Buffalo Comedy: Several live comedy shows come to local venues this weekend.

By Jason Pomietlasz

(Above: Show graphic via @standoperospr on Instagram).

There are only 22 more days until Halloween. If you are having trouble deciding on a costume, sexy person going to see live comedy is a perennial winner.  

Thursday, Oct. 9

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo.
Improv Mixer, a relaxed environment to try out improv or just to watch. Sign-ups at 6:45 p.m., 7 start. $5 suggested or pay what you can. 

Mr. Goodbar, 1110 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, 8 p.m. Free.
Open mic comedy on the second floor. Sign-ups at 7 p.m, hosted by the above average height Bennett Solowski.

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7 p.m., tickets $30.99 – 40.99.

Derrick Stroup brings his “Mad About Nothing,” tour to Helium. Stroup may be on the verge of becoming a household name. He’s a regular at the Comedy Cellar, in 2023 he appeared on “The Tonight Show” and was named a “New Face” at JFL Montreal. In 2024 Stroup shot his first special for Comedy Central. 

Friday – Saturday, Oct. 10 – 11

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. Tickets $31.99 – 47.99.

Eric Eaton is a magician and a master of Illusion and has won a Merlin Award (Oscars of Magic) for Outstanding Comedy and Magic, which puts him a step closer to an EGOT. All of Eaton’s tricks include audience members so be prepared to participate if necessary. This show is SOLD OUT.

Friday, Oct. 10 

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo.  

Comedy Sportz match-up. Two teams “competitively” play short form improv games with suggestions from the audience, who also decides the winner. 7:30 p.m., tickets $18. 

Open Mic night, every second Friday of the month, hosted by Sherman & Mingo. Performers visit www.buffalocomedycolllective.com to sign up for a 5-minute set. You will be notified within 24 hours if you made the list. 9:30 p.m., tickets $10. 

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo. 

“Whose House,” a panel style comedy show that may involve some short form improv. 7 p.m., tickets $12 online, $15 general admission or $5.

Improv Collider, several BIH house teams perform different long-form improv styles. 8:30 p.m., tickets $8 presale, $10 general admission or $5 for students and folks who appreciate a discount.

The New Friday Mixer, same as Thursday’s mixer, just a later time. 9:30 p.m., tickets $5 or pay what you can. 

Saturday, Oct. 11 

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo. 

ComedySportz Saturday match-up. Two teams “competitively” play short form improv games with suggestions from the audience, who also decides the winner. In honor of Mental Health Day, half of all ticket sales will be donated to Compeer Buffalo. 6 p.m., tickets $18. 

Same Game, an interactive improvised game show inspired by shows such as Match Game and Family Feud. 8:30 p.m., tickets $18. 

Rob’s Playhouse Theater, 3200 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 8 p.m, tickets starting at $28.50.

Tammy Pescatelli has been a professional comic for over two decades and experienced the highs and lows of showbiz. She tried to call out Amy Schumer on joke stealing, unfortunately Schumer had the better agents but Pescatelli is the better standup. Her last special “Way After School Special”, is available by searching the Internet. 

Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave., downstairs, Buffalo. 8 p.m., tickets starting $18.54.

“That Comedy Show at Babeville,” a monthly showcase of different comics from Buffalo and surrounding areas. The lineup is Nate English, Kelsey McCormick, Trebor Finnegan, Conor McCann, Jesse Winterhalter and hosted by Jacob Morrison.

Sunday, Oct. 12

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 

Standoperos Chisteando is a show entirely in Spanish without translation that features Cristina Sánchez, Erick Bonilla, Titito Sánchez and Ernesto Rolón. 4 p.m., tickets $43.99 – 53.99.

“And Then We Had Sex” is a popular podcast hosted by comic Kristen Sivills and writer J-Rod Tanner, who bring you into their world of sex, comedy, and uninhibited truth. 7 p.m., tickets $32.99 – 42.99. 

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo. 2:30 p.m., tickets $18.

Flesh vs. Felt. A special ComedySportz show that tries to answer the age old question; who is funnier, people or puppets. As usual, the audience will decide.

Monday, Oct. 13

Tudor Lounge, 335 Franklin Street, Buffalo, 8:30 p.m. 

Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Start your week by hearing new premises and jokes. Once again hosted by Don Johnson, if you’re curious why, ask him. Sign-ups at 7. Free.

Tuesday, Oct. 14

Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen Street, Buffalo, 9 p.m. 

Rust Belt Comedy Showcase, Buffalo’s longest running comedy open mic hosted by Jake Samson and Jake Piskor also known as the two Jakes. Free. 

Matinee, 698 Main St., Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.

Train Stop Comedy, a new comedy open mic on Main Street with host Mamudu Kargbo. For all levels of comics and audiences. Free. 

Third Space Cafe & Entertainment, 777 Main St., Buffalo, 6:30 p.m.

The Early Bird Comedy Open Mic. Brand new open mic hosted by Brody Walsh and Connor Mink. Signups start at 5:30 p.m. Free.

Wednesday, Oct. 15

Milkie’s Elmwood Lounge, 522 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo. 

Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Sign-ups at 7 or online, show starts at 9ish p.m. Hosted by Jesse Winterhalter. Free. 

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 

Open Mic, where over twenty comics will perform their best 3 minutes, 7 p.m., free with two-item minimum.

Road Less Traveled Productions, 456 Main St., Buffalo, 7:30 p.m., tickets $20.

An improvised two-act play with a cast of experienced improvisers and a special guest, usually a local actor, using the set of the current play running at the RLTP, ensuring the show is a blend of grounded theater and comedy. This week’s guest is David Marciniak who joins the cast of Kevin Di Lucente, Todd Benzin, Don Gervasi, Meghan Joyce, Annie Moor, Jimmie Byrd and Caitlin Steitzer. 

Buffalo Toronto Public Media, 140 Lower Terrace, Buffalo. 6 p.m., tickets starting at $125.

Three internationally touring comedians Thom Tran, Matt Kirshen, and Corrina Yee come together for a fundraiser for the International Institute of Buffalo, Tran is a veteran whose comedy career started when a gunshot wound to the back of his head, while deployed to Iraq, ended his army career. Kirshen started doing comedy in the United Kingdom and moved to America as a finalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” He has also appeared on “Late Night” with Jimmy Fallon and was a writer for “The Jim Jefferies Show” and “Arrested Development.” Yee got her start in standup at her high school talent show. Since then, she has cultivated material around her mouthful of an identity as a Chinese girl adopted by Chinese professors who sent her to a Jewish Day School. Included in the ticket price is an open bar, international food from local restaurants. VIP packages are available, including exclusive “meet and greet” access, concierge table service with liquor options, and preferred seating.

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Have a comedy event you want to add, email lakeeffectcomedy@gmail.com.