has an improv side to it. Both teams specialize in high-energy shortform formats.

If standup is something you’re interested in, the recently-formed Shenanigans Comedy Club is another great resource. Taking the reins from UCLA’s previous comedy clubs, the club aims to develop student talent as well as put on shows featuring professional comedians. It is a great place to get feedback on material as well as feel peer-pressured into going on stage yourself. (Expect some non-standup performance opportunities this coming year as well.)

At the vanguard of the not-so-immediately-harsh-on-the-ego-but-liable-to-give-you-papercuts medium of comedy is Satyr, of course. A revival of the wild 60s magazine of the same name, the modern version is printed quarterly and provides some classic college magazine vibes with a grab bag of eye-catching art, list articles, visual puns, fake twitter feeds, interviews and so on, as well as a thriving satirical news section (we do that too, but shh–don’t tell them.)

Then, of course, there’s us. The Westwood Enabler. The new kids on the block. The aspiring Onion to the Mad Mag, the Brown Noser to the Jug, the FishRap to whatever-else-UCSC-may-have-going-on. We’re a satirical newspaper, is what I’m saying. And we now have open meetings. (Obligatory whoring-out of site.)

Aside from these more traditional routes, there are of course, plenty of other opportunities to ply your extra-academic trade (insert obligatory Writer’s Den shout-out here (because hey, why not)). BruinRadio is a popular one. By and large the most active non-major theater troupe, Hooligan puts on several comedic productions throughout the year. Westwind, the school’s top literary publication has recently started accepting comedic pieces. One improv class (which sadly I know nothing about) is offered through the rec center. There is also a fair share of contests and events to shoot for as well: namely SCA’s David Sedaris humor writing contest in the Spring, Campus Movie Fest, not to mention Spring Sing and the Laugh Bowl.

Bearing these in mind, what was not too long ago an apparent “wasteland” of a scene is rather not so. The resources are here if you’re willing to find them. And to think: In a world where comedy giants such as the Onion and Second City were once the brainchild of students not unlike ourselves, we have before us, if not the same reputation, the same opportunities, the same environment full of possibilities. It’s only a matter of time until we take hold of them.

Let’s go exploring.