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Comedy is having a moment in the City of Oaks
Comedy is clearly having a moment in Raleigh. Raleighites are eating it up—and comics from near and far keep coming back for more. The first Raleigh Comedy Festival debuted last month with 50 comics across 19 shows; Hopscotch Music Festival added comedians to their 2023 lineup (and came out strong with SNL darling Sarah Sherman as its first headliner); and big industry names like Pete Davidson and Nikki Glaser are casually dropping by Goodnights Comedy Club or Martin Marietta Center.
“These sorts of acts don’t come here unless they know they are going to sell tickets,” stresses Jeff Merritt, executive director of the Centennial Authority. Having watched the local entertainment scene grow over the decades, Merritt credits the comedy boom to many local booking and venue managers having deep roots in Raleigh, coupled with our city’s reputation as a mature market.
It helps when the scene is familiar, when you know what you are going to get and the staff is receptive to your needs,” he emphasizes. “Visitors and performers are our guests, and if you are a guest in Raleigh, we roll out the red carpet for you.”
Local leaders in entertainment agree Oak City’s reputation as a live entertainment hot spot is growing, and its diverse audiences encourage the nation’s top funnymen and women to keep local venues booked and busy. “This combination makes it an attractive stop for big names looking to connect with engaged fans in a vibrant community,” says Goodnights COO Brad Grossman.
Raleigh’s booming population definitely bolsters ticket sales, but it’s not just locals showing up and laughing out loud—when it comes to live entertainment, the Southeast is our oyster. “When you look to see where Lenovo shows have sold tickets, you’ll see places like Knoxville, Richmond and Charleston,” Merritt mentions. “It’s easier to get to Raleigh than ever before.”
Not only is our city accessible, but the art of comedy itself is becoming more attainable as well. Grossman also gave a shoutout to the expansion of comedy on social media as a contributing factor. In addition to local fuel, the internet—and more specifically TikTok—is upending the comedy scene everywhere.
Many comics have taken to the app to launch their comedy careers, with this new age bringing about increased visibility for talent that previously could only be scouted at small clubs. And anyone who loves to laugh is reaping the benefit—especially Raleigh.
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