Drybar Comedy

 

Stand up comedy is having a moment in our society right now. For decades, it has been a popular medium for analyzing the world we live in and sharing personal stories that strangers can relate to. I am fairly new to the genre, but it seems to have a constant presence in the news and now every major media platform has an entire category dedicated to stand up comedy. I often put on playlists of various comedians during long drives (which happens a lot in Montana). Kyle Kinane, Lachlan Patterson, John Mulaney, Robin Williams; there are hundreds of comics to choose from on most streaming or radio platforms. But my favorite comedy to seek out comes from a Provo, Utah based venue called Drybar Comedy. In an age where funny and vulgar are sometimes considered interchangeable, Drybar’s slogan “funny for everyone” is incredibly accurate. 

Because of the unique personality that stand up comedy requires, it is natural for its performers to be the types of people who push the boundaries of what is considered socially acceptable. Sometimes, I enjoy a good cuss-filled rant from someone like Bill Burr or Eddie Murphy or a shockingly unexpected take from Jim Jeffries or George Carlin. But other times, I just want to laugh away my worries, not laugh at my worries that are laid bare by a vulgar and edgy comedian. And that is where Drybar fills the bill. Laughs from comedians of all walks of life with no worries, just pleasant family friendly funnies. 

Drybar shows take place in a literal dry bar, a performance hall that doesn’t serve alcohol in Provo, Utah. There is no swearing, no controversial topics and are generally PG rated, even if the content is directed at adults. During live shows, they host three comics in one night, each doing 30 minutes in front of a crowd of a hundred or so people. The venue videotapes the sets and uploads the best of them to Youtube, where they are free to watch. Each night, the stage is redecorated and sometimes the sets are the star of the show. When you may not be able to remember a specific comic’s name, you can sometimes remember the “post office” or “stripes” or “ woodshop” background that went with the show and re-discover old favorites that way. And there are hundreds, if not thousands of shows to choose from.

Some of my favorites include the incredible puns of Robert Mac, the hilarious Gollum voices of David Crowe, the Shakespearean re-telling of the Three Little Pigs by John Branyan, Answering Life’s biggest questions with Rodney Norman, and a thousand more. Without being able to fall back on squirmy topics or profanity, the Drybar comedians have to get extra creative to express their loud exclamations. Maybe two in ten aren’t terribly funny, but if I don’t start giggling in the first couple minutes, I just move on to another comic. It’s okay to not like a certain comedian; sometimes their voice is too high pitched, or they are talking about subjects that I simply don’t care about; there are plenty to choose from. But unlike in the wide world of comedy where I stumble across comedians that are just plain vulgar, in Drybar, I can happily chuckle along with the woes and wonders of a bunch of middle aged everyday people like me who see the problems of the world and find humor in them. 

I don’t know much of the history behind Drybar except the little slogan found on their website that says it was founded in 2016 by Neal Harmon. They don’t profusely explain their mission or declare their life principles anywhere on their website. They just produce high quality laughs that make me feel goofy or marginally enlightened. I appreciate the hard work the comedians do to put together their acts and I enjoy relaxing in the driver’s seat on a long car ride and listening to them tell jokes.