A Funny Place: East Austin Comedy Club
East Austin Comedy Club delivers the laughs.
Words by Abby L. Johnson Photos by Baptiste Despois
First timers to East Austin Comedy Club might find themselves wondering if they’ve found the right place. Amongst the warehouses of a less frequented stretch of East 4th Street, hidden near a pedicab storage facility, lies a quiet, unsuspecting speakeasy waiting for Thursday night to roll around and light up the block with laughter.
If not for the East Austin Comedy Club (EACC) sign making it clear, one might think they’ve found a strange backyard filled with tiki torches and oddball art installations. But those who venture inside find an intimate space outfitted in decadent floor-to-ceiling red velvet curtains and opulent gold accents. The main attraction of course is the sparse stage, nestled close to an intimate audience, that hosts an array of comedians twice a night each Thursday through Saturday.
André Ricks, one of the co-founders of the club, is a Lubbock native who found his way to Austin in 2006 at the tender age of 19. It took some time for him to figure out exactly what to do in his new home. He explains, “I drove the city bus for four years, but I was looking at comedy as a job, and it just fit all my criteria. You can wear what you want, you can say what you want, go where you want, work when you want.” The idea was somewhat novel. But during his years in Lubbock, there wasn’t much of a comedy scene. “Growing up, it was just funny people around you. My dad’s a goofball. My mom’s a goofball. So they laugh a lot. But I didn’t really think about doing comedy until I got to Austin. And this August makes five years,” he smiles.
Over the past five years, André immersed himself in the art. He met EACC co-founder Raza Jafri working the local comedy circuit in January 2021. As entertainers themselves, the pair saw firsthand the need for low-pressure places for up-and-coming local comedians as well as touring acts to perfect their craft in a dedicated space with quality stage time. They first tested out their concept at the Santa Cruz Theatre but eventually found a permanent home for their project at Tiger Den. André notes that they try to bring in lesser-known acts because he “likes giving them stage time…When you’re a comedian, you want stage time, and the most you can get, especially starting out.” He finds joy in the fact that EACC can provide that quality time for people. “I like being able to feed people. You know, help them provide for themselves,” says André.
The rotating comedian lineup is a secret held close to the chest at EACC (though it’s not uncommon to see Raza or André perform). Part of the fun of this experience is the lack of expectations. Comedy inherently throws people off. It knocks them out of their daily rhythms and patterns of thinking and forces the listener to consider perspectives outside their own. EACC heightens that quality and gives a dedicated space to the art of bringing the community together. It’s the perfect place to invite some friends and be prepared to laugh along with this ever-changing production.
Contact:
1303 E 4th Street
eastaustincomedy.com
info@eastaustincomedy.com
@eastaustincomedyclub
