Chemcially Imbalanced Comedy’s Blog

Hey CIC friends,

You may have heard we ran a Groupon this past week. We got a overwhelming response of 1,276 sold. Each Groupon was for 4 tickets each. So we have 5,104 new customers coming to us in the next 12 months. So we have decided we are going to stop our Open Mic on Wed March 3 and open a new show the following week for some of this new audience to enjoy. We are very excited to meet all the new folks coming our way. But we are also sad to close the Open Mic (as we have been told it is one of the “hot” rooms in town)

We did just get this yelp review this week and wanted to share it with you:

Went out last night to check out a venue I haven’t been to, Chemically Imbalanced Comedy. I had heard of it, but not visited.

I went to the Wednesday “Open Mics Not Dead” show, and was surprised to find many people waiting outside before the door was even unlocked…I found out why, you gotta get there EARLY to get a spot on the list. I was able to score spot #13 of 15, so it was all good.

The theater itself isn’t much of a theater, more like a converted living room, but that’s cool because its small (I believe “intimate” or “cozy” are the choice words) but it’s not too cramped.

It is pretty cool what the owners did with the place though, as there’s a unisex bathroom…and a kitchen in the back. I saw a bunch of people who brought in their own liquor…these two people were sharing a bottle of wine, and laughing and laughing…and that was cool…BYOB, what a concept.

The comics were pretty good, three I’ve seen and the rest I hadn’t…so it was cool for me to see some new people…good times.

All in all, a pretty good little room. PS - the Wednesday open mic show is FREE!!!!!–Shaun R.

Come check out the last few Open Mic shows. Then join us for our new Wednesday night shows, details coming soon.

By Cynthia Shur

There’s an episode of Family Guy on Hulu right now (”Spies Reminiscent of Us”) with some fun improv humor to appeal to the inside jokers in all of us. Besides a plot line featuring Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, and Soviet espionage (I’ll leave you to discover that one), Peter Griffin and his friends start an improv troupe. Their warm-up exercises (one word story, for instance) and uncomfortable crowd shmoozing on opening night are delightful, but I think my favorite part is all the troupe names they bring up as they brainstorm for their new group, as well as reminisce about the glory days of college Improv. Funny Side Up, The Wackadamia Nuts, Three Smile Island…or how about Room for Improv-ment? The episode is on Hulu for another five days, so catch it while you can and let me know what you think.

by Angie McMahon

Often times during the day while Sarah and I are working in the office we will either get a door to door sales man to come in and sell us something or a call to the office to sell us something. Over the next few weeks I am going to tell you about some of our favorite sales calls to CIC.

So on the eve of NYE a fella with a office supply company came in while we were setting up. Sarah, Tom, Myself and my 5 year old daughter were all setting up, cleaning and getting ready for our big NYE party. I had a client who did have an appointment with me to see the space to rent it out. So I was expecting someone, but not for another hour.

I come up from the basement with a case of wine in my hands. To be met by the fella and his two very lovely ladies traveling with him. We would later call them “The Cheerleaders”

Fella “Hey hey, how are you guys today?”
Me “Oh Hey, I’m sorry we are setting up for our NYE party, so sorry we are such a mess. How are you?”
Cheerleader 1 “Oh hey a party, that sounds like fun.”
Me “Yeah its always a lot of fun.”
Cheerleader 2 “Oh I can imagine, it sounds like fun.”
Fella “Well I don’t mean to bardge in on you, it looks like you folks are busy” (at this point my daughter is running around the two of us in a circle) “But I’m with (retracted) and I would like to speak to you about your pen and paper supplies.”
Me: “Well as you can see we are very busy setting up for our big event so now is really not a great time, maybe another time.”
Fella “But I don’t know when the next time I will be in this area.”
Me: “I’m sorry maybe we could make an appointment or something, I’m very busy today.”
Cheerleader 1 “I bet, you guys look busy.”
Cheerleader 2 “It looks like its gonna be fun”
Fella “It really will only take 10 min, I bet you order a couple of cases of paper a month right?”
Me “What, why would I do that? Its a staff of two, I normally talk to her rather then send a memo. Look we are very small I maybe use a single package of paper in a whole month, If I’m gonna print playbills or something I do that at Kinko’s not our little printer here.”
Fella “Well we have great prices on ink, if I set you up today with an order we can automate the order to come every month.”
Me “I am very busy today, I can’t sit down and go through our recipts and figure out if what I give you is less then how much I give CVS once a month, you see I am busy, you see my child here running around. I can’t do this today.”
Fella “I have all the stats here to show you how we are up to 10% less in ink and paper, not to mention your pen needs.”
Me: (I fold my hands in a prayor like way) “I am starting to get upset, I am asking you now as calmly as I can to please leave.”
Fella: “Ok, well thanks for talking with me”
Cheerleader 1 “Thanks have a great party.”
Chearleader 2 “Thanks”

Recently long time Company Member and Resident Artist Mike Devine has stepped down from CIC. We wanted to pay tribute to all the hard work he has put in over the last 6 years.

