Standup Nicole Blaine is building a new kind of community at her comedy club, The Crow. Opened in June 2022, the venue (an acronym for Comedy Reflects Our World) is a two-story space nestled in Santa Monica’s Bergamot Station Arts Center. A labor of love 15 years in the making, The Crow focuses on inclusivity as much as laughs—inviting novice and seasoned comedians of all ages, races, and identities to craft their stage skills in showcases like “Chingona Comedy,” featuring Latinx badasses, and “BoysDrool,” an open mic just for women and non-binary comics.
The club also offers family-centric events like “BYOB,” a Saturday midday comedy show where parents can “bring your baby, your boob, your buggy, and your bottle,” says Blaine. “You can literally flop your tits out and nurse.” Ultimately, Blaine hopes The Crow can harness the cathartic power of standup to amplify marginalized voices. “The entire focus of this community,” says Blaine, “is all about using comedy for good.”
The Crow is truly unique in the programming that they provide. Some of their upcoming events include a comedy class for kids, and a show titled “The Grand Bizarre,” which The Crow describes as “a collection of the hottest up-and-coming comedians in LA, hosted by a Persian comic, trying to relive the glory days of his ancestor’s once-great empire by showcasing the best comics from a diverse array of ethnic backgrounds.”
Perhaps most notably though, The Crow is one of few comedy clubs that fosters a supportive, creative environment, which is arguably very different from your average competitive (and often male-dominated) comedy clubs. The Crow wants you to come work on your jokes with them. If you’re interested, be sure to drop in on one of their Monday night mics or their Tuesday “BoysDrool” mic. Want to join in on the fun but not interested in performing your own comedy? You’re totally welcome to join the audience and hear some hilarious jokes from voices who don’t always get a place in the spotlight.
Top photo by Mike Falzone
