On Saturday, August 5th, 2023, the first event that I have coordinated and hosted went off without a hitch… Jokes & Jazz! There was quite a bit of work behind the scenes that goes in to making an event like this work out. Take a journey with me to see how coordinating a night of comedy, jazz and blues comes about!
How it Happened
What went into organizing Jokes&Jazz? And why? Organizing a musical event at a brewery with multiple jazz performers was a fantastic idea to attract a diverse audience and create an enjoyable atmosphere. Here were some essential steps to consider when we were planning this event.
The Concept
I had to define the theme and figure out what the vibe of the event was going to be. I drew inspiration from various sources, but the original event idea actually came from an open mic at Levity that I had performed at!
I was performing a bit of my stand-up back in June, and an audience member that I had interacted with commented that I had charisma with a crowd and that my voice was very “jazzy.” He commented that having a comedy and jazz night would be a great concept for this area and something very unique. I liked that idea as well, so an idea was born. However, it also needed some inspiration.
At the behest of my friends, I finally broke down and watched the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – and I was enthralled! I devoured the show in two weeks, which is a sprint of a binge watch for me. I love the vibe of the Gaslight; this was the cafe in which Miriam (Midge) Maisel got her start in comedy.
Rare footage of The Gaslight Cafe; the inspiration for the Gaslight featured in the acclaimed Amazon Prime show The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Venue Selection
Now that I had an idea for the feel and the atmosphere I wanted to create based on the Gaslight Café, I needed to find the right location, ideally in downtown Altoona to get that right city bopping feel to fit comedy and jazz.
I had to choose a brewery that aligned with the theme and had suitable space to accommodate performers, audience, and any necessary equipment. I’ve had quite a bit of experience hanging out at Railroad City Brewing Company; it’s my go-to place for happy hour on every Friday.
(Which runs the risk of the bartender and main brewer from outing all my half buzzed rants, but they are trustworthy folk, and they wouldn’t be the worst hecklers ever.)
Date and Time
We had to pick a date and time that fit well with the brewery’s regular schedule and ensures maximum attendance. Weekend evenings seemed to be the best for when people are more likely to come out for entertainment.
This involved some Q&A with the main brewer for the venue. Ironically, I’m not someone who goes out much and I truly needed his input on when to put on an event which would yield the best crowd. He suggested a weekend night – week nights are not the nights that people want to let their hair down and keep their ears open for some jazz and comedy.
Performers
I was lucky enough to know accomplished performers in the area who are experienced with blues and jazz performing styles. I chose performer Kris Tina Reiter and Nate Gates to join us for this event. Both are accomplished musicians in their own right and were gracious enough to also join us on our podcast!
High Resolution Life, Episode 29: Featuring Nate Gates
High Resolution Life, Episode 28: Featuring Kris Tina Reiter
Practice Makes Perfect
Between organizing the event, coordinating with the performers and promoting the event, I had to also make sure my own performance would be ready to go… I chose to go with a bit of newer jazz styles (Adele, Amy Winehouse).
My mom and I’s most beloved memories of jazz include sharing the love of jazz and oldies with my grandma, so for that reason, we had to include I’ll Be Seeing You, Georgia and Dream A Little Dream Of Me.
I had to coordinate music rehearsals with one of our performers, Kris. She requested to have some guitar accompaniment from my dad. Conveniently enough for me, my dad is a sound engineer and a trained jazz guitarist. (I get my knack for music honestly!)
Sound and Equipment
I had to ensure that we brought our own sound and musical equipment to the venue; luckily for me, again, my dad being a sound tech had that covered! Having a quality sound system is crucial for a successful musical performance. He premixed the sound from his studio before we brought over equipment, and then he mixed the live sound and helped our performer switches to go smoothly.
Promotion and Marketing
I had to develop a marketing strategy to promote the event. I utilized social media, posters, and local media to reach a broader audience. Thankfully the guys at Railroad City Brewing Company were helpful to leverage their existing customer base to join us as audience members.
Logistics and Event Management
I needed to coordinate with the brewery and performers to ensure smooth logistics, such as load-in and soundcheck times, performance schedules, and any special requirements the performers might have. Thankfully, with RCBC not being far from my home and the sound supplier being my dad, we were able to make sure the set up went on without a hitch. And the ever faithful bartender Trey was a big help as well!
Lights, Camera, Action!
On the day of the event, I had to oversee the setup and execution of the event to ensure everything ran smoothly. That involved coordinating with my dad on when we could bring our relevant equipment to the event, when we could set it up – that would even involve checking out what the weather would be like that day!
The crowd, staff and performers enjoyed the atmosphere we were able to create that evening, because it is particularly unique for the Altoona area. We certainly have many talented musicians here, but my goal was to create a one of a kind and memorable experience that was different from what the area usually has to offer.
Please leave a comment and share this article if you would like to see more of these unique events in Altoona, PA!