Is comedy Lafayette's next big scene?

Knock-knock! Who's there? Standup comedy that's who!

OK, please don't judge us by that introduction sentence, but comedy is back in Lafayette.

In the summer of 2013, I hired a group of comics from New Orleans for a monthly Wednesday night comedy show at what is now Poet's. At the time, the bar was called Scotty's Icehouse, and bands were not bringing in people. I had a feeling Lafayette was ready for comedy, and it had been well over a year since standup comedy was in our city.

Having never done standup personally, I let the guest comics run the show. A month later, I found myself on stage doing my first "open mic" in front of unsuspecting co-workers, friends, and strangers. I told myself if my first joke got laughs, I would continue. Happily, I am still here, performing comedy in Lafayette, and trying to promote more comedy events in our area.

Honestly, it's not all fun and games. Comedy is hard! Practicing in front of a mirror does not count. No matter how well it goes in your bathroom mirror or in your head, the stage is a totally different world; it's a cruel, unforgiving world for five to seven minutes.

It can also be the best time of your life.

In May, after many well-attended and successful shows, the monthly Wednesday show became a weekly Friday night occurrence featuring booked comedians and open mic guests. Comics from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Austin, and those touring across the region stopped in. Around the same time another group of new comedians began a weekly Sunday show at JP's Bar.

Lafayette now had a pool of largely new comics, with a few experienced comics to draw from.

I founded Lafayette Comedy, and local new comics, John Merrifield and Tyler Arceneaux, founded Dead Cell Comedy. Our goal was the same: promote local standup comedy in Lafayette. As of today, we have two weekly comedy shows, plus several monthly shows at venues such as Artmosphere and Feed 'n Seed.

In February, we brought national comedian Tom Segura (featured on Netflix, Comedy Central) to town. The show sold out two months in advance, packing JP's Bar with 150 people sitting, and over 25 standing. The show went great with most of the crowd arriving an hour early just to get seats.

In the last few weeks, we've also had Mike Lawrence (Comedy Central, Conan, @midnight) at Poet's and Ben Kronberg (Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing) at Feed n' Seed.

Having nationally known comics performing in Lafayette allows us to reach more standup comedy fans that do not know we exist. It also shows other comedians our city has a healthy market for comedy of which they can be a part.

When people hear about standup comedy in Lafayette, most immediately think of the Cajun Comic Relief. However, today's club comedian is a different breed. Most comics work blue or adult-themed material. These shows take place in bars or clubs, where the audience is 18 years of age and older.

Improvisational comedy groups also have gotten into the action. Improv groups such as Silverbacks Improv Theatre, Cult of the Stage Monkey, and Snakes for Baby bring a different type of interactive comedy to the stage and show another facet of our growing audiences.

Standup comedy in Lafayette is new and still learning to stand on its own. From comics to audience members, we are all learning what to do with it, and how to enjoy it. I invite you out to experience a show.

For more information on shows, or any questions you may have, visit www.lafayettecomedy.com Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/lafayettecomedy or Twitter: @lafayettecomedy

Jason P. Leonard is a comic, beardsman, musician, educator, husband and father. He likes jokes, sad songs, and ice cream. Follow him on Twitter @thejpleonard

TAKE PART

Would you like to a part of the experience? Ever wanted to try standup? The rules are simple:

Write jokes (shocking, but many overlook this step)

Don't steal jokes, or use "street" jokes (jokes your Uncle Carl told you that one time when he got too tipsy at your fourth grade spring recital)

Practice! Know what you are going to say

If the crowd doesn't laugh, learn from it

If the crowd laughs, then make them laugh harder next time

Support other comics you are sharing the stage with

Don't talk while other comics are performing

DON'T MISS

On Saturday, two of New Orleans's top comics, Andrew Polk and Joe Cardosi, will perform at Poet's. Both Polk and Cardosi makeup the team Massive Fraud, and both were hand picked by Louis CK to open for him for two sold out shows this past November.

ss the South. This will be their kickoff show of the tour, as they record a live comedy album and film. Tickets are $3 at the door.

WEEKLY SHOWS:

10 p.m. Saturdays @ Poet's, 1043 Johnston St., Lafayette. Hams on Rye Comedy Night. $3 cover. Features booked comics with open mic to follow.

9 p.m. Sundays @ JP's Bar, 4416 Johnston St., Lafayette. Dead Cell Comedy Night. $3 cover. Open mic signup at 8 p.m., Open mic at 9 p.m. Featured comics to follow.