Here is a small Sample of everything he did with us, we will miss him around the old CIT.

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Hey folks,

We are trying a very simple Facebook application to see if folks like it.

Click below and you can send someone your favorite CIC logo, show image, or Improv Group as a “gift”

It Free and Fun

Chemically Imbalanced Comedy

Promote Your Page Too

by Angie McMahon

Often times during the day while Sarah and I are working in the office we will either get a door to door sales man to come in and sell us something or a call to the office to sell us something. Over the next few weeks I am going to tell you about some of our favorite sales calls to CIC.

Last week I got a phone call that went something like this:

Me: Chemically Imbalanced Comedy, this is Angie can I help you?

Sales guy: Hi Angie how are you today.

Me: I’m fine, how can I help you.

Sales guy: Good, good, thats good to hear. Angie I”m calling to tell you about a new bathroom air freshener that automatically dispenses. Angie let me ask you, what are you currently doing to keep the bathroom at your buisness freash smelling?

Me: We currently buy 1-2 cans of air freshener that sits on the shelf.

Sales guy: And you dispense it yourself? By hand?

Me: Yes, usually, well yes.

Sales guy: Well for the low price of $125 I can set you up with an automatic dispenser AND enough product to last you 6 months. Imagine walking into the bathroom anytime and having it smell like fresh flowers…ALL THE TIME!

Me: I’m sorry, that is just too much money for us.

Sales guy: Well how much do you spend now on your current air freshener needs?

Me: Tops $5 a month

Sales guy: But you dispense it yourself right?

Me: No I get it, I mean what your selling. We are just a small Theater, one bathroom. We just don’t have it in the budget to spend $125 for air freshener.

Sales guy: But this will last 6 months.

Me: I’m sorry, it just isn’t going to work, thanks for the call. (hang up)

So far our King of the Mountain Contest is under way.

Advancing to the next rounds is….

Michael Pizza vs. Red Red Red

and

The Sause vs. Charles Grodin

This Friday Michael Pizza and Red Red Red will go head to head with only one winner decided by your votes! At stake is a cash prize and a headlining night on Friday Feb 26.

I’ve been here quite a few times and really like this theatre (I live about 3 blocks from it) and the shows. Let me start by saying if you’re looking for a huge theatre with an elaborate stage set up, this isn’t for you. However, since I prefer smaller theatres this was right up my alley. I don’t know what the theatre capacity is, but I would guess it holds around 50 people (give or take). Furthermore, it’s BYOB which makes the comedy that much funnier. There are four rows of seats and even the furthest row back isn’t more than (maybe) 15 feet from the performers. The building seems a bit older, yet has a certain cozy charm about it.

I’ve seen Pimprov twice and I’ve been to the Saturday Night Showcase on several occasions. The tickets are pretty cheap Pimprov is about $15 and The Showcase is $10. However, if you check Goldstar you can get them discounted ( Like $10 or $12 for Pimprov & $7.50 for the comedy showcase). Pimprov was hilarious both times I went. The pimps did a great job interacting with the crowd and the scenes flowed very well. I was laughing the majority of the time during both Pimprov shows. They do a rip on the crowd a bit, but it’s all in good fun and not in the least bit mean spirited. The Improv Showcase (on Saturday & Sunday) is usually pretty good also. As you might expect some groups are better than others. While the 3rd act of the three (The main event I suppose) tends to be the best act (most of the times I’ve gone), the other 2 groups are usually good for a chuckle or two also. I’ve taken people to the comedy showcases before and had mixed reviews ( but Pimprov is a cant miss). For $7.50 to $15 and the ability to drink your own six pack and/or bottle of wine you will hard pressed to find a better value in entertainment. So go check it out.
- Jacques M. 4 stars

CIC is excited to announce Insiders Entertainment has come on as our Technical Directors, serving all of our tech needs for our 2010 calender year. Here is a bit more about them:

insiders entertainment

We are inspired by the power of entertainment and its positive impact on society. Starting from Chicago, Illinois in 2001 Brandon Mojica and Nick Quinn have been collectively providing the vision for Insiders Entertainment Inc., strengthened by a team of designers, artists and technicians. By providing our team a stable environment, they can effectively exercise their talents, and our combined experiences have allowed us to raise expectations. Our melting pot approach integrates every unique member of our team to efficiently develop solutions. With an exponential growth of ideas, anything is possible.

We are evaluating how entertainment is created, experienced and consumed while always reevaluating conventions and looking for ways to improve upon them. Our team of specialized individuals is committed to enhancing your experience. We use our creativity to provide you with entertainment solutions and to amplify the atmosphere, through lighting, sound, and scenic design.