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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Art, Comedy Combine for Valley Diners

A new entertainment concept is putting a fresh and funny spin on wine-and-paint nights in the Valley. Comedy of Art invites customers to local bars and restaurants to learn how to complete an art project over dinner and drinks. Here’s the twist: events are led not by art teachers, but by standup comedians. The series held its debut event March 22 at Code Blue Café & Restaurant in Sunland-Tujunga. Comedian Adam Gropman played host, teaching attendees how to hand-weave a dreamcatcher through improvisational comedy. Tickets cost $30. “It’s fun, it’s funny and it’s a custom experience,” said Comedy of Arts founder Aimee Baror, who operates the series through her company Tinkerfly Marketing and Events in Tujunga. “It’s not passive entertainment. You’re a part of it, you’re immersed in it, and you’re making something cool to take home.” The format is loose — while comedians are free to bring some written material, most of the show is improvised with room for banter between the show host and the audience. And because the comedians aren’t exactly experts in the crafts portion of the show, the customers’ creations turn out unique, for better or worse. So far, Baror has financed the series startup with her own income, from purchasing art supplies to marketing the event with paid Facebook ads and self-designed print fliers to contracting Gropman for the first night. “The challenge is finding a location on a shoestring budget. Because it’s a new event, venue managers don’t know if it’s going to bring in any (money),” she said. “I know once it gets off the ground and we have a good following and a reputation, that’s not going to be a problem.” Baror hopes to find investors to scale up Comedy of Art later this year. In this early stage of the business, though, she has relied on her network of friends, family and coworkers to spread the news and test the concept’s viability. She called last month’s debut a success. “There were 15 (attendees) and I wanted to have 20. We would’ve maxed out at about 30 to 35. I think it would get unwieldy after that,” she said. “Everybody said they really enjoyed it.” Baror was able to break even for the night. As word-of-mouth spreads and future crowds grow, so will profits, she said. Now, Baror is working to secure venues for future Comedy of Art events – and expand the format to new geographic markets. The next Comedy of Art event will happen May 1 at Alissa’s Ocean View Bar & Grill in Montrose. “I can envision my company … taking it nationwide and sending comedians and supplies all over to do Comedy of Art nights,” Baror said.

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